EU biodiversity policy: Towards a post-2010 strategy European Commission DG Environment Unit B2 - Biodiversity EU biodiversity policy: Towards a post-2010 strategy Anne Teller, DG ENV.B2- Biodiversity Biodiversity and Water workshop, 18/06/10

Lessons learned from 2010 biodiversity target Responses have increased (e.g. Natura 2000) Pressures on biodiversity have increased Biodiversity loss has continued

EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10) Wetland still being lost (EEA CLC 2010) Near 3% lost in last 16 years but EU had already lost more than half of its wetlands before 1990 5% decline in marshes and bogs 4.4% growth in water bodies (artificial reservoirs) Expansion of artificial areas at expense of wetlands across EU and mainly in Boreal and Atlantic regions Fragmentation (EEA, JRC) Still increasing through drainage and infrastructure development

EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10) Conservation status (EC 2009) Poor conservation status of habitats – only 10% favourable in wetlands and 15% in lakes and rivers 64% aquatic species are in unfavourable conservation status, 50% are in in the worst category (plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians) and still a lot of unknown (mammals, amphibians) Invasive alien species Invasive alien species remain a threat (140 in freshwater), increasingly so in marine systems and in the context of a changing climate

EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10) Water quality Water quality has improved in freshwaters, and the state of freshwater systems is improving generally Ecosystem services (RUBICODE 2009, JRC 2010) Climate regulation still degrading in wetlands, lakes & rivers Water regulation and purification services are mixed Hazard regulation (flood defence) is degrading Recreational opportunities mixed Biodiversity (in particular birds and migratory species) still degrading

EU post-2010 vision and target - adopted March 2010 - By 2050, European Union biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides – its natural capital – are protected, valued and appropriately restored for biodiversity’s intrinsic value and for their essential contribution to human wellbeing and economic prosperity, and so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided. By 2020, Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU and restore them insofar as feasible, and step up the EU's contribution to averting global biodiversity loss. 6 6

Post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy Focus on key ecosystems, pressures, drivers and responses: Time-bound (2020) Measurable Prioritised Fill gaps and build on existing mandates The Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE) will support biodiversity policy and disseminate (and later on generate) information to/from a wide audience. Together with the Adaptation CHM, BISE will be an overarching tool to facilitate data collection and reporting (Biodiversity Data Centre), harvest information from other sources (e.g. other data centres, other COM services, LIFE-Nature projects, research project…) and to generate integrated knowledge (e.g. Baseline assessments). Ecosystems and ecosystem services: - EURECA: a spatial assessment of the health/state of ecosystems in the EU JRC work on ecosystem services mapping 7

Related deliverables Monitoring, assessment Establish a baseline Further develop indicators Finalise Natura 2000 funding needs assessment BAP final assessment Fill knowledge gaps Launch BISE Develop strategic plan IPBES, TEEB Address policy gaps Invasive species Soil Ecosystem services Biophysical maps Green Infrastructure Exchange best practice EU strategy

Post-2010 water related developments EU Strategy on Green Infrastructure 2011 Need to decrease fragmentation affecting connectivity, ecosystem health and ability to provide services Need to enhance ecosytem-based approaches (e.g. flood prevention) including financial support (revision Cohesion Policy) Conference in autumn 2010 EU Strategy on Invasive species Strategy and early warning system in 2011 (consultation 09/10) Monitoring WISE/BISE joint work in 2011 EU post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy and 2020 sub-targets (2010/2011)

EU post-2010 biodiversity strategy timeline 2010 Green Week Ghent Conference Nature Directors ES Nature Directors on Forest & Biodiversity

For more information go to: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature