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Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment 1

EU BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN:

2010 Assessment

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2 Biodiversity Action Plan: 2010 Assessment

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers

to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*):

00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed

More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu)

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010

ISBN 978-92-79-16248-0

doi : 10.2779/42306

European Union, 2010

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged

Printed in Belgium

Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded the eu eco-label for graphic paper

(http://ec.europa.eu/ecolabel )

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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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Objective 1:To safeguard the EUs 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 . . . . 22

Objective 4:To reinforce the compatibility of regional and territorial development with biodiversity in the EU. . . . . . 24

Objective 5:To substantially reduce the impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Objectives 6-7-8:To strengthen the EUs role in combatting global biodiversity loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

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

. 30

Objective 10:To substantially strengthen the knowledge base. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

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


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

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In 2006, an EU Biodiversity Action Plan was drawn up bythe European Commission and subsequently endorsed bythe EUs 27 Environment Ministers. Its aim was to set out acomprehensive programme of actions and targets which

would enable the EU to meet its commitment to haltbiodiversity loss by 2010.

Four years on, the time has come to take stock of theBiodiversity Action Plan and assess the impact it has hadon Europes biodiversity. With this in mind, theCommission carried out a detailed assessment of theAction Plan reviewing the progress made on each of the150 actions that make up the plan. An EU 2010 BiodiversityBaseline report was also produced by the EuropeanEnvironment Agency, providing the latest facts and figureson the state and trends of different biodiversity andecosystems 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 whilesignificant progress has been made in some areas, forinstance in the completion of the EU Natura 2000 Networkof protected areas, and in the reduction of pollution frompoint sources in freshwater bodies, the overall target ofhalting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been reached.

Introduction

Up to 25% of European animal species are still at risk ofextinction and even common species continue to sufferfrom 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, degradationand fragmentation of natural habitats, but entireecosystems are also being pushed to the point of collapse.The potential consequences are extremely serious. Oureconomic and social well-being is heavily dependentupon the continued flow of vital ecosystem services, butthe benefits they bring to society are often overlooked.

This all points to the need to redouble our policy effortsfor biodiversity in the years to come and to ensure thatbiodiversity and the many ecosystem services it providesare better integrated into all other EU policy areas so thatit becomes the foundation upon which we base oureconomic development and social well-being.

The experiences gathered from the implementation of the2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan will be invaluable in thisrespect and should serve as a useful springboard for amore effective post-2010 EU Biodiversity Strategy.

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

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Why is biodiversityimportant?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. It is made up ofthe diversity of genes, the diversity of species and thediversity of entire ecosystems. By interacting with thephysical environment, this diversity creates complex

ecosystems that provide a vital life-support system for allliving organisms, including humans.

Biodiversity and ecosystems are important in their ownright, but they also provide a vital stream of goods andservices upon which we depend. We need food, fibre, fuel,medicines, and services such as climate regulation, floodprevention, water purification, pollination and soilformation, because they are essential to our economicprosperity, security, health and quality of life.

The loss of biodiversity is therefore much more than justthe loss of species. It also entails a reduction in theproductivity and resilience of entire ecosystems.Collapsing fish stocks, a widespread reduction in soilfertility, crashes in pollinator populations and a reducedfloodwater retention capacity of our rivers are all

consequences of this loss.

In the last century, humanity benefited enormously fromeconomic development which enriched lives. However,much of this development has become associated with adecline in the variety and extent of natural systems of

biodiversity.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that althoughhumanitys economic and social well-being is dependenton biodiversity and the continuous flow of the manyecosystem services it provides, these are generallyconsidered to be predominantly public goods with no realeconomic value. The benefits nature brings to society areoften 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 andhabitats. There is a limit to the extent human ingenuityand technology can substitute for this loss. Once it haspassed, there can be no turning back. The cost of manmade solutions can far exceed those of looking after

biodiversity in the first place.

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Many of Europes remaining natural ecosystems arebeing squeezed out by other land uses.

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Europe a continent of contrasts

Despite its small size, Europe has astonishing biodiversity. Muchof this results from the divergent climatic and topographic

conditions to be found here. These natural forces, combinedwith centuries of human interaction, have created a complexand intricate patchwork of natural and semi-natural habitats,each containing a distinctive mix of plants and animals. Whilethe number of species may not reach the levels found in othercontinents, many of Europes plants and animals are endemicand therefore unique to this continent.

Europes biodiversity under threat

But Europes biodiversity is in serious decline. The mainpressures and drivers are known. The principal cause is the

destruction, degradation and fragmentation of habitatsresulting from land use changes. In the last 50 years Europe hasexperienced significant land conversion, intensification ofproduction systems, urban sprawl, infrastructure developmentsand the abandonment of traditional (often biodiversityfriendly) practices.

Other key pressures include the overexploitation of naturalresources, the spread of invasive alien species and pollution.

The effects of climate change are also being seen onbiodiversity, with changes in species distribution, migration andreproductive patterns.

On a global scale, Europes high consumption patterns and anincreasing demand for natural resources are contributing to thedemise of biodiversity elsewhere in the world.

