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Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment 1

EU BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN:

2010 Assessment

2 Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment

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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010

ISBN 978-92-79-16248-0doi : 10.2779/42306

© European Union, 2010 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledgedPrinted in Belgium

Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded the eu eco-label for graphic paper (http://ec.europa.eu/ecolabel)

Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment 3❦❦❦❧

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Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Why is biodiversity important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The state of biodiversity in the EU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The 2010 Assessment of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Objective 1: To safeguard the EU’s most important habitats and species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Objective 2: To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU countryside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Objective 3: To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU marine environment . . . . 22Objective 4: To reinforce the compatibility of regional and territorial development with biodiversity in the EU . . . . . . 24Objective 5: To substantially reduce the impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Objectives 6-7-8: To strengthen the EU’s role in combatting global biodiversity loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Objective 9: To support biodiversity adaptation to climate change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Objective 10: To substantially strengthen the knowledge base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Supporting measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35



The large blue butterfly, Maculinea arion, an endangered species protected under the Habitats Directive.


In 2006, an EU Biodiversity Action Plan was drawn up by the European Commission and subsequently endorsed by the EU’s 27 Environment Ministers. Its aim was to set out a comprehensive programme of actions and targets which would enable the EU to meet its commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Four years on, the time has come to take stock of the Biodiversity Action Plan and assess the impact it has had on Europe’s biodiversity. With this in mind, the Commission carried out a detailed assessment of the Action Plan reviewing the progress made on each of the 150 actions that make up the plan. An EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline report was also produced by the European Environment Agency, providing the latest facts and figures on the state and trends of different biodiversity and ecosystems components in the EU.

This brochure summarises the main findings of those two documents, and highlights the key achievements made under the ten key objectives of the 2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan.

The main conclusion of the 2010 Assessment is that while significant progress has been made in some areas, for instance in the completion of the EU Natura 2000 Network of protected areas, and in the reduction of pollution from point sources in freshwater bodies, the overall target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been reached.

Introduction

Up to 25% of European animal species are still at risk of extinction and even common species continue to suffer from a lack of suitable habitats outside protected areas. Urban sprawl, industrial development and new infrastructure continue to spread rapidly across Europe, often at the expense of the remaining natural areas.

Not only is Europe seeing the constant loss, degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats, but entire ecosystems are also being pushed to the point of collapse. The potential consequences are extremely serious. Our economic and social well-being is heavily dependent upon the continued flow of vital ‘ecosystem services’, but the benefits they bring to society are often overlooked.

This all points to the need to redouble our policy efforts for biodiversity in the years to come and to ensure that biodiversity and the many ecosystem services it provides are better integrated into all other EU policy areas so that it becomes the foundation upon which we base our economic development and social well-being.

The experiences gathered from the implementation of the 2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan will be invaluable in this respect and should serve as a useful springboard for a more effective post-2010 EU Biodiversity Strategy.


Nature provides many valuable services to humanity, such as clean water.


Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. It is made up of the diversity of genes, the diversity of species and the diversity of entire ecosystems. By interacting with the physical environment, this diversity creates complex ecosystems that provide a vital life-support system for all living organisms, including humans.

Biodiversity and ecosystems are important in their own right, but they also provide a vital stream of goods and services upon which we depend. We need food, fibre, fuel, medicines, and services such as climate regulation, flood prevention, water purification, pollination and soil formation, because they are essential to our economic prosperity, security, health and quality of life.

The loss of biodiversity is therefore much more than just the loss of species. It also entails a reduction in the productivity and resilience of entire ecosystems. Collapsing fish stocks, a widespread reduction in soil fertility, crashes in pollinator populations and a reduced floodwater retention capacity of our rivers are all consequences of this loss.

In the last century, humanity benefited enormously from economic development which enriched lives. However, much of this development has become associated with a decline in the variety and extent of natural systems – of biodiversity.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that although humanity’s economic and social well-being is dependent on biodiversity and the continuous flow of the many ecosystem services it provides, these are generally considered to be predominantly public goods with no real economic value. The benefits nature brings to society are often overlooked and rarely taken into account in day-to-day decisions when trade-offs are involved.

As a result, our natural capital continues to be eroded, jeopardising our welfare and that of countless species and habitats. There is a limit to the extent human ingenuity and technology can substitute for this loss. Once it has passed, there can be no turning back. The cost of man made solutions can far exceed those of looking after biodiversity in the first place.


Many of Europe’s remaining natural ecosystems are being squeezed out by other land uses.


Europe – a continent of contrastsDespite its small size, Europe has astonishing biodiversity. Much of this results from the divergent climatic and topographic conditions to be found here. These natural forces, combined with centuries of human interaction, have created a complex and intricate patchwork of natural and semi-natural habitats, each containing a distinctive mix of plants and animals. While the number of species may not reach the levels found in other continents, many of Europe’s plants and animals are endemic and therefore unique to this continent.

Europe’s biodiversity under threatBut Europe’s biodiversity is in serious decline. The main pressures and drivers are known. The principal cause is the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of habitats resulting from land use changes. In the last 50 years Europe has experienced significant land conversion, intensification of production systems, urban sprawl, infrastructure developments and the abandonment of traditional (often biodiversity–friendly) practices.

Other key pressures include the over–exploitation of natural resources, the spread of invasive alien species and pollution. The effects of climate change are also being seen on biodiversity, with changes in species distribution, migration and reproductive patterns.

On a global scale, Europe’s high consumption patterns and an increasing demand for natural resources are contributing to the demise of biodiversity elsewhere in the world.

Many of these pressures are driven by the failure of conventional economics to recognise the economic values of natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides. A major independent study – ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity’ (TEEB) – puts the value of the global loss of ecosystem services at €50 billion a year from land-based ecosystems alone.

The state of biodiversity in the EU

European pond turtle Emys orbicularis.


