1. The EU Green Infrastructure Strategy update on EU actions
Credit photos:
Left: © Susanne Kuijpers, Environment & Me /EEA
Right: © Adela Nistora, Environment & Me /EEA
Julie Raynal (European Commission, DG Environment,
Biodiversity Unit,
Belgium)

2. addressing main drivers of biodiversity loss and aiming to reduce key pressures
specific, partly time-bound measures

3. Target 2 Ecosystem Restoration & Green Infrastructure
Objective: Maintain and enhance ecosystems and their services within and beyond protected areas by 2020 by:
Restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems, through strategic Restoration Prioritisation framework (Action 6a)
Establishing ‘Green Infrastructure’ throughout the EU (Action 6b)
30% of EU territory is moderately-highly to very highly fragmented due to urban sprawl and transport and energy infrastructure development.
70% of species are threatened by the loss of their habitats

4. Action 5 of the Biodiversity Strategy
Improve the knowledge of ecosystems and their services in EU
Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, are required to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory by 2014, assess the economic value of such services, and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020.
Action 5 is one of the keystones of the strategy providing a knowledge base for Europe’s green infrastructure, the restoration of 15% of degraded ecosystems and the No Net Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services initiative.

5. Figure: Importance of Action 5 in relation to other supporting actions under Target 2 and to other targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy (Source: MAES, 2013).

6. Action 6b: Developing a Strategy on Green Infrastructure
A strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver wide range of ecosystem services (in terrestrial, aquatic, coastal & marine environments)
The structure enabling healthy ecosystems to deliver their multiple, valuable, economically important goods and services to people, such as: clean water and air, carbon storage, pollination etc., mitigation and adaptation to climate change
Spatial and functional structure delivering nature benefits to people
The European Commission Communication on Green Infrastructure (2013) describes it as a tool for providing ecological, economic and social benefits through nature based solutions, for helping to understand the advantages nature offers human society, and for mobilising investments that sustain and enhance these benefits. In other words, it’s a network of nature, semi-natural areas and green space that delivers ecosystem services, which underpin human well-being and quality of life.
Green infrastructure can provide multiple functions and benefits on the same spatial area. These functions can be environmental (e.g. conserving biodiversity or adapting to climate change), social (e.g. providing water drainage or green space), and economic (e.g. supplying jobs and raising property prices). The contrast with grey infrastructure solutions, which typically fulfil single functions such as drainage or transport, makes green infrastructure appealing because it has the potential to tackle several problems simultaneously. Traditional grey infrastructure is still needed, but can often be reinforced with nature-based solutions.
For example, green infrastructure can be used to reduce the amount of storm water runoff entering sewer systems and ultimately lakes, rivers and streams, through the natural retention and absorption capabilities of vegetation and soils. Benefits of green infrastructure in such a case could include increased carbon sequestration, improved air quality, urban heat island mitigation, additional wildlife habitat and recreational space. Green areas also contribute to the cultural and historical landscape, giving identity to places, as well as to the scenery of urban and peri-urban areas where people live and work. Research shows that green infrastructure solutions are less expensive than grey infrastructure, and provide a wide array of co-benefits for local economies, social fabric and the broader environment.

7. help save energy INCREASEQUALITY OF LIFE MITIGATION RECREATION
GOODS e.g. TIMBER
INCREASEQUALITY
OF LIFE
MITIGATION
Trees &
Green spaces
Green roofs
Green walls
help
to cope
with hot
weather
through
shading &
evaporation
cooling,
help save energy
Loss of biodiversity in the EU: Together with climate change, increases risk of irreversible changes and undermines economic development and resilience of societies faced with new challenges
Unsustainable land use and fragmentation
Problem in urbanising Europe: fragmentation, habitat degradation (intensification and abandonment) and loss
Unsustainable use of ecosystem goods & services: Small or isolated ecosystems may stop providing valuable services such as food, freshwater, water regulation, clean air, recreation facilities, etc
SPACE FOR NATURE
FLOOD PROTECTION