Many of these pressures are driven by the failure of conventionaleconomics to recognise the economic values of natural capital

and the ecosystem services it provides. A major independentstudy The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) puts the value of the global loss of ecosystem services at50 billion a year from land-based ecosystems alone.

The state of biodiversityin the EU

European pond turtle Emys orbicularis.

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The state of Europes biodiversityin 2010

In 2010, the European Environment Agency (EEA) incollaboration with the European Commission produced an EU2010 Biodiversity Baseline which summarises the latest factsand figures on the status and trends of biodiversity andecosystem components in Europe.

The baseline concludes that the EUs biodiversity remains underserious threat:

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

Up to 25% of European animal species, includingmammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and butterflies facethe risk of extinction. An even greater number showdeclining populations.

In 2009, a comprehensive check of the rare and threatenedspecies and habitat types protected under the EuropeanUnions nature legislation revealed that 65% of the protectedhabitats and 52% of protected species are in an unfavourableconservation status. The situation is even worse for speciesfound in grasslands, agricultural and coastal areas.

The latest inventory of land cover in the EU shows thatartificial areas resulting from urban sprawl, industrialdevelopment and new infrastructures continue to spreadrapidly across Europe. As a consequence, vast areas havebeen transformed into urban zones or have been cut up by agrowing transport network. In the last 15 years, over12,500 km of land has been concreted over, representing an

increase in artificial areas of almost 8%.

This expansion often comes at the expense of valuablenatural areas, especially wetlands and grasslands whichhave already suffered heavy losses in the past. Theremaining habitats are increasingly isolated from oneanother, so nearly 30% of the EU-27 territory is now highlyto moderately fragmented.

This can seriously affect the health of ecosystems, many ofwhich can no longer deliver the optimal quality and quantityof services such as the provision of clean air and water, or thecontrol of floods and erosion. Most of Europes ecosystemsare now judged to be degraded.

Europeans currently consume twice as much as the EUs landand sea can deliver in terms of natural resources. This putsimmense pressure on biodiversity elsewhere in the world aswell as in Europe.

The Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispusat Lake Kerkini, Greece.

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Group/IUCN category Species threatened withextinction within the EU-27Mammals marine 25 %

Mammals terrestrial 15 %

Birds 12 %

Amphibians 22 %

Reptiles 21 %

Dragonflies 16 %Butterflies 7 %

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

(source: EU project RUBICODE)

Trend between periods

Positive change between the periods 19501990 and 1990 to presentNegative change between the periods 19501990 and 1990 to present= No change between the two periods.

Status for period 1990 present

DegradedMixedEnhancedUnknownNot applicable

Ecosystems

Services

Agroecosystems

Forest s Grasslands Heath andscrubs

Wet lan ds L ake s a ndrivers

Provisioning

Crops/timber Livestock = = = Wild Foods =Wood fuel =

Capture fisheries = =

Aquaculture Genetic = = =Fresh water Regulating

Pollination =

Climate regulation = = =

Pest regulation =

Erosion regulation = = =

Water regulation = =Water purification = =

Hazard regulation = =

Cultural

Recreation = =

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 HabitatsDirective per main habitat category (number assessed in brackets)

Transitional land (woodland...

Artificial areas (urban, industrial...

Water bodies (artificial 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)

ll

l

l ll

l

l

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)

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

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The EUs commitment to haltingbiodiversity loss

The European Union has long been committed to biodiversityconservation in the EU and in the world. EU nature legislationdates back to 1979 and its biodiversity strategies have been inplace since 1998. The EU Member States were amongst the first,in 2001, to undertake to halt biodiversity loss in their territoryby 2010.

To meet this ambitious target, the EU adopted a comprehensiveBiodiversity Action Plan in 2006. The Action Plan underlines theimportance of biodiversity and ecosystems protection as a

prerequisite for sustainable development. For the first time, allrelevant economic sectors and policy areas are included in asingle strategy document and given responsibility for itsimplementation. The plan recognises the need for a concertedeffort from all sectors of society and Member States to deliver theoverall objective.

The EU Biodiversity Action Plan identifies four main areas ofactivity and sets out ten key objectives and four supporting

measures to deliver the 2010 biodiversity target and putbiodiversity on the course to recovery. These are translated intoover 150 individual priority actions and supporting measureswhich are to be implemented both at national and EU level.

Assessing the impact of the EUBiodiversity Action Plan

The Commission has carried out several reviews of the EUBiodiversity Action Plan since 2006. The first detailed assessmentwas carried out in 2008 and was repeated again in 2010. Thelatest assessment confirmed that the overall target of haltingbiodiversity loss by 2010 had not been reached, althoughsignificant progress had been made in some areas.

In light of the expiry of the 2010 biodiversity targets, the EU isactively engaged in moving the EU and global biodiversity policyagendas forward taking account of the experiences under the

present EU Biodiversity Action Plan and the new 2050 EUbiodiversity vision and 2020 target agreed by the EU Heads ofState and Government in March 2010 as well as the global targetsadopted at the 10th Conference of Parties of the Conference onBiological Diversity in October 2010.