The state of Europe’s biodiversity in 2010In 2010, the European Environment Agency (EEA) in collaboration with the European Commission produced an EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline which summarises the latest facts and figures on the status and trends of biodiversity and ecosystem components in Europe.

The baseline concludes that the EU’s biodiversity remains under serious threat:

Although the loss of species in the EU is not occurring as rapidly as in other continents, the percentage of species threatened with extinction remains of great concern.

Up to 25% of European animal species, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and butterflies face the risk of extinction. An even greater number show declining populations.

In 2009, a comprehensive check of the rare and threatened species and habitat types protected under the European Union’s nature legislation revealed that 65% of the protected habitats and 52% of protected species are in an unfavourable conservation status. The situation is even worse for species found in grasslands, agricultural and coastal areas.

The latest inventory of land cover in the EU shows that artificial areas resulting from urban sprawl, industrial development and new infrastructures continue to spread rapidly across Europe. As a consequence, vast areas have been transformed into urban zones or have been cut up by a growing transport network. In the last 15 years, over 12,500 km² of land has been concreted over, representing an increase in artificial areas of almost 8%.

This expansion often comes at the expense of valuable natural areas, especially wetlands and grasslands which have already suffered heavy losses in the past. The remaining habitats are increasingly isolated from one another, so nearly 30% of the EU-27 territory is now highly

to moderately fragmented.

This can seriously affect the health of ecosystems, many of which can no longer deliver the optimal quality and quantity of services such as the provision of clean air and water, or the control of floods and erosion. Most of Europe’s ecosystems are now judged to be degraded.

Europeans currently consume twice as much as the EU’s land and sea can deliver in terms of natural resources. This puts immense pressure on biodiversity elsewhere in the world as well as in Europe.

The Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus at Lake Kerkini, Greece.


Group/IUCN category Species threatened with

extinction within the EU-27

Mammals – marine 25 % Mammals – terrestrial 15 % Birds 12 % Amphibians 22 % Reptiles 21 % Dragonflies 16 % Butterflies 7 %

Conservation status of species protected under the EU Habitats Directive per group (number assessed in brackets)

(source: EU project RUBICODE)

Trend between periods Positive change between the periods 1950–1990 and 1990 to present Negative change between the periods 1950–1990 and 1990 to present= No change between the two periods.

Status for period 1990 – present ■ Degraded ■ Mixed ■ Enhanced ■ Unknown ■ Not applicable

EcosystemsServices

Agro ecosystems

Forests Grasslands Heath and scrubs

Wetlands Lakes and rivers

ProvisioningCrops/timber Livestock = = = Wild Foods =Wood fuel =Capture fisheries = =Aquaculture Genetic = = =Fresh water RegulatingPollination =Climate regulation = = =Pest regulation =Erosion regulation = = =Water regulation = =Water purification = =Hazard regulation = =CulturalRecreation = ➔ =Aesthetic = = = =

Status and trends in ecosystem services in the EU

KEy: Green = favourable; Orange = unfavourable – inadequate; Red = unfavourable – bad; Grey = unknown.

Land cover change between 1990 and 2006: area change for major habitat classes

Conservation status of habitat types protected under the EU Habitats Directive per main habitat category (number assessed in brackets)

Transitional land (woodland...

Arti�cial areas (urban, industrial...

Water bodies (arti�cial reservoirs)

Natural grasslands

Extensive agricultural land

Wetland areas

-10% -5% -0% 5% 10% 15%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Sclerophyllous scrub (32)

Rocky habitats (64)

Heath & scrub (36)

Grasslands (102)

Freshwater habitats (84)

Forest (181)

Dunes habitats (62)

Coastal habitats (84)

Bogs, mires & fens (56)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Others (8)

Vascular plants (799)

Reptiles (149)

Non-vascular plants (92)

Molluscs (81)

Mammals (381)

Fish (242)

Arthropods (336)

Amphibians (152)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Sclerophyllous scrub (32)

Rocky habitats (64)

Heath & scrub (36)

Grasslands (102)

Freshwater habitats (84)

Forest (181)

Dunes habitats (62)

Coastal habitats (84)

Bogs, mires & fens (56)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Others (8)

Vascular plants (799)

Reptiles (149)

Non-vascular plants (92)

Molluscs (81)

Mammals (381)

Fish (242)

Arthropods (336)

Amphibians (152)


The Danube River is a hotspot for biodiversity in Europe. It requires coordinated action across numerous countries to ensure its conservation and sustainable use.


The EU’s commitment to halting biodiversity lossThe European Union has long been committed to biodiversity conservation in the EU and in the world. EU nature legislation dates back to 1979 and its biodiversity strategies have been in place since 1998. The EU Member States were amongst the first, in 2001, to undertake to halt biodiversity loss in their territory by 2010.

To meet this ambitious target, the EU adopted a comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan in 2006. The Action Plan underlines the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems protection as a prerequisite for sustainable development. For the first time, all relevant economic sectors and policy areas are included in a single strategy document and given responsibility for its implementation. The plan recognises the need for a concerted effort from all sectors of society and Member States to deliver the overall objective.

The EU Biodiversity Action Plan identifies four main areas of activity and sets out ten key objectives and four supporting measures to deliver the 2010 biodiversity target and put biodiversity on the course to recovery. These are translated into over 150 individual priority actions and supporting measures which are to be implemented both at national and EU level.

Assessing the impact of the EU Biodiversity Action PlanThe Commission has carried out several reviews of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan since 2006. The first detailed assessment was carried out in 2008 and was repeated again in 2010. The latest assessment confirmed that the overall target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 had not been reached, although significant progress had been made in some areas.

In light of the expiry of the 2010 biodiversity targets, the EU is actively engaged in moving the EU and global biodiversity policy agendas forward taking account of the experiences under the present EU Biodiversity Action Plan and the new 2050 EU biodiversity vision and 2020 target agreed by the EU Heads of State and Government in March 2010 as well as the global targets adopted at the 10th Conference of Parties of the Conference on Biological Diversity in October 2010.

