Don’t think local! Scale in conservation, parochialism, dogmatic bureaucracy and the implementing of the European Directives

摘要: Abstract The strictly target-based approach promoted by the European Community Directives (Bird 79/409 and 147/2009; Habitat 92/43/CE) is strategic allowing conservation of targets in real contexts (i.e. sites comprising Natura 2000 network). Nevertheless site-specific Standard Data Forms (SDFs), reporting lists (species habitat types), although often incomplete, are regularly utilized practitioners Public Agencies an uncritical bureaucratic way. We think that a lack awareness on how populations, communities ecosystems work may induce parochialism consequent ineffectiveness actions. In this commentary we would suggest some fundamental concepts ecology have strong implications procedures carried out measures, synthesizing all conceptual framework. particular, when approaching to develop should critically complete reported SDFs verifying: (i) target relevance wider context (spatial scale populations), also compared other co-occurring common species; (ii) type rarity (if deterministic or stochastic); (iii) role (per se as indicator); (iv) coherence between historical/geographic measures developed. Finally they be aware hierarchic relationships among different ecological levels interested (individuals, communities, ecosystems).