The rest of this brochure summarises the key findings of the 2010Biodiversity 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 EUBiodiversity Action Plan

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The four key policy areas of the EUBiodiversity 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 conservebiodiversity in the broader environment and thereforestresses the importance of integrating biodiversityrequirements into other sectoral policies, and of tackling theproblem of invasive alien species.

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

development aid, Europe has a particular responsibility forensuring that its practices do not lead to unsustainabledevelopment and over-exploitation. The Action Plan sets outa programme of measures to strengthen the coherence andsynergies between trade, development co-operation andbiodiversity conservation.

Policy Area 3:Biodiversity and climate changeIn support of the Kyoto commitments to cut greenhouse gasemissions, the Action Plan outlines a series of strategicmeasures to help biodiversity adapt to climate change. It alsopromotes the use of healthy ecosystems as an effectivemeans of mitigating against the effects of climate changeusing natures 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 ecosystemservices. Strengthening our knowledge of this complexenvironment will help to refine and improve our policiesresponse in years to come.

The four policy areas are backed up by a range of supportingmeasures. They include: ensuring adequate funding forbiodiversity conservation, strengthening EU decision-making,building partnerships with key stakeholder groups, andencouraging greater public awareness and participation inbiodiversity conservation.

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

EU Member States working together to

conserve the EUs biodiversity.

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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 EUs mostimportant habitats andspecies.

2. To conserve and restorebiodiversity and ecosystemservices in the wider EU

countryside.3. To conserve and restore

biodiversity and ecosystemservices in the wider EUmarine environment.

4. To reinforce compatibilityof regional and territorialdevelopment withbiodiversity in the EU.

5. To substantially reduce theimpact on EU biodiversity ofinvasive alien species andalien genotypes.

Policy Area 2:

The EU and global

biodiversity

Objectives:

6. To substantially strengtheneffectiveness ofinternational governancefor biodiversity andecosystem services.

7. To substantially strengthensupport for biodiversityand ecosystem services inEU external assistance.

8. To substantially reduce theimpact of internationaltrade on global biodiversityand ecosystem services.

Policy Area 3:Biodiversity and

climate change

Objective:

9. To support biodiversityadaptation to climatechange.

Policy Area 4:

The knowledge base

Objective:

10. To substantially strengthenthe knowledge base forconservation andsustainable use ofbiodiversity in the EU

and globally.

Monitoring, evaluation and review


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

THE

2010ASSESSMEN

TOFTHEEUBIODIVERSITYACTIONPLAN

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Objective 1

To safeguardthe EUs most

importanthabitats and

species

The Habitats and Birds Directives

The Birds and Habitats Directives lie at the heart of the EUs policy response to haltingbiodiversity loss in the European Union. The Birds Directive aims to protect all wildbirds in the EU and the Habitats Directive adds a further 1,500 rare and threatenedplants and animals in need of concerted conservation action. Some 230 valuablehabitat types (e.g. hay meadows, heathland and salt marshes) are targeted forconservation in their own right.

These two Directives represent the most ambitious and large scale initiative everundertaken to conserve Europes rich natural heritage and ecosystems. They enable all27 Member States to work together, within a common legislative framework, toconserve Europes most vulnerable species and habitats across their entire naturalrange 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 forcertain rare and endangered species through habitat protection provisions leading tothe establishment of the Natura 2000 Network.

Within these Natura 2000 sites, Member States are required to avoid damagingactivities that could significantly affect species or habitats for which the site has beenprotected, and to take appropriate conservation measures to maintain and restorethem 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 andtimely implementation of the provisions of these two Directives. Significant progresshas been made in establishing the Natura 2000 Network. Over 200,000 km of land andsea 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 marineenvironment, but the process here is not yet complete. Identifying sites at sea iscomplicated 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.

RomaniaCumulative surface areas of sites designated per Member

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The EU Natura 2000 Networkof protected sites accordingto biogeographical region.

KEY:

Biogeographic regions within theEU

ATLANTIC REGIONBOREAL REGION

ALPINE REGION

CONTINENTAL REGION

PANNONIAN REGION

STEPPIC REGION

BLACK SEA REGION

MEDITERRANEAN REGION

MACARONESIAN REGIONBiogeographic regions outside theEU

ARCTIC REGION ANATOLIAN REGION

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

june

-2009

Cumulated

ha,

millions

BulgariaSloveniaSlovakiaPolandMaltaLithuaniaLatviaHungaryEstoniaCzech RepublicCyprusUnited KingdomSweden

PortugalNetherlandsLuxembourgItalyIrelandGreeceFranceFinlandSpainDenmarkGermanyBelgiumAustria

g pState under the EU Habitats Directive over time.

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

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

The Natura 2000 Network has been

largely completed on land.

Signicant progress has been made indesignating marine Natura 2000 sites.

Positive management measures have

been introduced for a number of sites.

Species Action Plans have been adopted

for a range of species of EU importance.

A rst comprehensive health check on

the conservation status of species and

habitats of Community importanceacross the EU was published in 2009.

Guidance documents have been

developed for various industry sectorsto assist in the application of the twonature Directives.