The rest of this brochure summarises the key findings of the 2010 Biodiversity Assessment of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan, highlighting in particular the main achievements and progress made under each of the ten key objectives.

The 2010 Assessment of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan


The four key policy areas of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan Policy Area 1: Biodiversity in the EU The Action Plan accords top priority to the full and timely

implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives which are the cornerstones of biodiversity conservation in the EU. But it also recognises that efforts are required to conserve biodiversity in the broader environment and therefore stresses the importance of integrating biodiversity requirements into other sectoral policies, and of tackling the problem of invasive alien species.

Policy Area 2: The EU and global biodiversity As one of the world’s largest traders and donors of

development aid, Europe has a particular responsibility for ensuring that its practices do not lead to unsustainable development and over-exploitation. The Action Plan sets out a programme of measures to strengthen the coherence and synergies between trade, development co-operation and biodiversity conservation.

Policy Area 3: Biodiversity and climate change In support of the Kyoto commitments to cut greenhouse gas

emissions, the Action Plan outlines a series of strategic measures to help biodiversity adapt to climate change. It also promotes the use of healthy ecosystems as an effective means of mitigating against the effects of climate change using nature’s own resources where appropriate which are often much more cost effective than man-made solutions.

Policy Area 4: The knowledge base Finally, the Action Plan highlights the critical need to

improve our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Strengthening our knowledge of this complex environment will help to refine and improve our policies response in years to come.

The four policy areas are backed up by a range of supporting measures. They include: ensuring adequate funding for biodiversity conservation, strengthening EU decision-making, building partnerships with key stakeholder groups, and encouraging greater public awareness and participation in biodiversity conservation.

The souslik Spermophilous citellus is declining as a result of increasingly intensive agricultural practices.

EU Member States working together to conserve the EU’s biodiversity.


The EU Biodiversity Action Plan summarised

Supporting measures

1. Ensuring adequate financing 2. Strengthening EU decision-making

3. Building partnerships 4. Building public education, awareness and participation

f f

Policy Area 1: Biodiversity in the EU

Objectives: 1. To safeguard the EU’s most important habitats and species.2. To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU countryside.3. To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU marine environment.4. To reinforce compatibility of regional and territorial development with biodiversity in the EU.5. To substantially reduce the impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien species and alien genotypes.

Policy Area 2: The EU and global

biodiversity

Objectives:6. To substantially strengthen effectiveness of international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services.7. To substantially strengthen support for biodiversity and ecosystem services in EU external assistance.8. To substantially reduce the impact of international trade on global biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Policy Area 3: Biodiversity and climate change

Objective:9. To support biodiversity adaptation to climate change.

Policy Area 4: The knowledge base

Objective:10. To substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the EU and globally.

Monitoring, evaluation and review



Semi-natural grassland in full bloom, one of the species-rich habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.

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Objective 1

To safeguard the EU’s most

important habitats and

species

The Habitats and Birds DirectivesThe Birds and Habitats Directives lie at the heart of the EU’s policy response to halting biodiversity loss in the European Union. The Birds Directive aims to protect all wild birds in the EU and the Habitats Directive adds a further 1,500 rare and threatened plants and animals in need of concerted conservation action. Some 230 valuable habitat types (e.g. hay meadows, heathland and salt marshes) are targeted for conservation in their own right.

These two Directives represent the most ambitious and large scale initiative ever undertaken to conserve Europe’s rich natural heritage and ecosystems. They enable all 27 Member States to work together, within a common legislative framework, to conserve Europe’s most vulnerable species and habitats across their entire natural range within the EU, irrespective of political or administrative boundaries.

The Directives have two main objectives: to protect species in their own right across the EU through species protection provisions; and to conserve the core areas for certain rare and endangered species through habitat protection provisions leading to the establishment of the Natura 2000 Network.

Within these Natura 2000 sites, Member States are required to avoid damaging activities that could significantly affect species or habitats for which the site has been protected, and to take appropriate conservation measures to maintain and restore them to a favourable conservation status.

The Natura 2000 Network is nearing completion One of the first priorities of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan is to ensure the full and timely implementation of the provisions of these two Directives. Significant progress has been made in establishing the Natura 2000 Network. Over 200,000 km² of land and sea have been added to the network since 2006.

By 2010 the network contained over 26,000 sites spread across all 27 Member States, making it the largest coordinated network of protected areas anywhere in the world.

Significant progress was also made in designating Natura 2000 sites in the marine environment, but the process here is not yet complete. Identifying sites at sea is complicated by the inaccessibility of the terrain and the lack of scientific knowledge, but the marine component of the Natura 2000 Network should be completed by 2012.

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The EU Natura 2000 Network of protected sites according to biogeographical region.

KEY:

Biogeographic regions within the EU

ATLANTIC REGION

BOREAL REGION

ALPINE REGION

CONTINENTAL REGION

PANNONIAN REGION

STEPPIC REGION

BLACK SEA REGION

MEDITERRANEAN REGION

MACARONESIAN REGION

Biogeographic regions outside the EU

ARCTIC REGION

ANATOLIAN REGION

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

19951996

19971998

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

june-2009

Cum

ulat

ed ha

, milli

ons

RomaniaBulgariaSloveniaSlovakiaPolandMaltaLithuaniaLatviaHungaryEstoniaCzech RepublicCyprusUnited KingdomSwedenPortugalNetherlandsLuxembourgItalyIrelandGreeceFranceFinlandSpainDenmarkGermanyBelgiumAustria

Cumulative surface areas of sites designated per Member State under the EU Habitats Directive over time.


Red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus – a threatened species of European importance for which an EU Species Action Plan was developed in 2009.

Achievements tO dAte

• TheNatura2000Networkhasbeenlargely completed on land.

• Significantprogresshasbeenmadeindesignating marine Natura 2000 sites.

