Biodiversity indicators: Review of the EEA Set of Indicators Sophie Condé ETC/BD MNHN Based on: Katarzyna Biała, European Environment Agency Any impact on our discussion?

EEA indicator review EEA indicator review initiated: as a reflection on the use of indicators for SOER 2010 a request from the Management Board to bring clarity to the scope and purpose of EEA indicators

EEA indicator review Over 700 indicators reduced to ca. 250

EEA indicator review Main objectives: Removing redundancies and duplications Mapping the indicators re. their technical, conceptual and political context Continuing the indicator-based state of environment reporting in member countries Reviving the annual publication of an indicator-based, cross-cutting assessment

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) Main objectives of the ‘refresh’: Establishing a set of EEA indicators which allow to assess progress towards key environmental policy priorities (2012 COM ‘Improving the delivery of benefits from EU environment measures’, 7 th 7 th 7 th 7 th 7 th Environmental Action Programme) Multi-Annual Work Plan (MAWP)

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) MAWP – informing policy implementation Refreshed CSI thematic structure 1.1 Air pollution, transport and noise1. Air pollution, transport and noise 1.2 Industrial emissions 1.3 Climate change mitigation and energy 2. Climate change and energy 1.4 Climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation 1.5 Water Resources Management3. Freshwater resources 1.6 Marine and Maritime, Fisheries and Coastal 4. Marine and maritime 1.7 Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Agriculture and Forestry 5. Biodiversity and ecosystems 1.8 Urban, Land use and Soil, Tourism 1.9 Waste and material resources6. Waste and resources

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) MAWP – informing policy implementation Refreshed CSI thematic structure 1.7 Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Agriculture and Forestry 5. Biodiversity and ecosystems Main sources: SEBI: Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators AEI: Agri-Environmental Indicators

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) 5. Biodiversity and ecosystems Status and trends of the components of biological diversity CSI 007/ SEBI Species of European interest New CSI 029: Species and habitats of European interest The new indicator will be based on obligatory reporting for Habitats (art.17) and Birds (art. 12) directives, which will merge SEBI SEBI the new component from the Birds directive reporting (available ). Currently the indicator covers terrestrial and freshwater species and habitats. Marine component will be added when available (cf. proposal for marine indicators refresh). *NB: Further development will provide information about species and habitats linked to agriculture and forests. S CSI Designated areas New CSI 030: Designated areas Current CSI is retained unchanged.R CSI Species diversity New CSI 031: Abundance and distribution of selected species Currently published as SEBI 001. *NB: The indicator will also include information relevant for sectors, namely trends in common bird species linked to farmland and forest as well as specialist grassland butterfly species. S

Some examples

Cumulated number & surface area of protected areas in the 39 EEA countries. June 2011

Share of terrestrial protected areas per country. June 2011

Candidate Emerald sites officially nominated under the Bern Convention. Dec 2011

Natura 2000 and the Emerald networks. Dec 2011

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) 5. Biodiversity and ecosystems Status and trends of the components of biological diversity CSI 007/ SEBI Species of European interest New CSI 029: Species and habitats of European interest The new indicator will be based on obligatory reporting for Habitats (art.17) and Birds (art. 12) directives, which will merge SEBI SEBI the new component from the Birds directive reporting (available ). Currently the indicator covers terrestrial and freshwater species and habitats. Marine component will be added when available (cf. proposal for marine indicators refresh). *NB: Further development will provide information about species and habitats linked to agriculture and forests. S CSI Designated areas New CSI 030: Designated areas Current CSI is retained unchanged.R CSI Species diversity New CSI 031: Abundance and distribution of selected species Currently published as SEBI 001. *NB: The indicator will also include information relevant for sectors, namely trends in common bird species linked to farmland and forest as well as specialist grassland butterfly species. S

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss and degradation CSI Land take New CSI 032: Land take Current CSI is retained unchanged. P CSI Progress in management of contaminated sites New CSI 033: Fragmentation of habitats and ecosystems Indicator under development (currently information available for forests (source: JRC)) I

EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) Sectors – agriculture and forests CSI Gross nutrient balance Removed from CSIIndicator is no longer maintained by EEA. (Under MoU on AEI, Eurostat is responsible for its development and updating) CSI Area under organic farming Removed from CSIIndicator is no longer maintained by EEA. (Under MoU on AEI, Eurostat is responsible for its development and updating) New CSI 034: Agricultural areas under Natura 2000 Indicator under development.R New CSI 035: Forest: growing stock, increment and fellings and deadwood Indicator under development based on SEBI 017 and 018. S

EEA biodiversity indicator review The review should also be aligned with: the EU and global 2020 biodiversity targets and their respective frameworks for assessing progress towards these targets

EEA biodiversity indicator review At Global level 17 th CBD SBSTTA (14-18 Oct, Montreal) delivered a set of recommendations, incl. Data, monitoring, observation systems & indicators There is a need to continue and enhance the dialogue between policymakers and the earth observation community with a view to enhancing the collection and access to data for monitoring progress in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and associated national targets and indicators.

EEA biodiversity indicator review At Global level 17 th SBSTTA (14-18 Oct, Montreal) delivered a set of recommendations, incl. A request to the Executive Secretary of the CBD to report to the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties taking into account the progress made and the use of indicators in the fifth national reports and the fourth edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook,

EEA biodiversity indicator review Conclusions: At European level, the selection of indicators made during the first workshop still fit with the EEA review At global level, indicators are still on the scene

More information, or comments? Thank you!