On average, at least 119.5 million/year

was allocated in 20072009 from the EU

LIFE+ Funds to support practicalconservation within Natura 2000 orother actions to conserve biodiversity.

EU guidelines for nancing Natura 2000

management through EU financialinstruments have been published.

The Environmental Liability Directive

has now been transposed in all EU

Member States. A new voluntary scheme has been setup for protecting threatened speciesand habitats in EU Outermost Regionsand Overseas Countries, inspired by theNatura 2000 Network.

Managing Natura 2000 sites

As the Natura 2000 network nears completion, attention is increasingly focused onensuring that the sites and the species they aim to protect are conserved and positivelymanaged so that they are capable of reaching a favourable conservation status withinthe EU. At present only 17% of all protected species and habitat types are in afavourable condition.

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

Natura 2000 is more than a network of protected nature reserves. It recognises thathumans are an integral part of nature and that the two work best in partnership with oneanother. Its aim is not to systematically exclude economic activities but rather to set the

parameters within which these can be undertaken while safeguarding the valuablespecies and habitats present.

Such an approach has many advantages for nature conservation and the people livingand working in rural areas. By actively associating different land-users in themanagement of Natura 2000 sites it is possible to ensure that vulnerable semi-naturalhabitats 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 economicviability and social fabric of many rural areas across Europe.

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An increasingly fragmented landscape

The two Nature Directives alone will not conserve Europes biodiversity, so action is alsoneeded to conserve natural ecosystems across the wider countryside. Today, most ofthe remaining areas of high nature value in Europe, including those within the Natura2000 Network, are still at risk from threats like pollution and intensifying land use. Theyare also surrounded by a hostile and increasingly impermeable environment.

The repercussions extendbeyond the loss of species.Biodiversity is the engine thatpowers our ecosystems andensures they are capable ofdelivering important servicesto society such as waterpurification and soil

fertilisation. If healthyecosystems lose their habitatheterogeneity and speciesdiversity, or if they becometoo degraded, fragmentedand isolated, their ability toprovide valuable servicesis severely reduced orlost altogether.

Objective 2

To conserveand restore

biodiversity andecosystem

services in thewider EU

countryside

The dual pressures of agricultural intensification and land abandonment represent a major threat toEuropes biodiversity.

Farm and forest birds have declined by ca 25% in the last20 years but this downturn is finally starting to level off.

Common bird indicators

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Common farmland species (36 species)

Common forest species (29 species)

All common species (136 species)

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Significant funds were madeavailable through the EU Rural

Development Regulation (20072013) for supporting biodiversity inforest and farming areas.

Over 22 billion has beenallocated to agri-environment andforest environment measures acrossthe EU-27.

A further 590 million is availablefor payments in agriculture or forest

Natura 2000 areas. Biodiversity was given a greater

priority in the 2008 CAP Healthcheck.

A Commission Forest Green Paperwas adopted in 2010, launching adebate on options for an EUapproach to forest protectionand information.

A new European Atlas of SoilBiodiversitywas published in 2010.

All Member States are preparingtheir River Basin Management Plansunder the Water FrameworkDirective.

Water quality in Europes freshwaterecosystems is improving.

A new Framework Directive on the

sustainable use of pesticides wasadopted in 2009.

Work is underway to develop aconcept of an ecologically coherentgreen infrastructure for Europe thatcould help tackle the increasingproblem of habitat fragmentationand loss of valuable agricultural andforest areas in the wider

countryside.

Greening the EU Common Agricultural Policy

As farming is still the dominant land use in Europe, covering almost 50% of the EUterritory, the Biodiversity Action Plan places special emphasis on integrating biodiversityneeds into the EUs Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Recent reforms of the CAP and the Rural Development Regulation (20072013) have seennew policy tools and measures being made available to improve the integration ofbiodiversity considerations into farming and forestry practices across the EU. Directpayments to farmers under Pillar I of the CAP have been decoupled from production andinstead linked to compliance with a number of environmental, animal welfare and foodsafety standards.

New rural development measures under Pillar II have also been introduced to supportfarming and forestry activities that are beneficial for wildlife. They include additionalpayments 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 2000Network. They also include compulsory agri- or forest environment schemes which canbe tailor made to support farmers and foresters who voluntarily apply certain farmingpractices that are deemed to be beneficial to the environment and to biodiversity (abovethe 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 allocatedto Natura 2000 payments. While it is not yet possible to determine precisely how muchof the money allocated to agri-envrionment measures will be used specifically fornature conservation actions, it is clear that the overall impact on biodiversity should belargely beneficial and should render the wider farming and forested landscape lesshostile to wildlife.

Reducing pollution

Another important feature of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan is its emphasis on

reducing pollution in Europes freshwater systems. Particular emphasis is placed on thetimely and effective implementation of the Water Framework Directive, protectingsurface and groundwater from pollution and degradation.

The Directive is intended to ensure that all waters reach a good status (includingecological status) by 2015. This will be achieved through the implementation of a seriesof management plans and targeted action programmes adopted at the level of each ofthe 110 river basins in the EU. The process of drafting these management plans is nowwell underway, with a majority submitted for Commission approval by the end of 2009.Recent studies have shown that pollution in most of Europes rivers has started to

decrease thanks to stricter EU environmental standards.