• Positivemanagementmeasureshavebeen introduced for a number of sites.

• SpeciesActionPlanshavebeenadoptedfor a range of species of EU importance.

• Afirstcomprehensivehealthcheckonthe conservation status of species and habitats of Community importance across the EU was published in 2009.

• Guidancedocumentshavebeendeveloped for various industry sectors to assist in the application of the two nature Directives.

• Onaverage,atleast119.5million€/yearwas allocated in 2007–2009 from the EU LIFE+ Funds to support practical conservation within Natura 2000 or other actions to conserve biodiversity.

• EUguidelinesforfinancingNatura2000management through EU financial instruments have been published.

• TheEnvironmentalLiabilityDirectivehas now been transposed in all EU Member States.

• Anewvoluntaryschemehasbeensetup for protecting threatened species and habitats in EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries, inspired by the Natura 2000 Network.

Managing Natura 2000 sitesAs the Natura 2000 network nears completion, attention is increasingly focused on ensuring that the sites and the species they aim to protect are conserved and positively managed so that they are capable of reaching a favourable conservation status within the EU. At present only 17% of all protected species and habitat types are in a favourable condition.

Although not obligatory, management plans have proven to be useful tools for determining the conservation actions required at individual site level. They also help engage other stakeholders and land users in the process of managing these sites, taking local land uses and regional characteristics into account.

Natura 2000 is more than a network of protected nature reserves. It recognises that humans are an integral part of nature and that the two work best in partnership with one another. Its aim is not to systematically exclude economic activities but rather to set the parameters within which these can be undertaken while safeguarding the valuable species and habitats present.

Such an approach has many advantages for nature conservation and the people living and working in rural areas. By actively associating different land-users in the management of Natura 2000 sites it is possible to ensure that vulnerable semi-natural habitats and species, which are dependent upon positive management, are maintained. The scale of Natura 2000 makes it a powerful ally in helping to maintain the economic viability and social fabric of many rural areas across Europe.


An increasingly fragmented landscapeThe two Nature Directives alone will not conserve Europe’s biodiversity, so action is also needed to conserve natural ecosystems across the wider countryside. Today, most of the remaining areas of high nature value in Europe, including those within the Natura 2000 Network, are still at risk from threats like pollution and intensifying land use. They are also surrounded by a hostile and increasingly impermeable environment.

The repercussions extend beyond the loss of species. Biodiversity is the engine that powers our ecosystems and ensures they are capable of delivering important services to society such as water purification and soil fertilisation. If healthy ecosystems lose their habitat heterogeneity and species diversity, or if they become too degraded, fragmented and isolated, their ability to provide valuable services is severely reduced or lost altogether.

Objective 2

To conserve and restore

biodiversity and ecosystem

services in the wider EU

countryside

The dual pressures of agricultural intensification and land abandonment represent a major threat to Europe’s biodiversity.

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Farm and forest birds have declined by ca 25% in the last 20 years but this downturn is finally starting to level off.

C ommon bird indic ators

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

19901991

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

Common farmland species (36 species)

Common forest species (29 species)

All common species (136 species)



• Significant funds were made available through the EU Rural Development Regulation (2007–2013) for supporting biodiversity in forest and farming areas.

• Over€22billionhasbeenallocated to agri-environment and forest environment measures across the EU-27.

• Afurther€590millionisavailablefor payments in agriculture or forest Natura 2000 areas.

• Biodiversitywasgivenagreaterpriority in the 2008 CAP Health check.

• ACommissionForestGreenPaperwas adopted in 2010, launching a debate on options for an EU approach to forest protection and information.

• AnewEuropean Atlas of Soil Biodiversity was published in 2010.

• AllMemberStatesarepreparingtheir River Basin Management Plans under the Water Framework Directive.

• WaterqualityinEurope’sfreshwaterecosystems is improving.

• AnewFrameworkDirectiveonthesustainable use of pesticides was adopted in 2009.

• Workisunderwaytodevelopaconcept of an ecologically coherent green infrastructure for Europe that could help tackle the increasing problem of habitat fragmentation and loss of valuable agricultural and forest areas in the wider countryside.

Greening the EU Common Agricultural PolicyAs farming is still the dominant land use in Europe, covering almost 50% of the EU territory, the Biodiversity Action Plan places special emphasis on integrating biodiversity needs into the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Recent reforms of the CAP and the Rural Development Regulation (2007–2013) have seen new policy tools and measures being made available to improve the integration of biodiversity considerations into farming and forestry practices across the EU. Direct payments to farmers under Pillar I of the CAP have been decoupled from production and instead linked to compliance with a number of environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards.

New rural development measures under Pillar II have also been introduced to support farming and forestry activities that are beneficial for wildlife. They include additional payments in Natura 2000 sites to compensate for the loss of income or the cost of extra management obligations necessary to deliver the objectives of the Natura 2000 Network. They also include compulsory agri- or forest environment schemes which can be tailor made to support farmers and foresters who voluntarily apply certain farming practices that are deemed to be beneficial to the environment and to biodiversity (above the level of the minimum standards).

Overall, around 23% of the Rural Development budget has been allocated to agri-environment measures across the EU-27 and a further €590 million has been allocated to Natura 2000 payments. While it is not yet possible to determine precisely how much of the money allocated to agri-envrionment measures will be used specifically for nature conservation actions, it is clear that the overall impact on biodiversity should be largely beneficial and should render the wider farming and forested landscape less hostile to wildlife.

Reducing pollutionAnother important feature of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan is its emphasis on reducing pollution in Europe’s freshwater systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the timely and effective implementation of the Water Framework Directive, protecting surface and groundwater from pollution and degradation.

The Directive is intended to ensure that all waters reach a good status (including ecological status) by 2015. This will be achieved through the implementation of a series of management plans and targeted action programmes adopted at the level of each of the 110 river basins in the EU. The process of drafting these management plans is now well underway, with a majority submitted for Commission approval by the end of 2009. Recent studies have shown that pollution in most of Europe’s rivers has started to decrease thanks to stricter EU environmental standards.


