1. Environmental NGOs EU Biodiversity Strategy Implementation: Key Issues Sue Collins & Andreas Baumüller

2. The EHF brings together leading European nature conservation organizations to provide advice on the development and implementation of EU biodiversity policy with a special focus on the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the reform of sectoral policies critical to a successful implementation.

3. KEY ISSUES – EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY The role of the EHF Aim to link EU policy debate with our field experience Coordinate and exchange views among NGOs to come up with ‘one voice’ Provide expertise and give input at EU and national level Advocate and lobby for environmental interests Engage outside the ‘environmental corner’ - discuss issues with other sectors working on agriculture, fisheries, finance, forest...... our job is to help ensure that EU meets its EU Biodiversity Target endorsed by Heads of State and governments...

4. Target 1: FULLY IMPLEMENT THE BIRDS AND HABITATS DIRECTIVES An efficient protected areas network needs to fulfill three basic principles: Network is designated (including the marine sites) Network is sustainably managed Biodiversity is monitored The biggest challenge – however: FINANCING NATURA Opportunity: Prioritized Action Frameworks/PAFs -> key tool for MS but also for EC

5. TARGET 2: MAINTAIN AND RESTORE ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES Europe is most fragmented continent of the world – restoration a more important issue than ever. But it needs money! Don’t divert money away from looking after the best areas for biodiversity; find additional sources of investment. Prioritisation will be key! Ecological issuesPracticabilityBenefits Biodiversity recovery Improvements in ecosystem functioning and resilience Social benefits from greener areas close to people Ecosystem services delivery(eg pollination, flood management …) Feasible Suitable land / willing owner available Investment and skills available Ongoing funding for sustainable management Restorability Proximity to already good ecological area Creation of useful habitat mosaic Support for species movement/climate resilience

6. Targets 3 and 4: Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries CAP and CFP reforms critical but who is responsible? – Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, not Nature Directors, so..… Use Heads of States’ commitment to halt the loss and restore biodiversity by 2020. Opportunity for you (with us?) to create a platform with all relevant players, including different Ministries and stakeholders, at a national level, to discuss how to meet what was endorsed at the European Council on 26 th March 2010. We cannot ask you to change these key EU reforms but we can ask you to (re-)initiate discussions with relevant sectors and to put them in the framework of the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy.

7. Only 9% of HD Habitats and Species dependant on Agriculture in Favourable Conservation Status (Article 17 Reports) Ongoing declines in species (eg grassland butterflies, farmland birds) could be halted and reversed Losses of semi natural pastures due to ploughing, afforestation or abandonment could be halted Much biodiversity dependant on High Nature Value farming systems ie extensively grazed pastures – more CAP support needed for HNV farmers to halt declines Opportunity to conserve biodiversity rich wood pastures, reverse landscape fragmentation and green intensive farming Target 3: Agriculture Reform – High Potential to contribute to Biodiversity Recovery

8. Target 3: Increasing the contribution of Agriculture and Forestry to Biodiversity Rationale for Ecological Reform of Common Agriculture Policy Responsible land stewardship – agriculture predominant land use across EU Public money should buy public goods (ie those not supplied by the market) Costs to society of unsustainable agriculture unacceptable; biodiversity losses clear; intergenerational equity – ethically important Long term food security depends on healthy ecosystems and services including pollination and soil fertility Farmers’ licence to operate and to receive public subsidies will depend on public perception of their activities – losses of biodiversity and damage to the environment need to be avoided

9. Target 3: Common Agriculture Policy Reform Opportunities Growing body of knowledge of what works to maintain and restore biodiversity in the farmed landscape and of what is damaging CAP Reform 2013 possibilities Support for Natura 2000 areas (Euros 5.6 bn pa needed) Protection of semi natural pastures from ploughing and support for farmers managing semi natural meadows sustainably Greening of Pillar 1 (Environmental Focus Areas, crop rotation etc…) Targeted Agri-Environment payments and support for organic farming and for cooperation between farmers in an area Spreading biodiversity and ecosystem knowledge via Farming Advisory Services and Innovation Partnerships

10. Target 4: Ensure the sustainable use of Fisheries Resources Promote Common Fisheries Policy/CFP reform to: Achieve the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) target by 2015 Guarantee the implementation of the Ecosystem Based Approach Support the development of Marine Protected Areas, in particular to protect essential Fish Habitats Eliminate discards and destructive fishing practices Phase-out harmful fishing subsidies Stress the benefits of protecting marine biodiversity Support implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive... and the Habitats Directive: Accelerate the designation of marine N2000 sites, to achieve a coherent network by 2012 and put in place effective management measures

11. Target 5: Combat Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Large economic losses from Invasive alien species Big threat to sustaining and restoring biodiversity Principles Prevention Early warning and eradication Long-term control and containment EU Legislation and resources needed

12. Target 6: Help Avert Global biodiversity loss Implement the CBD commitments at EU and national level, some example: -National accounting (Aichi target 2) -Reduce perverse subsidies (Aichi target 3) -Reduce indirect drivers (Aichi target 17) Of course, the most critical onces for the next COP: -Access and Benefit Sharing (Aichi target 16) -CBD Finance (Aichi target 20)

13. KEY CONCLUSIONS Halting biodiversity loss Complex issue Very different actors Many different sectors Biggest challenges are not new! Better implementation of key policies for which the environment sector is responsible Timely action Integration of biodiversity in different sectors

14. Key EU Reforms - CAP, CFP and EU budget negotiations in 2012/13 Opportunities Tough but essential to engage After 2013 opportunities are gone Let us work together to achieve necessary change We all face the same challenges to achieve the 2020 target. KEY CONCLUSIONS EHF Role Support implementation Highlight gaps Lobby for sectoral reforms

15. QUESTIONS NGOs believe that there is a need to design effective action programmes at the national/local level to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy and that these should be clear on their contribution to meeting the Strategy targets. Do EU nature directors share this view? EHF members are active in all EU Member States. What is your view on how NGOs should best engage and support EU Biodiversity Strategy implementation at a national/local level?

16. Thank you! Sue Collins, Vice Chair, EHF Andreas Baumüller, Chair EHF EHF - European Habitats Forum