Obj i 3 E S d

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Objective 3

To conserveand restore

biodiversity andecosystem

services in thewider EU

marineenvironment

European Seas under pressure

The extensive marine waters surrounding the EU play a major role in biodiversityconservation. Yet here too the environment is under tremendous pressure. Over-fishingis 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 undesirableeffects, star ting with excessive growth of planktonic algae which increases the amountof organic matter settling on the seabed. The consequent increase in oxygenconsumption can cause oxygen depletion and create dead zones in which other formsof life cannot survive.

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

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

Measures have also been taken to introduce more selective fishing practices in order to

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Measures have also been taken to introduce more selective fishing practices in order toreduce the unacceptably high levels of unwanted by-catches of non-target marinespecies, such as seals and dolphins, and to protect vulnerable deep sea habitatsincluding Posidonia beds in the Mediterranean and coral reefs in the North EastAtlantic. To assist in this process, the majority of Member States are using funds madeavailable under the reformed European Fisheries Fund (20072013) to promote a moresustainable balance between resources and the EUs fishing capacity and to foster a

greater protection of the marine environment and its endangered habitats and species.

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

In 2008, the EU adopted an ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive which sets outa coordinated ecosystems-based approach for improving the marine environment.Building on existing legislation and conventions, its ultimate objective is to achieve a goodenvironmental status in the marine environment by 2020. Like the Water Framework

Directive, it establishes a series of common objectives and principles which are to beapplied at the level of each of the four EU marine areas (the North East Atlantic, the BlackSea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea).

As work has only just started on the implementation of the Marine Strategy FrameworkDirective, it is too early to gauge its impact on the marine environment. Nevertheless, it isclear that if a concertedprogramme of action can beintroduced andimplemented at the level ofeach marine area thebenefits for marineecosystems should besignificant, both inside andoutside marine protectedareas. The Marine StrategyFramework Directive is alsoan important policy tool forensuring that environmental

concerns are fully taken upin the EUs new IntegratedMaritime Policy adoptedin 2009.


The Marine Strategy Framework

Directive adopted in 2008 aims

to achieve good environmentalstatus for all EU marine watersby 2020.

Nineteen of the 22 coastal

Member States have adopted orare in the process of adoptingintegrated coastal zonemanagement plans (ICZM).

The European Maritime SafetyAgency has provided technicaland scientific assistance to theCommission and Member Stateson responses to oil spills.

A range of recovery plans have

been adopted for commercialfish stocks in different marinewaters to help rebuild

collapsed stocks. Legislation has been introduced

to protect vulnerable deep seahabitats from unsustainablefisheries practices.

A Community Action Plan for

Sharks was adopted in 2009.

Most Member States have put

forward projects to promotesustainable fishing and supportmarine biodiversityconservation under theEuropean 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 themagnitude of the regional catch.

Objective 4 A more integrated spatial planning process

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Objective 4

To reinforcecompatibility of

regional andterritorial

developmentwith

biodiversity inthe EU

A more integrated spatial planning process

Compared to other regions of the world, the EU is a relatively densely populatedcontinent, and much of the land is in active use. This means that its remaining naturalareas are under intense pressure from a range of development activities.

Recognising the need to safeguard such valuable ecosystems from inappropriatedevelopments, the Biodiversity Action Plan places particular emphasis on ensuring thatall new development plans and projects undergo an appropriate biodiversityassessment, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), or an Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA). This is to ensure that negative impacts on the natural environment areminimised or avoided through the identification of alternative locations or theintroduction of appropriate mitigation measures.

If carried out at the initial planning stage, these assessments allow biodiversity concernsto 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 riskof difficulties and delays.

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

All new plans and programmes involving the EUs Structural Funds (the European

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All plans and programmes

operating under the new EU

Structural Funds (20072013) havebeen subject to a StrategicEnvironmental Assessment.

New opportunities have been

made available under the EUStructural Funds for directlysupporting biodiversityconservation within regionaldevelopment programmes andcross border programmes.

The application form for major

projects to be co-financed by EUfunds includes explicit referenceto the need for a complete EIAand Appropriate Assessments forNatura 2000 sites.

The correct application of SEA,

EIA and Appropriate Assessmentsis promoted through Commissionguidance and infringementprocedures.

Work is underway to develop a

concept of an ecologicallycoherent green infrastructure forEurope, with a view to adopting

an EU strategy on this issue in2011, that could help tackle theincreasing problem of habitatfragmentation and be a usefultool for climate changeadaptation through thedevelopment and maintenanceof ecosystems.

All new plans and programmes involving the EU s Structural Funds (the EuropeanRegional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund) arerequired to undergo a Strategic Environmental Assessment before they can be approvedfor funding.

In addition, major development projects (those costing more than 50 million) which areto 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 appropriateassessment in the case of projects affecting Natura 2000 sites, has taken full account ofthe possible effects on the natural environment, including biodiversity, and introducedthe necessary measures to remove or minimise these impacts.