Objective 3

To conserve and restore

biodiversity and ecosystem

services in the wider EU

marine environment

European Seas under pressureThe extensive marine waters surrounding the EU play a major role in biodiversity conservation. Yet here too the environment is under tremendous pressure. Over-fishing is widespread and many fish stocks are beyond safe biological limits. Climate change, invasive alien species and heavy maritime traffic, leading to an increased risk of oil spills, have added to these problems.

Pollution and eutrophication from land sources continue at unacceptable levels. Eutrophication resulting from nutrient enrichment can trigger a chain of undesirable effects, starting with excessive growth of planktonic algae which increases the amount of organic matter settling on the seabed. The consequent increase in oxygen consumption can cause oxygen depletion and create ‘dead zones’ in which other forms of life cannot survive.

The Common Fisheries Policy The Biodiversity Action Plan calls for a more sustainable use of marine resources under the EU Common Fisheries Policy. After decades of over- and unselective fishing the management of the remaining stocks has reached a crisis point. In light of this, EU Member States have been urgently drawing up multi-annual management and recovery plans for a range of commercial fish in different marine areas to bring fishing levels down to more sustainable levels and help rebuild collapsed stocks.

Underwater Posidonia beds are extremely rich in biodiversity and play an important role in protecting the coastline.

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Measures have also been taken to introduce more selective fishing practices in order to reduce the unacceptably high levels of unwanted by-catches of non-target marine species, such as seals and dolphins, and to protect vulnerable deep sea habitats including Posidonia beds in the Mediterranean and coral reefs in the North East Atlantic. To assist in this process, the majority of Member States are using funds made available under the reformed European Fisheries Fund (2007–2013) to promote a more sustainable balance between resources and the EU’s fishing capacity and to foster a greater protection of the marine environment and its endangered habitats and species.

The EU Marine Strategy Framework DirectiveIn 2008, the EU adopted an ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive which sets out a coordinated ecosystems-based approach for improving the marine environment. Building on existing legislation and conventions, its ultimate objective is to achieve a good environmental status in the marine environment by 2020. Like the Water Framework Directive, it establishes a series of common objectives and principles which are to be applied at the level of each of the four EU marine areas (the North East Atlantic, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea).

As work has only just started on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, it is too early to gauge its impact on the marine environment. Nevertheless, it is clear that if a concerted programme of action can be introduced and implemented at the level of each marine area the benefits for marine ecosystems should be significant, both inside and outside marine protected areas. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive is also an important policy tool for ensuring that environmental concerns are fully taken up in the EU’s new Integrated Maritime Policy adopted in 2009.


• TheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective adopted in 2008 aims to achieve good environmental status for all EU marine waters by 2020.

• Nineteenofthe22coastalMember States have adopted or are in the process of adopting integrated coastal zone management plans (ICZM).

• TheEuropeanMaritimeSafetyAgency has provided technical and scientific assistance to the Commission and Member States on responses to oil spills.

• Arangeofrecoveryplanshavebeen adopted for commercial fish stocks in different marine waters to help rebuild collapsed stocks.

• Legislationhasbeenintroducedto protect vulnerable deep sea habitats from unsustainable fisheries practices.

• ACommunityActionPlanforSharks was adopted in 2009.

• MostMemberStateshaveputforward projects to promote sustainable fishing and support marine biodiversity conservation under the European Fisheries Fund.

Proportion of stocks within and outside safe biological limits.

The chart shows the proportion of assessed stocks that are overfished (red) and stocks within safe biological limits (blue). The size of the circles is proportional to the magnitude of the regional catch.


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Objective 4

To reinforce compatibility of

regional and territorial

development with

biodiversity in the EU

A more integrated spatial planning process Compared to other regions of the world, the EU is a relatively densely populated continent, and much of the land is in active use. This means that its remaining natural areas are under intense pressure from a range of development activities.

Recognising the need to safeguard such valuable ecosystems from inappropriate developments, the Biodiversity Action Plan places particular emphasis on ensuring that all new development plans and projects undergo an appropriate biodiversity assessment, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), or an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This is to ensure that negative impacts on the natural environment are minimised or avoided through the identification of alternative locations or the introduction of appropriate mitigation measures.

If carried out at the initial planning stage, these assessments allow biodiversity concerns to be taken into account from the outset. This strategic approach to territorial planning leads to a more integrated and sustainable development framework and reduces the risk of difficulties and delays.

Artificial areas continue to expand at the expense of natural habitats.



• Allplansandprogrammesoperating under the new EU Structural Funds (2007–2013) have been subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

• Newopportunitieshavebeenmade available under the EU Structural Funds for directly supporting biodiversity conservation within regional development programmes and cross border programmes.

• Theapplicationformformajorprojects to be co-financed by EU funds includes explicit reference to the need for a complete EIA and Appropriate Assessments for Natura 2000 sites.

• ThecorrectapplicationofSEA,EIA and Appropriate Assessments is promoted through Commission guidance and infringement procedures.

• Workisunderwaytodevelopaconcept of an ecologically coherent green infrastructure for Europe, with a view to adopting an EU strategy on this issue in 2011, that could help tackle the increasing problem of habitat fragmentation and be a useful tool for climate change adaptation through the development and maintenance of ecosystems.

All new plans and programmes involving the EU’s Structural Funds (the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund) are required to undergo a Strategic Environmental Assessment before they can be approved for funding.

In addition, major development projects (those costing more than €50 million) which are to be co-financed through the EU Structural Funds must first be approved by the European Commission. The latter will ensure that the EIA, and the appropriate assessment in the case of projects affecting Natura 2000 sites, has taken full account of the possible effects on the natural environment, including biodiversity, and introduced the necessary measures to remove or minimise these impacts.

