Policy instruments
Discover the policy instruments that the partners of this project are tackling.
A means for public intervention. It refers to any policy, strategy, or law developed by public authorities and applied on the ground to improve a specific territorial situation. In most cases, financial resources are associated with a policy instrument. However, an instrument can also sometimes refer to a legislative framework with no specific funding. In the context of Interreg Europe, operational programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs as well as Cooperation Programmes from European Territorial Cooperation are policy instruments. Beyond EU cohesion policy, local, regional, or national public authorities also develop their own policy instruments.
The Management plan, based on the analysis of the development factors that influence environmental conditions and explicitly detailing the cause-and-effect relationships between pressures, state, and impacts, aims to predict and implement intervention measures to create favorable conditions for the evolution of natural systems. The Management plan, in identifying interventions integrated into a strategic reference framework and defining consistent rules, pursues the following objectives:
- Conservation of priority species and habitat present in the area, plant and forest associations, geo-paleontological formations, biological communities, biotypes, panoramic values, natural processes, and ecological balances;
- Experimentation with a new relationship between humans and the environment and safeguarding this relationship with particular regard to anthropological, archaeological, historical, and architectural needs;
- Promotion of education, training, and scientific research activities, including interdisciplinary activities, as well as studies on information education and compatible leisure activities.
The Management plan consists of several sections such as the analysis of habitats and species, a census of flora and fauna, measures to improve and maintain the conservation status of habitats and species, the perimeter of the area, management guidelines for sector studies, and monitoring measures.
Partners working on this policy instrument

Measure RSO 2.7 of the Murcia Region PI focuses on the protection and conservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, with particular attention to the Mar Menor. In the context of biodiversity conservation, the measure includes the management of protected natural areas, the restoration and recovery of species of wild flora and fauna and their habitats, as well as the implementation of natural conservation programs and biological monitoring. Regarding the protection of the Mar Menor, the measure includes specific actions to preserve the waters and ecosystems, reduce contamination through denitrification processes, and protect local habitats and species. These interventions are crucial to reestablish the ecological and socio-economic balance of the Mar Menor, ensuring that human activities, particularly agriculture, are sustainable and compatible with the long-term conservation of this important ecosystem. Furthermore, the measure includes investments for the protection of habitats and species. Specifically, it allocates funds to improve, conserve, and protect the natural habitats and species living in the Mar Menor, with a focus on practical interventions and sustainable management measures. This instrument aligns with broader EU environmental goals, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Law, aiming to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the Mar Menor for the benefit of both the local environment and communities.
Partners working on this policy instrument
The Management Plan of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (RBDD) was developed in 2007 and was approved by HG 763/2015. During 2019-2023, Danube Delta National Institute with Danibe Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority and 3 other scientific institution prepared integrated management plan that it was approved by DDBR Authority and by local and national Environment Authorities and is awaiting approval this year by a Government Decision. The Management Plan was developed in order to comply with the EU Habitats and Bird Directive. It provides general information, evaluates the conservation objectives of the sites, including species and habitat trends, identifies pressures and threats, and proposes both general and specific measures to ensure the conservation objectives are met. Successful implementation of the plan requires collaboration with various stakeholders, such as local communities, environmental organisations, scientists, and governmental agencies. An essential element of the plan involves the yearly assessment of conservation goals. Regular assessments of protected species and habitats using scientific methods will track progress, identify threats, and allow for necessary adjustments to management actions. The renewal of the Management Plan will be based on this information. These goals are crucial for maintaining the ecological integrity and sustainability of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and its surrounding regions.
Partners working on this policy instrument

This policy instrument has been developed in order to meet the requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directive. It sets out the necessary conservation measures that correspond to the ecological requirements of the natural habitat types and species present in such areas, and includes conservation objectives and measures to achieve the defined conservation status. The Management Plan provide general and specific information about the protected area, followed by the conservation objectives, its current respective trends and ecological possibilities for improvement. These conservation objectives are then translated into measures for activities on/in/around the site, responsibilities and costs of execution of these measures, andaccountability for whether the objectives are achieved with the applied measures. In December 2023 the Natura 2000 Management Plan of the Dogger Bank has become definite after a development process of 4 years. As part of this Management Plan, measures will be implemented, as well as long and short term ecological and use has to be monitored and studies will be performed during the coming six years. The results will be evaluated and outcomes will land in the new Management Plans for all Natura 2000 sites on the North Sea.
Partners working on this policy instrument

The Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania approved the Management Plan for the Pajūris (Seaside) Regional Park in 2016. It is the main policy instrument guiding the park's sustainable management goals. The objectives of the Management Plan are as follows: 1. Determine the principles of territory management and functional zones; 2. Provide measures for maintenance and development of landscape management zones and restoration of damaged natural habitats; 3. Determine guidelines and measures for the protection of natural and cultural heritage, recreation, development of residential areas; 4. Provide facilities and development guidelines for educational tourism; 5. Establish the regulation of the buffer protection zone. There are two management plan measures relevant to the TRITON project. First, regulating shipping and fishing in the Karklė Thalassological Managed Reserve, and second, managing natural habitats and species habitats of the European Community important in the marine "Natura 2000" territories, (e.g., reefs) according to the nature management plans, management programmes, and species protection action plans. Notably, the stipulated nature management plan for the Karklė Thalassological Managed Reserve is still missing. Therefore, the TRITON project will focus on upgrading the Management Plan for the Pajūris Regional Park by developing the nature management plan for the Karklė Reserve and getting it approved by the Minister of the Environment.
Partners working on this policy instrument

The strategy, which has a ten-year scope, was developed in accordance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, reflecting a commitment to meet European environmental standards.
The strategy incorporates a detailed initial assessment of the marine environment, analyzing its current state, including hydrographic, physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as the socio-economic aspects and human activities impacting these areas. It establishes specific criteria and methodological standards for determining what constitutes a good environmental status, ensuring that marine and coastal ecosystems remain ecologically diverse, clean, healthy, and productive.
Furthermore, the strategy outlines goals and indicators for monitoring progress toward these environmental targets. A comprehensive monitoring program is established to continuously assess the marine environment's status, allowing for the adaptation and refinement of conservation measures. The strategy also includes a program of measures designed to achieve and maintain the desired environmental status, focusing on pollution prevention, habitat and species protection, and the sustainable use of marine resources.
By integrating these measures, Montenegro aims to safeguard its rich marine biodiversity, contribute to the well-being of local communities, and fulfill its obligations under international environmental agreements, particularly in the context of its EU accession process.