Hybrid Congress

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

09h20

Main challenges for the EU’s Biodiversity: a toxic cocktail?
Hans Bruyninckx

09h40

Past, present and future of EU nature policy
Frank Vassen

10h00

Debate
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

11h15

Strategic litigation to ensure the integrity of EU protected sites: lessons from the Dutch Nitrogen Crisis
Valentijn Wösten

11h30

Forestry management vs strict species protection: primeval forests at the horizon via courtroom action?
Jan Darpö

11h45

Debate
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

13h45

Agriculture, climate change and biodiversity protection: a match made in heaven?
Jonathan Verschuuren

14h00

Chemicals, pesticides and persistent pollutants vs conservation goals: a complex cocktail?
Dries Verhaeghe

14h15

Debate
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

15h30

The Wild hamster as victim of conflicting policy goals: CAP vs EU Habitats Directive, an uneven battle?
Harm Dotinga

15h45

Urban biodiversity, the law and reconciliation ecology: is the law to strict for city hamsters?
Christoph Sobotta

16h00

Debate
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

09h15

Climate adaptation and the Natura 2000 Network: a complex future ahead
Alexandra Aragão

09h30

A conflict of interests: how to avoid unsustainable deadlocks?
Nicolas De Sadeleer

09h45

Debate
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

11h00

Invasive species and rights of nature: a unexpected paradox
Elien Verniers

11h15

NGOs as imperfect guardians of endangered species in court
Yaffa Epstein

11h30

Debate
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

12h15

Programmatic approaches and Article 6 of the Habitats Directive: a impossible match?
Lolke Braaksma

12h30

Technology, access to information and environmental law: a case study in the marine environment
Betty Queffelec

12h45

Debate
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

14h45

From theory to practice: obstacles to ecosystem restoration
Moritz Reese

15h00

Lions, hyenas and elephants: baseline and reference questions
Arie Trouwborst

15h15

Debate
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

16h30

From eco-crime to ecocide: a logical and effective step forwards?
Charles-Hubert Born

16h45

Effective legal protection in nature protection csses: Aarhus to the rescue?
Jerzy Jendroska

17h00

Debate
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)

17h50

Concluding remarks

18h00

END