Investing in natureThe EU Structural Funds for 2007–2013 also provide an opportunity to directly or indirectly support biodiversity conservation within the framework of EU regional or local development plans and programmes. Member States have allocated a total of about €2.7 billion to the ‘Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection (including Natura 2000)’. In the framework of tourism a further €1.1 billion has been allocated to the ‘promotion of natural assets’ and €1.4 billion for the ‘protection and development of natural heritage’, both including projects for nature and biodiversity.

Some Member States use the funds primarily to promote habitat restoration projects or to help reconnect areas that have been fragmented by infrastructure developments (e.g. through creation of ecological corridors). Others place more emphasis on the implementation of the Natura 2000 Network or the promotion of nature conservation through tourism and other recreational developments.

Eco bridge over motorway in Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands.


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Objective 5

To substantially reduce the

impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien

species

Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum has become invasive in many parts of Europe.

The proliferation of invasive alien species in Europe Invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native species whose introduction outside their natural range poses a threat to biodiversity. They can be animals, plants, fungi or micro-organisms, and are considered to be the second most important reason for biodiversity loss worldwide, after habitat loss and destruction.

Modern trading patterns increase the opportunities for species to move beyond their natural biogeographical barriers. As trade, travel and transport have expanded within the EU and the rest of the world, the rate of intentional and unintentional introductions of new species has risen exponentially. This trend is predicted to continue, along with the further spread of already established alien species populations.

Many introduced species are of critical importance for production systems that underpin European economies. They provide a range of employment opportunities and are highly appreciated in society as ornamental plants, pet animals, exotic birds, game, or fish for angling and aquaculture. But a subset of introduced species has become invasive in Europe and are threatening native biodiversity. Over 10,000 alien species have now been identified, of which some 10–15% are potentially dangerous to Europe’s biodiversity.

The consequences of their proliferation are being felt across the EU. Not only do they pose a threat to native species and habitats by out-competing them but they also cause serious economic damage. In 2008, the cost of controlling invasive alien species and repairing the damage reached an estimated €9.6–12.7 billion in the EU.



• TheEUCommunication‘Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Alien Species’ issued in 2008 identifies various policy options for developing an EU strategy on invasive alien species.

• Astudywascommissionedtoexamine the feasibility of establishing an EU-wide early warning system on invasive alien species.

• €38millionofEULIFEmoneyhasbeen spent on eradicating and controlling invasive alien species inside and outside the Natura 2000 Network.

• Anevaluationoftheimpactsofinvasive species on aquatic ecosystems (and how these species should be considered in the definition of the good ecological quality of waters) is being coordinated by the Joint Research Centre.

• SeveralprojectsfundedunderEUResearch and Technological Development programmes have been launched to help inform EU policy development on invasive alien species, including DAISIE, ALARM and NOBANIS.

• Regulation708/2007onalienspecies in aquaculture came into force in 2007.

Towards an EU Strategy for invasive alien species The EU Biodiversity Action Plan highlights the importance of tackling the problem of invasive alien species as a matter of priority. The need to develop a common approach at EU level is evidenced by the fact that actions taken so far in some countries are often being negated by the lack of action in others, resulting in piecemeal efforts.

Existing EU legislation and policy already provides part of the solution to the problems concerning invasive species. However, at present there are no mechanisms to support the harmonisation or consistency of approaches between neighbouring countries or countries in the same sub-region. There are also no formal requirements to undertake a risk analysis as regards the intentional introduction of non-native species that may affect biodiversity.

Responding to this concern, the Commission issued a Communication ‘Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species’ in December 2008 which outlines four possible Policy Options to address IAS-related threats. These are based on the internationally-recognised three-stage hierarchy that prevention of unwanted introductions is the most cost-effective, efficient and least environmentally damaging approach, followed by eradication, where feasible, or long-term containment/control.

The Communication stresses the importance of establishing an early warning system for the prompt exchange of information between neighbouring countries on the emergence of invasive alien species and cooperation on control measures across national boundaries. The next step is the elaboration of an EU strategy for invasive alien species.

The percentage of threatened and non-threatened species negatively affected by invasive alien species per group of species.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

All

Dragon�ies

Butter�ies

Marine mammals

Terrestrial mammals

Reptiles

Amphibians

Percentage of species impacted

Non-ThreatenedThreatened

(source: IUCN, 2009, 2010)


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Objectives 6-7-8

To strengthen the EU’s role in

combatting global

biodiversity loss

Supporting biodiversity through EU external assistanceTo be a credible partner in the international arena, the EU recognises that it is not enough to focus solely on biodiversity in Europe. The impact of the EU’s high consumption patterns on the rest of the planet must also be addressed. That is why three of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan objectives concern the EU’s role in combatting global biodiversity loss.

In addition to pressing for the effective worldwide implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other biodiversity conventions, these objectives also address issues such as international trade and the greening of EU development policies and programmes.

In its 2007–2013 Development Policy, the EU pledged to help mainstream biodiversity into its development cooperation programmes. Environmental Profiles have therefore been established for most countries and regions covered by EC external cooperation. So far some €133 million has been allocated for biodiversity within these geographical programmes, principally in the Central African region, Ethiopia, Malawi, Honduras, Bolivia and Brazil. But further efforts are still needed. One reason for the low uptake is the fact that biodiversity is often not a priority for the partner countries themselves.

The EU is providing significant funds for tropical forest conservation.


Achievements tO dAte• UndertheEUDevelopmentPolicy

(2007–2013) €133 million has been allocated to biodiversity within the external assistance programmes for various developing countries.

• Atotalof€114millionhasalsobeenallocated to biodiversity for the four-year period 2007–2010 under the EC Thematic Programme for Environment and Natural Resources (ENRTP).

• Afurther€20millionhasbeenapproved in a Financing Agreement for Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management in ACP countries.

• Aspartofitstrade-relatedSustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) Programme, the Commission is conducting SIAs for all its planned regional and bilateral free trade and partnership agreements.

