L 58/1578
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
23.2.2023
PREPARATORY ACTIONS
CHAPTER PA 09 — ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION (cont'd) PA 09 22
(cont'd)
PA 09 22 02
(cont'd) First-phase: pilot project `Copernicus for Natura 2000` In late 2019, the pilot project `Copernicus for Natura 2000` (COP4N2K) was launched to use Copernicus technology to better monitor Natura 2000 sites.
This project created an automated model system for tracking the evolution of grassland cover in Europe’s Natura 2000 network on a yearly basis, producing detailed land cover maps since 1992 (when the Habitats Directive was adopted).
Efforts are being made to ensure that a large audience, including Member States` administrations, protected area managers, land users and the general public, will be able to access and understand the provided grassland trends and its related indicators.
All data are being made public through a dedicated online Viewer `EU Grassland Watch`.
Second-phase: preparatory action `EU Grassland Watch` The first-phase pilot project was to come to an end in late-2021 with promising results.
An interim evaluation made clear that a second-phase pilot support would be required to assure timely follow-up for full implementation and accessibility.
The preparatory action will focus on four main items that need significant further development: (1) The available resources in the first phase only covered half of all Natura 2000 sites with significant grassland occurrence.
Scaling up will allow the completion of the (historical) picture of EU Natura 2000 grasslands.
(2) The quality of the available maps will benefit from recent improvements in identification of different grassland types and higher spatial resolutions.
(3) Information on the current grassland cover will also be further refined at site level by linking-up with existing administrative databases, such as national Land Parcel Identification Systems (LPIS).
This will help inform appropriate site management.
(4) The project will help bring the geospatial information on grasslands closer to decision makers and other key stakeholders by (a) an interactive and regularly updated public website; and (b) a series of direct interactions (e.g. webinar training, site visits, etc.) with selected actors at national or regional levels.
These initiatives could bridge technological gaps by helping stakeholders to understand the benefit of these tools and use the available information, and in turn share their practical needs to inform future developments.
The fully functional `EU Grassland Watch` can help the Union and its Member States to better monitor biodiversity, the pressures it faces and the sustainability of Natura 2000 protected grasslands.
The increased transparency and accessibility will not only help to prevent future negative impacts, but also to reverse historical declines by identifying priority areas for grassland restoration.
CHAPTER PA 10 — MIGRATION Remarks The appropriations under this chapter are intended to finance the implementation of preparatory actions in the field of application of the TFEU and the Euratom Treaty, designed to prepare proposals with a view to the adoption of future actions.
Their total corresponds to the level of appropriations shown under Article 10 20 02.