EU-wide implementation support event on Site-Specific Conservation Objectives (SSCOs) for Natura 2000 sites

Wednesday 8 October 2025 - Thursday 9 October 2025

Location: Brussels, Belgium

PML will be contributing to EU-wide event on marine conservation objectives

PML’s Dr Samantha Garrard will be participating in the European Union-wide Implementation Support Event on Site-Specific Conservation Objectives (SSCOs) for Natura 2000 sites – marine ecosystems, 8-9 October, Brussels, Belgium.

The event, which brings together Member States and leading experts, aims to address key questions and challenges surrounding the development and implementation of SSCOs. Dr Garrard will present to Member States on behalf of the newly formed Eklipse Expert Working Group, a panel of 8–10 specialists selected from across the EU and beyond, of which she is a Co-Chair. The group is tasked with developing a “Blueprint for Site-Specific Conservation Objectives for Marine Natura 2000 Sites in European Sea Basins.”

In her presentation, Dr Garrard will outline initial plans concerning developing SSCOs, including an approach to developing methods for assessing site-specific ecological requirements.

Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas covering Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world, extending across all 27 EU Member States, both on land and at sea. The sites within Natura 2000 are designated under the Birds and the Habitats Directives.

The work of the Eklipse Expert Working Group will directly support the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives (nature directives), as well as the Nature Restoration Regulation, helping to define effective conservation measures that improve marine biodiversity.

For more information on the event and the Eklipse initiative, please refer to the event website >>