• TheCommissionandMemberStatesare actively engaged in efforts to raise awareness and promote implementation of the Bonn Guidelines on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for genetic resources.

• TheEUisactivelyengagedintheimplementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

• Significantprogresshasbeenmadein promoting Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

• TheEUcontinuestopressfortheeffective worldwide implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other international biodiversity conventions.

The EU also has a dedicated Thematic Programme for Environment and Natural Resources (ENRTP) which has made over €114 million available for biodiversity conservation in the last four years (2007–2010). In addition, the EU contributes significantly to the replenishment of the 5th Global Environment Facility which provides grants to developing countries for projects related to biodiversity, climate change and other global environmental issues. $1.2 billion has been earmarked for biodiversity projects and programmes for 2010–2014.

Reducing the impact of international trade Since the adoption of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan, the EU has redoubled its efforts to promote the integration of the environmental dimension into international trade. As part of its Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) Programme, the Commission conducts SIAs for all its planned regional and bilateral free trade and partnership agreements in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

At EU level, the European Commission is encouraging Member States to set themselves the target of ensuring that 50% of their tendering procedures are green. Public authorities in the EU spend over €2,000 billion on purchasing goods and services such as computers, buildings, paper, food and cleaning services every year. By insisting on environmentally friendly options in their tendering procedures, these authorities can, collectively, exert a major influence on consumption patterns within the EU and create a stronger demand for green products and technology.

As regards global trade in biodiversity, progress has been made in implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) adopted in 2003. To support the efforts of the latter, the EU has also made a proposal for a Regulation laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market. The proposal is based on the due diligence principle requiring the operators covered by it to apply a system to minimise the risk of placing illegally harvested timber and timber products on the Community market. The red-eyed tree frog Agalychnis callidryas

has become a symbol for many campaigns to save tropical forests.


Objective 9

To support biodiversity

adaptation to climate change

Climate change and biodiversity There is now a broad scientific and political consensus that the climate is changing as a result of human activities. This is manifesting itself through more extreme weather patterns in various parts of the world, including lengthier droughts, more frequent flooding and melting glaciers. The economic, social and environmental costs are potentially enormous.

Climate change is also taking its toll on wildlife. In a recent assessment of 122 widespread European bird species, climate warming had a negative impact on 92 species, benefitting only 30. This shows that huge changes in biodiversity and ecosystems can be expected in Europe.

Entire ecosystems could also be disrupted and many are already reaching a point of no return. But when maintained and sustainably used, ecosystems can play a major role in mitigating the effects of climate change, and might also be effectively and efficiently used in actions taken to adapt to climate change. Peatlands, forests and wetlands are capable of storing significant amounts of carbon, while dunes and freshwater ecosystems provide a natural defence against floods and rising seas.

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❧The willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus is likely to be strongly affected by climate change.


Reducing greenhouse gas emissions Addressing climate change requires two types of response. Firstly, there must be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, adaptation and mitigation measures must be put in place to deal with the unavoidable impacts.

In the case of the former, the latest EEA inventory of greenhouse gas emissions by Member States indicates that emissions have decreased by 11.3% compared to 1990. Several countries, especially the newer Member States, have substantially reduced their emissions. As a result, the EU 27 as a whole has achieved more than half of its unilateral reduction target of 20% by 2020 through domestic emission reductions alone and is well on the way to meeting its overall Kyoto targets.

Using nature to mitigate against climate changeIn 2009, the Commission issued a White Paper on adapting to climate change. The paper emphasises the importance of maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrity and developing a ‘green infrastructure’ for the EU with healthy, interconnected ecosystems and natural landscape elements. It stresses the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to maintain and enhance ecosystems and the goods and services they provide.

The paper recognises that ecosystem-based approaches are ready to use, accessible to all, and cost-effective. Maintaining healthy ecosystems makes economic sense: finding man-made solutions to replace the services that nature offers for free is technically challenging and extremely expensive.

There is however also a need to ensure that adaptation and mitigation measures are not detrimental to biodiversity. Various initiatives have been taken in this respect, including the introduction of environmental sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids within the new EU Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

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The impact of climate change on widespread bird populations has increased markedly in the past 20 years.


• SeveralMemberStateshavealready substantially reduced their greenhouse gas emissions.

• TheEUasawholehasachievedmore than half of its unilateral reduction target of 20% by 2020 and is well on the way to meeting its overall Kyoto targets.

• TheEUhascalledforhaltingtheloss of global forest cover by 2030 at the latest and reducing gross tropical deforestation by at least 50% by 2020 from current levels.

• In2009,theCommissionissuedaWhite Paper on adaptation to climate change, emphasising the importance of maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrity.

• EU-fundedresearchprojectshave been launched to examine the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

• ThenewEUDirective2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources includes environmental sustainability criteria to protect biodiversity.


Biodiversity research in support of policyUnderstanding the complexity of biodiversity is an enormous scientific challenge. There is a critical need to fill the numerous gaps in our knowledge if we are to improve our understanding of our interrelationship with, and dependency on, biodiversity and ecosystem services. This will create a more robust and comprehensive knowledge base for supporting future policies and actions. In addition, investment in long-term ecological monitoring programmes, using modern technology and ensuring access to interoperable databases, is essential to support our knowledge about the impact of biodiversity on the functioning of ecosystems.

The EU, through its Biodiversity Action Plan, places particular emphasis on funding basic research on biodiversity and ecosystems through its research Framework Programmes. Already over €200 million has been allocated to biodiversity related projects under the 6th (2002–2006) and 7th (2007–2013) Framework Programmes. The results of these projects, together with Member States’ own research investments, are continuously fed into the development of EU biodiversity policy.

To assist this process further, an Atlas of Biodiversity Risk was launched in June 2010, bringing together the results of a number of European Research projects in a comprehensive manner. The European Commission and European Environmental Agency have also set up a new Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE) whose overall objective is to build a single point of access to consistent, up-to-date and peer-reviewed information, data and knowledge on biodiversity in Europe.

