France and England both designate Natura 2000 sites and national marine protected areas on either side of the Channel. But do all of these sites meet applicable criteria of ecological coherence?
The PANACHE project partners seeked to develop a scientific analysis of the network of proposed and existing sites, with reference to the criteria introduced through the OSPAR Convention and by drawing on the methodology developed in 2012 by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Agence des Aires Marines Protégées. In addition to determining the network's ecological coherence, this review helped identify deficiencies in the configuration, and shortcomings within the network.
Seahorse /
Julie Hatcher, Dorset Wildlife Trust
