The Habitats Directive as game changer for nature and law in the European Union: emerging trends and novel approaches
Leefmilieu Brussels, 13-14 December 2022 (hybrid)
© Kris Decleer
Programme
Tuesday 13 December
Exploring the unlocked potential of the EU Habitats Directive
I. Challenges and policy: the EU Habitats Directive as necessary gamechanger in the Anthropocene?
09h00
The Habitats Directive is a game changer: an unexpected twist?
Hendrik Schoukens
Hendrik Schoukens
09h20
Main challenges for the EU’s Biodiversity: a toxic cocktail?
Hans Bruyninckx
Hans Bruyninckx
09h40
Past, present and future of EU nature policy
Frank Vassen
Frank Vassen
10h00
Debate
Respondent An Cliquet
Respondent An Cliquet
10h30
Coffee Break
II. Strategic biodiversity litigation as novel instrument: can we achieve system change via court room action?
11h00
Urgenda revisited: ensuring compliance with biodiversity targets via court room action
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
11h15
Strategic litigation to ensure the integrity of EU protected sites: lessons from the Dutch Nitrogen Crisis
Valentijn Wösten
Valentijn Wösten
11h30
Forestry management vs strict species protection: primeval forests at the horizon via courtroom action?
Jan Darpö
Jan Darpö
11h45
Debate
Respondent Delphine Misonne
Respondent Delphine Misonne
12h05
Lunch
III. Going beyond protected sites: will the EU Habitats Directive lead to more sustainable agriculture?
13h30
Article 6 of the Habitats Directive as driver for system change: vested rights vs biodiversity recovery?
Ralph Frins
Ralph Frins
13h45
Agriculture, climate change and biodiversity protection: a match made in heaven?
Jonathan Verschuuren
Jonathan Verschuuren
14h00
Chemicals, pesticides and persistent pollutants vs conservation goals: a complex cocktail?
Dries Verhaeghe
Dries Verhaeghe
14h15
Debate
Respondent : Chris Backes
Respondent : Chris Backes
14h45
Coffee Break
IV. The unfortunate case of the Wild Hamster: is the EU Habitats Directive effective and resilient enough to save species from extinction?
15h15
Deathbed conservation and strict species protection: is extinction a lawful option?
Floor Fleurke
Floor Fleurke
15h30
The Wild hamster as victim of conflicting policy goals: CAP vs EU Habitats Directive, an uneven battle?
Harm Dotinga
Harm Dotinga
15h45
Urban biodiversity, the law and reconciliation ecology: is the law to strict for city hamsters?
Christoph Sobotta
Christoph Sobotta
16h00
Debate
Respondent : Geert Van Hoorick
Respondent : Geert Van Hoorick
Wednesday 14 December
Future challenges and emerging trends for the EU Habitats Directive
V. Climate change and biodiversity: are we doomed to run behind the facts
09h00
Climate change and the appropriate assessment: Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive goes global?
Julien Bétaille
Julien Bétaille
09h15
Climate adaptation and the Natura 2000 Network: a complex future ahead
Alexandra Aragão
Alexandra Aragão
09h30
A conflict of interests: how to avoid unsustainable deadlocks?
Nicolas De Sadeleer
Nicolas De Sadeleer
09h45
Debate
Respondent : Dries Van Eeckhoutte
Respondent : Dries Van Eeckhoutte
10h15
Coffee Break
VI. Rights of nature: is the Habitats Directive granting legal rights to endangered habitats and species?
10h45
Property rights for wild species: a hidden, new reality?
Karen Bradshaw
Karen Bradshaw
11h00
Invasive species and rights of nature: a unexpected paradox
Elien Verniers
Elien Verniers
11h15
NGOs as imperfect guardians of endangered species in court
Yaffa Epstein
Yaffa Epstein
11h30
Debate
Respondent : Marie-Sophie de Clippele
Respondent : Marie-Sophie de Clippele
VII. Adaptive management: more than a cover-up for business-as-usual?
12h00
Adaptive management and biodiversity conservation in the post-Brexit era
Donald McGillivray
Donald McGillivray
12h15
Programmatic approaches and Article 6 of the Habitats Directive: a impossible match?
Lolke Braaksma
Lolke Braaksma
12h30
Technology, access to information and environmental law: a case study in the marine environment
Betty Queffelec
Betty Queffelec
12h45
Debate
Respondent : Hendrik Schoukens
Respondent : Hendrik Schoukens
13h15
Lunch Break
VIII. Ecosystem restoration as a novel paradigm: reconstructing a paradise lost or new new future?
14h30
A New EU Restoration Law – a first assessment
An Cliquet
An Cliquet
14h45
From theory to practice: obstacles to ecosystem restoration
Moritz Reese
Moritz Reese
15h00
Lions, hyenas and elephants: baseline and reference questions
Arie Trouwborst
Arie Trouwborst
15h15
Debate
Respondent : Volker Mauerhofer
Respondent : Volker Mauerhofer
15h45
Lunch Break
IX. Enforcement 2.0: the inevitable lock on the door?
16h15
Putting a price on nature: The polluter pays (finally)?
Jan Van den Berghe and Jomme Desair
Jan Van den Berghe and Jomme Desair
16h30
From eco-crime to ecocide: a logical and effective step forwards?
Charles-Hubert Born
Charles-Hubert Born
16h45
Effective legal protection in nature protection csses: Aarhus to the rescue?
Jerzy Jendroska
Jerzy Jendroska
17h00
Debate
Respondent : Lorenzo Squintani
Respondent : Lorenzo Squintani
X. Conclusion and outlook: building blocks for a more sustainable future?
17h30
A sneak peak in the legislative agenda of the European Commission: towards enforceable biodiversity targets?
Nicola Notaro (European Commission)
Nicola Notaro (European Commission)
17h50
Concluding remarks
18h00
END