Investing in nature

The EU Structural Funds for 20072013 also provide an opportunity to directly or

indirectly support biodiversity conservation within the framework of EU regional or localdevelopment plans and programmes. Member States have allocated a total of about2.7 billion to the Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection (including Natura2000). In the framework of tourism a further 1.1 billion has been allocated to thepromotion of natural assets and 1.4 billion for the protection and development ofnatural heritage, both including projects for nature and biodiversity.

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

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

Objective 5 The proliferation of invasive alien species in Europe

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Objective 5

To substantiallyreduce the

impact on EUbiodiversity ofinvasive alien

species

Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianumhas 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 naturalrange 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 lossworldwide, after habitat loss and destruction.

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

Many introduced species are of critical importance for production systems that underpinEuropean economies. They provide a range of employment opportunities and are highlyappreciated 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 inEurope and are threatening native biodiversity. Over 10,000 alien species have now beenidentified, of which some 1015% are potentially dangerous to Europes biodiversity.

The consequences of their proliferation are being felt across the EU. Not only do they posea threat to native species and habitats by out-competing them but they also cause seriouseconomic damage. In 2008, the cost of controlling invasive alien species and repairing thedamage reached an estimated 9.612.7 billion in the EU.

Towards an EU Strategy for invasive alien species

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The EU Communication Towards

an EU Strategy on Invasive Alien

Species issued in 2008 identifiesvarious policy options fordeveloping an EU strategy oninvasive alien species.

A study was commissioned to

examine the feasibility ofestablishing an EU-wide earlywarning system on invasivealien species.

38 million of EU LIFE money has

been spent on eradicating andcontrolling invasive alien speciesinside and outside the Natura2000 Network.

An evaluation of the impacts of

invasive species on aquaticecosystems (and how these

species should be considered inthe definition of the goodecological quality of waters) isbeing coordinated by the JointResearch Centre.

Several projects funded under EU

Research and TechnologicalDevelopment programmes have

been launched to help inform EUpolicy development on invasivealien species, including DAISIE,ALARM and NOBANIS.

Regulation 708/2007 on alien

species in aquaculture came intoforce in 2007.

Towards an EU Strategy for invasive alien species

The EU Biodiversity Action Plan highlights the importance of tackling the problem ofinvasive alien species as a matter of priority. The need to develop a common approachat EU level is evidenced by the fact that actions taken so far in some countries are oftenbeing 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 problemsconcerning invasive species. However, at present there are no mechanisms to supportthe harmonisation or consistency of approaches between neighbouring countries orcountries in the same sub-region. There are also no formal requirements to undertake arisk analysis as regards the intentional introduction of non-native species that mayaffect biodiversity.

Responding to this concern, the Commission issued a Communication Towards an EUStrategy on Invasive Speciesin 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 themost cost-effective, efficient and least environmentally damaging approach, followedby eradication, where feasible, or long-term containment/control.

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

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

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

All

Dragonflies

Butterflies

Marine mammals

Terrestrialmammals

Reptiles

Amphibians

Percentage of species impacted

Non-ThreatenedThreatened

(source: IUCN, 2009, 2010)

Objectives 6-7-8 Supporting biodiversity through EU

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Objectives 6 7 8

To strengthenthe EUs role in

combattingglobal

biodiversity loss

Supporting biodiversity through EUexternal assistance

To be a credible partner in the international arena, the EU recognises that it is notenough to focus solely on biodiversity in Europe. The impact of the EUs highconsumption patterns on the rest of the planet must also be addressed. That is why

three of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan objectives concern the EUs role in combattingglobal biodiversity loss.

In addition to pressing for the effective worldwide implementation of the Conventionon Biological Diversity and other biodiversity conventions, these objectives alsoaddress issues such as international trade and the greening of EU development policiesand programmes.

In its 20072013 Development Policy, the EU pledged to help mainstream biodiversityinto its development cooperation programmes. Environmental Profiles have thereforebeen established for most countries and regions covered by EC external cooperation. Sofar some 133 million has been allocated for biodiversity within these geographicalprogrammes, principally in the Central African region, Ethiopia, Malawi, Honduras,Bolivia and Brazil. But further efforts are still needed. One reason for the low uptake isthe fact that biodiversity is often not a priority for the partner countries themselves.

The EU is providing significant funds for tropical forest conservation.

The EU also has a dedicated Thematic Programme for Environment and NaturalR (ENRTP) hi h h d 114 illi il bl f bi di i

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Under the EU Development Policy(20072013) 133 million has beenallocated to biodiversity within the

external assistance programmes forvarious developing countries.

A total of 114 million has also beenallocated to biodiversity for thefour-year period 20072010 under theEC Thematic Programme forEnvironment and Natural Resources(ENRTP).

A further 20 million has been

approved in a Financing Agreementfor Biodiversity and Protected AreasManagement in ACP countries.

As part of its trade-relatedSustainability Impact Assessment(SIA) Programme, the Commission isconducting SIAs for all its plannedregional and bilateral free trade andpartnership agreements.

The Commission and Member Statesare actively engaged in efforts toraise awareness and promoteimplementation of the BonnGuidelines on Access and BenefitSharing (ABS) for genetic resources.

