8th Meeting Expert Group on Reporting under the Nature Directives Role of data from reporting and policy: examples 2 December 2010 Carlos Romão

Pollution Climate change Overexploitation It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) Policies Strategies Action plans Legislation … Natura 2000, Protected areas Conservation measures, management Habitat loss Invasive alien species

The EU biodiversity policy Halting the loss of biodiversity Birds Directive Habitats Directive Strategy & Action Plan WHERE DOES EU STAND IN 2010? EU post-2010 strategy & sub-targets! EU biodiversity baseline SEBI 2010 indicators BAP report(s)

Where does EU stand in 2010: (i) biodiversity baseline http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eu-2010-biodiversity-baseline

Baseline: main data sets Corine Land Cover 1990 / 2000 / 2006 Article 17 reports Conservation status Range/Distribution, surface area, population size, future prospects, structure & functions Trends Pressures & threats Maps!!! European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity

Land cover changes 1990-2006 in the EU (23 countries covered) Changes in agro-ecosystems (mixed cultivated land)

Conservation status of Annex I habitat types Conservation status of Annex II species

Grasslands Heath & Scrub Forests

Wetlands Reducing the number of ‘unknown’ assessments will increase our capacity to act in a targeted way Lakes & Rivers Marine

European Red Lists Contracts financed by the European Commission Amphibians Reptiles FW Fish Plants Mammals In developing the guidelines, several issues had to be considered, such as: - Eligibility for assessment at the regional level. Which species should be considered appropriate for assessment within your region? - Regional extinction. How should species that have become extinct within the region, but exist elsewhere be defined and identified? - Contact with other populations. How should populations that cross borders or experience immigration from outside the region be treated? Dragonflies Saproxylic Beetles Butterflies Molluscs Contracts financed by the European Commission

Article 17 data on threats and pressures could not be explored: inappropriate format, lack of focus

Natura 2000 data SCIs SPAs GIS boundaries & surface areas extensively used, including in research projects Other data little used: not up to date, inappropriate format, lack of harmonisation

A data overview of the network of Special Protection Areas in the EU25 ETC/BD, 2005 – 25th Anniversary of the Birds Directive “The degree of completeness of the network appears to be different from species to species and between countries. Unfortunately, current data availability and quality does not allow a comprehensive evaluation. The evaluation of the contribution of the SPAs network for maintaining or achieving favourable conservation status for European wild birds is therefore still fragmentary.” On the 30th anniversary of the birds directive, is SPA data better? NO! Just more out of date…

Where does EU stand in 2010: (ii) SEBI indicators 2007 2009

SEBI indicator 13 SEBI indicator 21 SEBI indicator 16

Where does EU stand in 2010: (iii) assessments Data reported by countries used as far as possible: statistics, indicators, …

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The best is the enemy of the good Data and data gaps Diversity, distribution, abundance, trends Genetic diversity, species, ecosystems Data compatibility and harmonisation (comparability) Data infrastructures & information systems Better understand links between state and trends of biodiversity and Pressures and threats Effects of conservation measures/management (responses) Ecosystem services The best is the enemy of the good Voltaire (1694-1778)

Keep trying. Take care of the small circle around you Keep trying. Take care of the small circle around you. When you have succeed with them, then move outwards, one small step at a time. Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

Thank you for your attention http://biodiversity.europa.eu Thank you for your attention