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International seminar agenda and materials

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European drivers for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Eastern Europe

Belarusian-Russian University, Mahilioŭ, Belarus, August 13-14, 2018

Background notes

The aim of the workshops is to discuss the state of the art in the development of EU biodiversity policies, and their external dimension (intended and unintended) in the context of the countries of Eastern Neighbourhood (EaP) (especially Belarus) and Russia. We will primarily explore the conventions of the Council of Europe:

-          European Landscape (Florence) Convention (not ratified by Belarus and Russia),

-          Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

In addition, we are going to discuss the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), recognising its high potential for the promotion of good environmental governance.

We are going to explore, how the Conventions provide (or can provide in case of the Florence Convention) useful context for addressing the challenges faced by key stakeholders groups involved to biodiversity governance. We also take into account that the implementation of these conventions, as well as their potential to achieve the set targets is heavily contested by the stakeholders in Eastern Europe.

During the workshop we will examine, what are the challenges addressed (or expected to be addressed) by the Conventions, what are their perceived or expected impacts by various stakeholder groups, what agendas are persuaded, and how to make better use of the conventions and their institutions. We will also explore specific management and research tools promoted by the convention (e.g. mechanisms for the identification of Emerald network sites under the Berne Convention), and their relevance and utility in the Eastern European policy, management, physical planning and academic contexts.

In addition, we will discuss the EU Research and Innovation Policy on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) (European Commission, 2015), as a potential driver for innovative development in the fields, and also will try to identify other policies and mechanisms the EU has in place and that can be used for the promotion of quality landscapes, biodiversity conservation targets and sustainable livelihoods in Eastern Europe. This discussion will be closely related with the discussion on the Conventions, and it will provide space for highly specific local issues from peri-urban and urban contexts from across Eastern and Central Europe.

The key outcome of the workshop is a critical analysis of the EU (and EU-promoted) institutions that will be summarised in a policy brief, and discussed in a research papers.

Shedule

August 13, 2018:

- 10.00 – registration and welcome coffee

- 11.00-11.30 – opening, welcoming addresses, introduction
Aarhus Convention for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus, and its perspectives for Russia co-chaired by Hanna Skryhan and Anton Shkaruba - 11.30-12.10 – Keynotes on the Aarhus Convention:
Olga Zakharova – Aarhus Convention in Belarus – implementation issues and perspectives
Siarhei Mahonau – Involvement of non-governmental sector to the Aarhus process and cooperation on Aarhus objectives for better environment
- 12.10-12.50 – Panel discussion on the mechanisms and outcomes of the Aarhus process for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus and perspectives for Russia
Florence Convention: mechanisms for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine co-chaired by Massimo Sargolini and Mária Bihuňová - 13.50-14.50 – Keynotes on the Florence Convention (20 min per talk):
Diana Pungar – History and implementation context of Florence Convention
Viktar Kireyeu, Olga Likhacheva – Options for Florence Convention in Belarus and Russia: opportunities and barriers
Volodymir Rozhak – Florence Convention in Ukraine – what works and what does not
- 14.50-15.20 – Panel discussion on the Florence mechanisms for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Berne Convention: mechanisms for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine co-chaired by Kalev Sepp and Viktar Kireyeu - 15.50-16.50 – Keynotes on the Florence Convention (20 min per talk):
Nikolai Sobolev – Development of the Emerald network in Russia – coherence between Berne and national approaches and criteria
Andrei Abramchuk, Marina Abramchuk – Development of the Emerald network in Belarus – coherence between Berne and national approaches and criteria
Alena Shushkova, Anna Sidorovich, Vladimir Ustin – Directions and policy options for further development of National Ecological Network and System of Protected Areas (PA) in Belarus
- 16.50-17.20 – Panel discussion on the Berne mechanisms for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Wrap-up session and conclusions co-chaired by Kalev Sepp and Viktar Kireyeu - 17.20-17.50 – Aarhus, Florence and Bern Conventions: what is their value for the EaP and Russia?

August 14, 2018:

Nature-based solutions and smart cities: policy context, objectives and challenges co-chaired by Attila Katona and Agnieszka Karczmarczyk - 10.00-11.00 – talks on policy and conceptual foundations (20 min per talk):
Matthijs Hisschemöller – Governing the transition to smart urban green
Kalev Sepp – Nature-Based Solutions – policy and management objectives, approaches and tools
Massimo Sargolini, Ilenia Pierantoni - Urban planning for sustainable cities: improving quality of life
- 11.30-12.00 – Panel discussion on science, management and policy of smart cities and NBS
Nature-based solutions for smart cities in Europe – an overview co-chaired by Olga Likhacheva and Ilenia Pierantoni - 12.00-13.20 – talks on lessons learned (20 min per talk):
Attila Katona – NATURVATION project – results from across Europe and Urban Nature Atlas
Mária Bihuňová – Development of green infrastructure and promotion of nature-based solutions in Slovakia – policy and management challenges
Agnieszka Karczmarczyk – Development of green-blue networks and infrastructure in Polish cities – outcomes and lessons learned
Attila Katona – Nature-Based Solutions in Hungary – an overview
- 14.10-14.40 – Panel discussion on NBS and smart city development experiences around Europe
Governance of good urban and peri-urban landscapes – policy context in the EaP and Russia co-chaired by Matthijs Hisschemöller, Iryna Usava and Nina Istomina - 14.40-15.40 – talks on policy and management contexts and objectives (20 min per talk):
Elena Pavlova – National planning & urban development policy objectives, smart cities and nature-based solutions in Belarus
Nikolai Bobylev – Nature-based solutions and smart cities for Russia – policy context and options
Petr Kiryushin – Universities as drivers for  development of sustainable & smart cities: opportunities for Russia’s and international perspectives
- 16.10-16.40 – panel discussion on options for NBS and smart cities in the EaP and Russia
Wrap-up session and conclusions co-chaired by Matthijs Hisschemöller, Attila Katona and Nikolai Bobylev - 16.40-17.10 – European drivers for good landscape and biodiversity governance in Eastern Europe
Meeting of the editorial group co-chaired by Anton Shkaruba and Kalev Sepp - 17.10-18.00 – Discussions of policy conclusions and recommendations; perspectives of a scholarly paper