The EU is actively engaged in theimplementation of the Convention onInternational Trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES).

Signicant progress has been madein promoting Forest LawEnforcement, Governance and Trade(FLEGT).

The EU continues to press for theeffective worldwide implementationof the Convention on BiologicalDiversity and other internationalbiodiversity conventions.

Resources (ENRTP) which has made over 114 million available for biodiversityconservation in the last four years (20072010). In addition, the EU contributessignificantly to the replenishment of the 5th Global Environment Facility which providesgrants to developing countries for projects related to biodiversity, climate change andother global environmental issues. $1.2 billion has been earmarked for biodiversityprojects and programmes for 20102014.

Reducing the impact of international trade

Since the adoption of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan, the EU has redoubled its efforts topromote the integration of the environmental dimension into international trade. Aspart of its Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) Programme, the Commission conductsSIAs for all its planned regional and bilateral free trade and partnership agreements inAsia, Africa and Latin America.

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

As regards global trade in biodiversity,progress has been made inimplementing the Convention onInternational Trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES) and the EU Action Planfor Forest Law Enforcement Governanceand Trade (FLEGT) adopted in 2003. Tosupport the efforts of the latter, the EUhas also made a proposal for a

Regulation laying down the obligationsof operators who place timber andtimber products on the market. Theproposal is based on the due diligenceprinciple requiring the operatorscovered by it to apply a system tominimise the risk of placing illegallyharvested timber and timber productson the Community market.

The red-eyed tree frog Agalychnis callidryas

has become a symbol for many campaignsto save tropical forests.

Objective 9 Climate change and biodiversity

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j

To supportbiodiversity

adaptation toclimate change

g y

There is now a broad scientific and political consensus that the climate is changing as aresult of human activities. This is manifesting itself through more extreme weatherpatterns in various parts of the world, including lengthier droughts, more frequentflooding and melting glaciers. The economic, social and environmental costs arepotentially enormous.

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

Entire ecosystems could also be disrupted and many are already reaching a point of noreturn. But when maintained and sustainably used, ecosystems can play a major role inmitigating 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 arecapable of storing significant amounts of carbon, while dunes and freshwaterecosystems provide a natural defence against floods and rising seas.

The willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopusis likely to be strongly affected by climate change.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

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g g g

Addressing climate change requires two types of response. Firstly, there must be areduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, adaptation and mitigation measuresmust 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 theiremissions. As a result, the EU 27 as a whole has achieved more than half of its unilateralreduction target of 20% by 2020 through domestic emission reductions alone and is wellon the way to meeting its overall Kyoto targets.

Using nature to mitigate against climate change

In 2009, the Commission issued a White Paper on adapting to climate change. Thepaper emphasises the importance of maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrityand developing a green infrastructure for the EU with healthy, interconnectedecosystems and natural landscape elements. It stresses the need for a comprehensiveand integrated approach to maintain and enhance ecosystems and the goods andservices they provide.

The paper recognises that ecosystem-based approaches are ready to use, accessible toall, and cost-effective. Maintaining healthy ecosystems makes economic sense: finding

man-made solutions to replace the services that nature offers for free is technicallychallenging and extremelyexpensive.

There is however also a need toensure that adaptation andmitigation measures are notdetrimental to biodiversity.Various initiatives have beentaken in this respect, including

the introduction ofenvironmental sustainabilitycriteria for biofuels andbioliquids within the new EUDirective on the promotion ofthe use of energy fromrenewable sources.

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

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


Several Member States have

already substantially reduced

their greenhouse gas emissions. The EU as a whole has achieved

more than half of its unilateralreduction target of 20% by 2020and is well on the way tomeeting its overall Kyoto targets.

The EU has called for halting the

loss of global forest cover by

2030 at the latest and reducinggross tropical deforestation byat least 50% by 2020 fromcurrent levels.

In 2009, the Commission issued a

White Paper on adaptation toclimate change, emphasising theimportance of maintaining andrestoring ecosystem integrity.

EU-funded research projects

have been launched to examinethe impact of climate change onbiodiversity.

The new EU Directive 2009/28/

EC on the promotion of the useof energy from renewablesources includes environmental

sustainability criteria to protectbiodiversity.

Biodiversity research in support of policy

Objective 10

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Understanding 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 improveour understanding of our interrelationship with, and dependency on, biodiversity andecosystem services. This will create a more robust and comprehensive knowledge basefor supporting future policies and actions. In addition, investment in long-term

ecological monitoring programmes, using modern technology and ensuring access tointeroperable databases, is essential to support our knowledge about the impact ofbiodiversity on the functioning of ecosystems.

The EU, through its Biodiversity Action Plan, places particular emphasis on fundingbasic research on biodiversity and ecosystems through its research FrameworkProgrammes. Already over 200 million has been allocated to biodiversity relatedprojects under the 6th (20022006) and 7th (20072013) 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, anAtlas of BiodiversityRiskwas launched in June 2010, bringing together theresults of a number of European Research projects ina comprehensive manner. The European Commissionand European Environmental Agency have also set upa new Biodiversity Information System for Europe(BISE) whose overall objective is to build a singlepoint of access to consistent, up-to-date and peer-

reviewed information, data and knowledge onbiodiversity in Europe.