8. The EU’s Green Infrastructure Strategy
Policy context: EU Biodiversity strategy to 2020; 7th EAP (1st priority "to protect, conserve and enhance the Union’s natural capital")
The EU GI Strategy (2013) is made up of four main elements:
• Promoting Green Infrastructure in main EU policy areas
• Supporting EU-level GI projects
• Improving access to finance for GI projects
• Improving information and promoting innovation
May 2011: EU adopts a Biodiversity Strategy to halt biodiversity loss in Europe by 2020 ; its Target 2: ‘by 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing Green Infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems’.
May 2013: Commission's Green Infrastructure Strategy, as a contribution to implementing Target 2. Green Infrastructure (GI) is also contributing to all other targets of the EU Biodiversity strategy – in particular the full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directive (target 1) – and to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the wider countryside and the marine environment (targets 3 and 4).
It places GI in context of "Europe 2020 Growth Strategy" which calls for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth across the EU.
Green infrastructure is also recognised elsewhere in EU policies, in particular in the Seventh Environment Action Programme (7th EAP)(especially with its first priority "to protect, conserve and enhance the Union’s natural capital"), the Regional Policy 2014–2020, the Water Framework Directive, the Nitrates Directive and the Floods Directive, and the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.

9. Target 2: Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services
2015 Mid Term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy
Target 2: Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services
Progress on policy (EU Green Infrastructure Strategy) and knowledge base 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 2000.
Political follow-up to MTR: ENV Council conclusions of 16 December 2015.

10. Promoting Green Infrastructure through EU’s main policy areas and legislation
GI: can be significant contribution to many of the EU’s main policy objectives, especially as regards
Sustainable growth and jobs / Europe 2020
Cohesion, regional and rural development
Urban policy
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Disaster risk reduction and management
Agriculture/forestry, water and the environment
Horizon 2020
GI can make a significant contribution to the implementation of many of the EU’s main policy objectives, especially as regards regional and rural development, climate change, disaster risk management, agriculture/forestry and the environment. The new GI strategy advocates for the full integration of Green Infrastructure into these policies so that it becomes a standard component of territorial development across the EU.
For instance, the EU cohesion policy supports Member States and regions to improve social, economic and territorial cohesion. In this framework, programmes and measures that target innovative and sustainable solutions can have a major role to play, such as through the development and implementation of Green Infrastructure solutions. It will positively impact the preservation of natural assets in regions but also provide new opportunities for sustainable regional development.
Similarly, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms have introduced a number of greening elements that should in principle help develop a more coherent GI across the wider rural landscape. This includes, for instance, the requirement for farmers receiving payments under the first pillar of the CAP to have 5% of their arable land as Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs), and new opportunities to invest in landscape features such as hedgerows, particularly through the use of agri-environment measures. GI contributes to a low-carbon economy by naturally sequestering and storing carbon. Furthermore, many climate change adaptation measures are based on GI solutions.

11. Urban Green Infrastructure
Urban GI provides multiple solutions in cost-effective way
EU develops knowledge on urban GI: already proposes flexible indicator framework to support assessment of urban ecosystems condition and their services in cities across the EU:
Next phase: testing further the
methodology with more cities across
the EU ( )

12. Spatial Planning & Integrated land management: Giving space to ecosystems
Degraded, fragmented ecosystems: lower species richness and unable to offer the same services than healthy ecosystems. Such relationships spatially analysed in EEA's report on Spatial analysis of green infrastructure in Europe (2014).
New study launched by DG ENV on "The potential of spatial planning for protection and management of the Natura 2000 network"
Developing Green Infrastructure will e.g. enhance land's permeability for migrating species and re-connect habitats which had been separated by e.g. intensive land use, transport routes or urban sprawl.
European landscape is modified dramatically every day by fragmentation, change and intensification of land use as a result of a persistent human development. Urban expansion and construction of road and energy infrastructures have degraded and divided valuable ecosystems affecting their habitats and species and reducing the spatial and functional coherence of the landscape. The EEA's report on Landscape Fragmentation in Europe (2011) presented the extent of landscape fragmentation across an entire continent using a scientifically sound method. It also reveals the most relevant driving forces behind fragmentation, demonstrating that varying factors are relevant in different parts of Europe.
In general degraded ecosystems have lower species richness and are unable to offer the same services than healthy ecosystems. Such relationships have been spatially analyzed in EEA's report on Spatial analysis of green infrastructure in Europe (2014).
Developing Green Infrastructure will enhance the land's permeability for migrating species and re-connect habitats which had been separated by e.g. intensive land use, transport routes or urban sprawl
Commission / DG ENV has recently signed (with Alterra) a contract on "The potential of spatial planning for protection and management of the Natura 2000 network", to contribute to a better understanding of how spatial planning can support meeting the objectives of the Natura 2000 network and as such contribute to halting the loss of biodiversity and restoration of ecosystem services. In addition, this contract aims at presenting best practices with regard to reconciling the goals of other EU policies with the objectives of nature protection in so much as spatial planning aspects are concerned. The contract is not particularly focused on urban or peri-urban areas, but since many Natura 2000 sites are located close or within cities, and these locations due to competing land uses pose particular problems, the contract will obviously look into the challenges of planning in these areas.

