Mid-Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and Nature Directives EIONET Workshop 19 November 2015

Content I.Mid-Term Review and institutional follow-up II.Fitness check Nature Directives III.Next steps

The EU Biodiversity Strategy

I Mid-Term Review 1.Report from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament 2.Accompanying Staff Working Document 3.Leaflet from EC-EEA /comm2006/2020.htm

Halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, restore them in so far as possible, and contribute to averting global biodiversity loss Headline Target Continuing biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services in the EU and globally Serious implications for the capacity of biodiversity to meet human needs in the future Local improvements as result of action on the ground Need to scale up action for a measurable impact on the overall negative trends

Progress in carrying out actions Natura 2000 almost complete on land and expanded at sea More species and habitats in secure/favourable or improved status (State of Nature Report 2015) Many others remain in unfavourable status; and some are deteriorating further Challenges until 2020: completion of marine Natura 2000, effective management and finance to support Natura 2000 Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives Target 1 Source: EEA 2015

Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services Progress on policy (EU Green Infrastructure Strategy) and knowledge improvement (MAES) Some restoration activities in Member States However, degradation of ecosystems and services continues Challenges until 2020: develop and implement national and regional frameworks to promote restoration and green infrastructure; Ensure no net loss of ordinary biodiversity outside Natura Target 2

Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity Continuing decline in the status of species and habitats of EU interest associated with agriculture CAP provides a range of instruments to support biodiversity – but they need to be taken-up by Member States on a sufficient scale Examples of sustainable agricultural practices, if implemented broadly, could put the EU back on track to achieve the target by Target 3a

Increase the contribution of forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity EU forest area increased - but no signs of improvement in the conservation status of habitats and species of EU importance EU-level data on the status of forest habitats outside Natura 2000 limited The potential of Forest Management Plans for achieving the target remains largely unused. Target 3b

Ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources and achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) Progress in policy framework for sustainable fisheries (reformed CFP) and GES (MSFD) Oceans Governance for more sustainable management of marine resources Uneven policy implementation and major challenges remain: just over 50% of MSY-assessed stocks fished sustainably in 2013 Multiple pressures and continued decline of marine species and ecosystems across Europe's seas Target 4

Help combat invasive alien species Fast-growing threat to biodiversity IAS Regulation in force since 2015; First List of IAS of Union concern by end 2015 Next critical steps: implementation Ratification of the Ballast Water Convention, crucial for addressing marine IAS Target 5 Rate of introduction of marine non-indigenous species Source: EEA 2015

Help avert global biodiversity loss EU and MS: by far the largest donor for biodiversity. Policy frameworks: CITES, ABS Steps to reduce indirect drivers of global biodiversity loss. Insufficient progress in reducing the impacts of EU consumption patterns on global biodiversity. On the current trajectory, existing efforts may not be sufficient to meet the targets. Target 6 Ecological footprint per region of the world Source: EEA (SEBI)

Biodiversity aspects integrated into key EU financing instruments LIFE has considerable return on investment for nature and biodiversity Innovative financing set up: Natural Capital Financing Facility Tracking of biodiversity-related financing in the EU budget Guidance on biodiversity proofing of the EU budget EU external instruments (B4Life) Financing

Cooperation: Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process Awareness raising: Natura 2000 Award scheme Private sector engagement: EU Business and Biodiversity platform Overseas partnership (BEST) TEEB and synergies with other conventions Partnership

Streamlined reporting under the Nature Directives Towards more integrated assessment (MAES/IPBES) Development of indicator-based monitoring and reporting Facilitated access to information through BISE Support for research (FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, ERA-Net, SPI) and innovation Still major knowledge gaps need to be filled (e.g. marine, ecosystem health, links to services, etc.) Knowledge 1

Conclusions (1) Policy frameworks in place and progress under each target A wealth of positive experience to build on Insufficient scale and timelag for measurable improvement in the state of biodiversity Targets can only be reached if implementation and enforcement efforts become considerably bolder and more ambitious, and integration effective. At the current rate of implementation, biodiversity loss will continue in the EU and globally, with significant implications for the capacity of ecosystems to meet human needs in the future.

Conclusions (2) Strong partnerships and full engagement of key actors: 1.Complete and manage effectively Natura Implement Invasive Alien Species Regulation 3.Recognize natural capital throughout the EU Effective integration with a wide range of policies: Coherent priorities and adequate funding Agriculture and forestry Marine and fisheries Regional development Achieving biodiversity objectives can contribute to the growth and jobs agenda, food and water security and quality of life, as well as to the SDG implementation.

Inter-institutional follow-up: Council Feedback from WPE debate: Criticism on lack of concrete proposed solutions Council Conclusions should send a strong and positive signal on the need for action Focus on implementation Ensure better integration with other policy sectors and synergies with ongoing policy processes Links to the fitness check of the Nature Directives Environmental Council Conclusions due on 16 December

Inter-institutional follow-up: EP Feedback from ENVI hearing: Strong concerns expressed about: The seriousness of biodiversity loss The lack of awareness about its consequences Biodiversity not being given the high priority it deserves in decision-making Disappointment with macro-level conclusions and lack of concrete proposed solutions Call for much more awareness raising The important role of regional and local authorities Links to the fitness check of the Nature Directives EP own-initiative report due on 22 December

MTR on BISE

II. Update on Nature Fitness Check 1.Timetable 2.Important issues 3.Public consultation 4.Conference itness_check/index_en.htm

Timetable 12 November – publication of report on the public consultation 20 November – Fitness Check Conference fitness-check-of-eu-nature-legislation/ December – Final Consultants' Report March/April 2016 – Commission Conclusions

Important issues in Fitness Check What is working, not working and why? - implementation and integration successes and problems through cases/examples Benefits and costs of implementation and of non- implementation of the legislation, including unnecessary administrative burdens Opportunities or best practice examples for improving implementation without compromising integrity of the purpose of the Directives Changes over time in implementation and any new issues that have emerged

Public consultation Report – early October Over 550,000 responses, 99% submitted by individuals, 97% only answered Part I Heavily influenced by campaigns Demonstrates level of interest and concern Demonstrates different communities of interest hold very different views

Conference 20 November in Brussels Consultants will present their emerging conclusions based on the evidence provided Commissioner Vella and (TBC) Vice President Timmermans will attend High-level introductory session 4 consecutive sessions on the main headings of the fitness check

III. EU Biodiversity Outlook To provide past to present and future statistical extrapolations of the EU biodiversity indicators as identified in the monitoring framework for the mid-term report of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 Extrapolating the EU biodiversity indicators to 2020

Where this project fits Complement the mid-term report Provide trends to 2020 based on statistical extrapolations of the EU biodiversity indicators Both the results from the Mid term review and this work (outlook) will contribute to the mid term review and fitness checck follow up process Support analysis of progress towards final implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in 2020.

Approach Based on the statistically rigorous approach developed for Tittensor et al and GBO-4 In which the global suite of indicators were projected to 2020

Methodology All indicators in the EU monitoring framework accessed against criteria for extrapolation: Same criteria used in Tittensor et al 2014 and the GBO-4 1.Relevance to an EU biodiversity Target 2.Scientific or institutional creditability 3.A data point before 2010 and end-point after At least five data points 5.Broad geographic coverage

How results will be presented Trends for individual indicators (metrics) to 2020

How results will be presented Summary of trends for EU Targets and for state, pressure and response indicators Tittensor et al 2014

Outputs Report submitted to the European Commission by April 2016 Paper in high level scientific journal

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