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

j

To substantiallystrengthen the

knowledgebase

BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION

SYSTEM FOR EUROPE

The EU is also actively promoting biodiversity research and data collection at theinternational level. It has been instrumental in getting the international community to

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g g yagree, in June 2010, to set up an Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform onBiodiversity and Ecosystems services (IPBES) to strengthen independent scientificadvice to global policy making. The EU is also providing 1 million to UNEP to facilitatethe establishment of the IPBES.

Studying the economics of biodiversity

Responding to a proposal of the G8+5 Environment Ministers in 2007, the EU has beenthe main funder of a decisive global study on The Economics of Ecosystems andBiodiversity (TEEB). The study, which draws on expertise from around the world in thefields of natural sciences, economics and policy, evaluates the costs of the loss ofbiodiversity and the associated decline in ecosystem services worldwide, andcompares 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 theConvention of Biological Diversity. It provided strong evidence of significant globaland local economic losses and human welfare impacts attributable to the loss ofbiodiversity and ecosystem services, estimated to be around 50 billion a year.

The second phase of TEEB work included a Report on Ecological and EconomicFoundationsand four targeted end-user reports that build on this baseline. The latteroffers tailored insights and advice for national and international policy makers, localand regional administrators, businesses as well as consumers and citizens on how to

foster sustainable development by better conserving ecosystems and biodiversity andtaking their economic value into account at the outset.

The e

conom

ics

of e

cosy

ste

ms

& b

iodiv

ers

ity


78.6 million spent under the EUs 6th

Research Framework Programme

(20022006) on biodiversity-relatedresearch projects.

A further 199.5 million allocated so

far under the EUs 7th ResearchFramework Programme (20072013).

The European Commission is engaged

in the global strategy for follow up tothe Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

and is committed to developing aregional assessment for Europe usingthe EURECA project launched by theEuropean Environment Agency.

The Commission was instrumental in

gaining agreement in 2010 for anIntergovernmental Science-PolicyPlatform on Biodiversity andEcosystem Services (IPBES) and is

contributing 1 million to facilitate itsestablishment.

An EUAtlas of Biodiversity Riskwaslaunched in June 2010, bringingtogether the results of a number ofEuropean Research Projects.

A new Biodiversity Information System

for Europe (BISE) has been set up to

provide a single point of contact fordata relevant to EU biodiversity.

The EU is the main funder of the

global study on The Economics ofEcosystems and Biodiversity(TEEB), theresults of which will be instrumental ininforming future policy responses.

La

Econo

ma

de

losEcosistem

asy

laBiod

iversid

ad

TEEBPARALOSRESPONSABLESDELAELABORACINDEPOLTICAS

NACIONALESEINTERNACIONALES

RESUMEN: RESPONDERALVALORDELANATURALEZA

The E

conom

ics

of E

cosyste

ms

& B

iodiv

ers

ity

TEEBFORBUSINESSEXECUTIVESUMMARY

Supporting To ensure the EU Biodiversity Action Plans objectives and actions are implemented aseffectively as possible, they are supported by additional measures dealing with funding,

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measures decision-making, building partnerships and raising awareness.

Ensuring adequate financing The EU Financial Perspectives for 20072013 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 spend836 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 throughan efficient governance structure. Regular meetings are held between theCommission and National Authorities to review progress on the Biodiversity ActionPlan and the two Nature Directives, ensuring a coordinated policy response withinthe 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. In2010 it launched the Business and Biodiversity (B@B) Platform, a web-based tool thathelps businesses integrate biodiversity considerations into their core activities andenables 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. Tomark the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, the European Commissionlaunched a major EU-wide communications and outreach campaign on biodiversity.The main aim of the campaign, which was built around the slogan Biodiversity weare all in this together, was to familiarise Europeans with the problems caused bybiodiversity loss and the impacts this can have on their daily lives. It also illustrateswhat individuals can do to help stop this decline.

Further reading European Commission

EU Bi di it A ti Pl 2010 A t

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Photo credits:Cover: All three photos, Istockphoto

Page 4: David Kjaer

Page 6: Peter Creed

Page 8: Istockphoto

Page 9: Kern, Nationalpark Donauauen

Page 10: J. Peltomaki, Wild Wonders

Page 12: Kocacs, Nationalpark Donauauen

Page 14: K. Wothe, Wild Wonders

Page 14: European Commission

Page 16: Peter CreedPage 19: Csaba Loki

European Commission Nature and Biodiversity website

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm

The 2006 EU Biodiversit y 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 Network

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm


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 Commission

Directorate-General Environment

Information Centre (BU-9 0/11)

B-1049 Brussels

http://bookshop.eu/

Page 20: David Kjaer

Page 22: Stella Del Curto

Page 24: Istockphoto

Page 25: Staatsbossbeheer

Page 26: Flickr




Page 32: Ruth Haynes

Page 33: IstockphotoPage 34: 1st photo David Kjaer, 2nd photo European Commission

KH-32-

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