The idea to investigate the impacts of climate change on nature protection sites supported by a remote sensing-based monitoring tool – inspired by Lovejoy and Hannah’s book Climate Change and Biodiversity – was the starting point of the project “Adaptive Management of Climate-Induced Changes of Habitat Diversity in Protected Areas” (HABIT-CHANGE). This first idea was further developed and extended during several meetings with a growing number of interested partners. After two years of preparation, the project proposal was submitted to the European
transnational funding programme INTERREG IV B Central Europe and later on approved for a three-year runtime. We chose this funding opportunity since climate change does not stop at national borders and the programme supports sciencepractice- policy cooperation and implementation, which is especially needed for this topic. Since the Central European area is expected to be especially affected by climate change impacts, it is an appropriate investigation region. Furthermore, by choosing European investigation areas it was possible to evaluate the concept
and regulations of the EU Habitats Directive – the most important pillar of European wildlife and nature conservation that forms a network of protected sites across the European Union called Natura 2000. In March 2010, a consortium of 17 great and well-respected partners from nature protection site administrations, scientific institutions, and nature conservation authorities started researching. However, several of the institutions interested in
joining the partnership were unable due to financial or administrative reasons. Thus, we additionally had a large number of highly interested associated institutions. Natural Heritage at Risk by Climate Change; Climate Change and Potential Impacts in Central and Eastern Europe; Climate Change in Central and Eastern Europe; Effects of Climate Change on the Hydrological Cycle in Central
and Eastern Europe; Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Protected Habitats; Tools and Concepts for Climate Change Adapted Management; Climate Change Impact Modelling Cascade – Benefits and Limitations for Conservation Management; Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats – A Wetlands Perspective; Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats; Assessment of Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats; Legal Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation; A Methodical Framework for Climate Change-Adapted Management in Protected Areas; Approaches to Adapt Management to Impacts of Climate Change in Selected Areas; Monitoring Concept of Climate-Induced Impacts on Peat Bog Vegetation in Pokljuka Plateau in Triglav National Park, Slovenia; Concept for the Monitoring of Climate Induced Impacts
on Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Triglav National Park, Slovenia; Suggested Management Measures for Natura 2000 Habitats in Korös-Maros National Park, Hungary; Climate-Induced Challenges for Wetlands: Revealing
the Background for the Adaptive Ecosystem Management in the Biebrza Valley, Poland; Habitat Changes Caused by Sea Level Rise, Driven by Climate Change in the Northern Adriatic Coastal Wetlands, Slovenia; Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Habitats in the Biosphere Reserve Vessertal-Thuringian Forest in Germany; Potential Impact of Climate Change on Alpine Habitats from Bucegi Natural Park, Romania; Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Habitats and Their Effects on Invasive Plant Species in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania.
