Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
Working Group on the State of the Environment and Nature
Conservation
Schwerin, Germany, 11-15 April, 2016
Document title
Code
Category
Agenda Item
Submission date
Submitted by
STATE & CONSERVATION
4-2016, 4N-4
Drafting Recommendation on threatened biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes
4N-4
CMNT
Agenda Item 4N - Recommendations on conservation of Baltic Sea species and
underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes
18.3.2016
Germany
Background
HELCOM Ministerial Meeting 2013 decided to develop by 2015 a new HELCOM Recommendation on
conservation plans for species, habitats and biotopes which are at risk of extinction.
1. HABITAT 16 (2014) evaluated the first draft for HELCOM RECOMMENDATION ON CONSERVATION OF
BALTIC SEA UNDERWATER BIOTOPES, HABITATS AND BIOTOPE COMPLEXES THREATENED ACCORDING TO
THE HELCOM RED LIST (Doc 4-3-Rev.1), as presented by a consultant (Ms. Maike Kramer, Bioconsult,
Germany). A drafting group was set up that provided comments as included in Annex 3 of the Outcome of
HABITAT 16-2014.
2. At STATE 1 (2014) an updated draft of the Recommendation was presented (Doc 4N-1). The Meeting
agreed to focus firstly on finalizing the associated Recommendation on species and come back to the
Recommendation on conservation of biotopes at a later stage (para 4.10). The Meeting agreed to continue
the drafting of the Recommendation in a core group consisting of Lead Country Germany, and supported by
Finland and the Secretariat.
3. STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015 agreed not to continue the development of the ‘Recommendation on
Conservation of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes threatened according to
the HELCOM Red List’ before an adoption of the associated Recommendation on species (para 4N-5).
4. Meanwhile HELCOM 37-2016 adopted the Recommendation on species (HELCOM Recommendation 37/2
CONSERVATION OF BALTIC SEA SPECIES CATEGORIZED AS THREATENED ACCORDING TO THE 2013 HELCOM
RED LIST) and welcomed the offer by Germany to take the lead on the planned development of the HELCOM
Recommendation on CONSERVATION OF BALTIC SEA UNDERWATER BIOTOPES, HABITATS AND BIOTOPE
COMPLEXES THREATENED ACCORDING TO THE 2013 HELCOM RED LIST (Outcome of HELCOM 37).
Action requested
The Meeting is invited to:
discuss issues to be considered in the new Recommendation for example:
 to widely harmonize the contents with the HELCOM Recommendation 37/2, which was adopted
at HELCOM 37-2016 in the spirit to find compromises after a long drafting process
 to decide whether the new Recommendation shall complement or supersede the valid
Recommendation 21/4, which was based on the 1998 red list (BSEP No. 75) and thus applies to
both coastal and marine biotopes, whereas coastal biotopes were not included in the 2013 Red
List assessment
- agree on an intersessional work plan and timetable with the view to adopt the new Recommendation at
HELCOM 38-2017
- invite other Contracting Parties to assist Lead Country Germany in the drafting process.
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