13. Technical Standards
COM should Assess the contribution technical standards could make to "growing the market" of GI products
Inclusion of assessing benefits and risks of standard setting for GI into Union Work Programme on European Standardisation

14. TEN-G
Assessing opportunities of developing a TEN-G instrument
would not only have significant benefits for securing the resilience and vitality of some of Europe ecosystems and the services they provide to society
but could act as important flagship for promoting GI at national, regional and local levels and boosting the importance of GI in policy, planning and financing decisions.
Findings from a recent contract on assessing costs and benefits of a TEN-G available on DG ENV website: s/green_infrastructures/GI%20Final%20Report.pdf
Major rivers and transboundary mountain ranges are obvious candidates for EU-level GI projects.
N2000: Backbone of a future TEN-G network.
The GI strategy also looks at the possibility of developing a trans-European Green Infrastructure (TEN-G) initiative, similar to that already in place for large-scale EU transport (TEN-T) and energy
(TEN-E) networks. Many ecosystems, for instance in mountain ranges (the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians) and along river basins (the Rhine, the Danube), extend beyond national boundaries and are part of the EU’s shared natural and cultural heritage and identity. They too would benefit considerably from coordinated, joined-up actions and a pan-European vision.
N2000: Backbone of a future TEN-G network.
Developing an instrument for a trans-European Green Infrastructure in Europe would not only have significant benefits for securing the resilience and vitality of some of Europe’s most precious ecosystems but could act as an
important flagship for promoting GI at national, regional and local levels and boosting the importance of GI in policy, planning and financing decisions.

15. Action 6a: Ecosystem restoration
Member States and the Commission continue to work on the development of Frameworks for the Prioritization of Restoration Actions.
On-going contract to assess the economic, social and environmental benefits of ecosystem restoration across the EU.
EU Biodiversity strategy (Target 2) includes the restoration of 15% of degraded ecosystem. Action 6a foresees that the Member States, with support from the Commission, will develop restoration prioritization frameworks at sub-national, national and EU levels. Restoration target very closely linked to the GI deployment objective. Restoring degraded ecosystems contributes to GI.

16. Financial support
Structural Funds (European Regional Development Fund & European Social Fund), Cohesion Fund, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, LIFE+, & research funding programmes (Horizon 2020)
Funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation could also provide significant co-benefits for GI
Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF)
Member States currently have the opportunity to support Green Infrastructure through programs integrated into their development strategies and co-financed from the Structural Funds (the European Regional Development Fund (Chapter 4) and European Social Fund), the Cohesion Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, LIFE+ and the research funding programmes. Funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation could also provide significant co-benefits for Green Infrastructure, given the carbon storage, erosion and flood control services of many ecosystems. The new multi-annual financial framework for the period proposes enlarged financing possibilities for Green Infrastructure projects.
The Commission has produced a series of guides to assist authorities and stakeholders to invest in GI under the new ERDF and the Cohesion Fund for 2014–2020. The first is a guide to ‘multi-benefit cohesion policy investments in nature and green infrastructure’. It looks at the values of nature and how they are important for cohesion policy objectives, and offers a useful toolkit and information source for the development and implementation of GI investments under the cohesion policy for 2014–2020. The second guide ‘connecting smart and sustainable growth through smart specialisation’ aims to assist ERDF managing authorities across the EU to integrate sustainable growth objectives linked to eco-innovation, ecosystem services and sustainable energy into their research and innovation strategies (RIS3).
NCFF was set up by Commission and European Investment Bank: will finance investments in natural capital projects, including GI, which generate revenues or save costs and contribute to nature, biodiversity and climate change adaptation objectives
NCFF open to public and private entities, where appropriate cooperating in partnerships. Investments could e.g. on ecosystem restoration projects as insurance against floods or draughts or to improve water quality

17. Next meetings
EU technical workshop on knowledge base and spatial and technical data for GI and restoration: operationalisation of information and knowledge currently available on ecosystems and their services in Europe to guide policy decisions on GI and restoration
Brussels, 24 & 25 October 2016
EU WG on Green Infrastructure and Restoration: Spring 2017

18. More info on DG ENV, BISE, and NWRM webpages
> Green Infrastructure

19. Thank you for your attention