EIP_EU_targets

SWOT Analysis

The aims of the analysis were to provide an overview of the current and future status of the strategy and its implementation. Although the analysis is not very specific in detail it has great value as a guidance framework for the rest of the review, capturing the constraints in the EPCS’s implementation to date and expectations for the future.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Weaknesses

- The wide diversity of the Planta Europa members working towards the Strategy implementation.

- The Planta Europa network’s role in communication, coordination, and providing facility for sharing expertise within a pan European framework

- Clear and specific targets

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- Lack of legislative authority of EPCS at both national and European level.

- Bipolar focus on in-situ and ex-situ conservation activities misses opportunities to incorporate more comprehensive conservation tools such as bio corridors, ecosystem approach, and sustainable management.

- The low profile and inconsistent commitment of some lead organisations.

- Failure to communicate and promote the EPCS adequately among the general public and some of the scientific community.

- The development of partnerships and synergies with other major international bodies has not been fully carried out.

- Opportunities missed to establish national and European databases of plant conservation

- Absence of monitoring mechanisms and baseline information has inhibited effective implementation.

- Some lead organisations are not the most appropriate

Opportunities

Threats

- Opportunity for plant conservation in Europe in the future is the integration of the different European projects and institutions into continent wide strategies.

- European Union and Council of Europe policies perceived as a great opportunity to establish a comprehensive framework for Plant Conservation.

- Enlargement of the EU to the east of Europe is an opportunity for significant improvement in conservation status, primarily due to new funding opportunities and the obligatory implementation of environmental legislation (specially Habitats directive and its associated Natura2000 network)

- The increasing flow of information amongst conservationists and the possibility of synergies and integration of different programmes.

- Global warming, particularly the uncertainty about its extent, “climatic” impacts, and geographical implications (Climate change was not considered in the current EPCS six years ago but in this short period of time it has turned into a matter of the biggest concern.)

- Changes in land use, particularly intensive agriculture and its promotion through the implementation of the CAP in the new EU countries is seen as a major threat for non-farming ecosystems.

- Infrastructure development in Eastern Europe

- Lack of a proper holistic approach may lead to possibility of future conservation initiatives being poorly directed.

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