Long-term ecological monitoring is essential to support our knowledge on the state of biodiversity.

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Objective 10

To substantially strengthen the

knowledge base

BIODIVERSITY INFORMATIONSYSTEM FOR EUROPE


The EU is also actively promoting biodiversity research and data collection at the international level. It has been instrumental in getting the international community to agree, in June 2010, to set up an Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems services (IPBES) to strengthen independent scientific advice to global policy making. The EU is also providing €1 million to UNEP to facilitate the establishment of the IPBES.

Studying the economics of biodiversity Responding to a proposal of the G8+5 Environment Ministers in 2007, the EU has been the main funder of a decisive global study on ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’. The study, which draws on expertise from around the world in the fields of natural sciences, economics and policy, evaluates the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the associated decline in ecosystem services worldwide, and compares them with the costs of effective conservation and sustainable use.

In May 2008, an interim TEEB report was presented at the CoP-9 meeting of the Convention of Biological Diversity. It provided strong evidence of significant global and local economic losses and human welfare impacts attributable to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, estimated to be around €50 billion a year.

The second phase of TEEB work included a Report on Ecological and Economic Foundations and four targeted end-user reports that build on this baseline. The latter offers tailored insights and advice for national and international policy makers, local and regional administrators, businesses as well as consumers and citizens on how to foster sustainable development by better conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and taking their economic value into account at the outset.

生態系と生物多様性の経済学

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i ve

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中間報告

生態系と生物多様性の経済学

中間報告


• €78.6millionspentundertheEU’s6thResearch Framework Programme (2002–2006) on biodiversity-related research projects.

• Afurther€199.5millionallocatedsofar under the EU’s 7th Research Framework Programme (2007–2013).

• TheEuropeanCommissionisengagedin the global strategy for follow up to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and is committed to developing a regional assessment for Europe using the EURECA project launched by the European Environment Agency.

• TheCommissionwasinstrumentalingaining agreement in 2010 for an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and is contributing €1 million to facilitate its establishment.

• AnEUAtlas of Biodiversity Risk was launched in June 2010, bringing together the results of a number of European Research Projects.

• AnewBiodiversityInformationSystemfor Europe (BISE) has been set up to provide a single point of contact for data relevant to EU biodiversity.

• TheEUisthemainfunderoftheglobal study on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), the results of which will be instrumental in informing future policy responses.

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conomí a

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losEcosistem

asy

la Biod i ve rs idad

TEEB PARA LOS RESPONSABLES DE LA ELABORACIÓN DE POLÍTICAS

NACIONALES E INTERNACIONALES

RESUMEN: RESPONDER AL VALOR DE LA NATURALEZA

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TEEB FOR BUSINESSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY


supporting measures

To ensure the EU Biodiversity Action Plan’s objectives and actions are implemented as effectively as possible, they are supported by additional measures dealing with funding, decision-making, building partnerships and raising awareness.

Ensuring adequate financing The EU Financial Perspectives for 2007–2013 have opened up new opportunities for

co-financing Natura 2000 and other biodiversity-related activities across the EU. The LIFE+ fund, which supports nature and biodiversity actions, is set to spend €836 million on Natura 2000 and biodiversity during this period.

Strengthening EU decision-making Strengthening the European decision-making process involves improving the

coordination between EU and Member State policies on biodiversity, notably through an efficient governance structure. Regular meetings are held between the Commission and National Authorities to review progress on the Biodiversity Action Plan and the two Nature Directives, ensuring a coordinated policy response within the EU and in relations with the rest of the world.

Building partnerships The European Commission attaches particular importance to building partnerships

with different stakeholder groups and has undertaken many initiatives in this area. In 2010 it launched the Business and Biodiversity (B@B) Platform, a web-based tool that helps businesses integrate biodiversity considerations into their core activities and enables them to find solutions to biodiversity challenges related to their sector of activity.

Promoting public education, awareness and participation Successful EU policy action on biodiversity depends on support from citizens. To

mark the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, the European Commission launched a major EU-wide communications and outreach campaign on biodiversity. The main aim of the campaign, which was built around the slogan ‘Biodiversity – we are all in this together’, was to familiarise Europeans with the problems caused by biodiversity loss and the impacts this can have on their daily lives. It also illustrates what individuals can do to help stop this decline.❦❦

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Photo credits:Cover: All three photos, IstockphotoPage 4: David KjaerPage 6: Peter CreedPage 8: IstockphotoPage 9: Kern, Nationalpark Donauauen Page 10: J. Peltomaki, Wild WondersPage 12: Kocacs, Nationalpark DonauauenPage 14: K. Wothe, Wild WondersPage 14: European CommissionPage 16: Peter CreedPage 19: Csaba Loki

Further readingEuropean Commission Nature and Biodiversity website http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm

The 2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan and 2010 Assessment http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/index_en.htm

2010 EU Biodiversity Baseline http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eu-2010-biodiversity-baseline/

Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE)www.biodiversity.europa.eu

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) reports: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/economics/index_en.htm

The Natura 2000 Networkhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm


European Commission

EU Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment

Luxembourg : Publications Office of the European Union

2010 — 36 pp. — 21 x 21 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-16248-0doi 10.2779/42306

Copies of this publication are available free of charge while stocks last from:

European CommissionDirectorate-General EnvironmentInformation Centre (BU-9 0/11)B-1049 Brusselshttp://bookshop.eu/

Page 20: David KjaerPage 22: Stella Del CurtoPage 24: IstockphotoPage 25: Staatsbossbeheer Page 26: FlickrPage 28: IstockphotoPage 29: IstockphotoPage 30: IstockphotoPage 32: Ruth HaynesPage 33: IstockphotoPage 34: 1st photo David Kjaer, 2nd photo European Commission

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