1. EU biodiversity policy
European Commission DG Environment Unit B2 Nature & Biodiversity
EU biodiversity policy

2. Presentation contents
Biodiversity: why does it matter?
Current EU biodiversity policy: the 2010 target
Towards a post-2010 biodiversity policy for the EU 2

3. Part 1: Biodiversity – Why does it matter?3

4. Why conserve biodiversity?
A moral duty: to conserve the sheer variety of life on earth
An environmental asset: healthy ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the environment – eg a major tool for climate change adaptation
An economic imperative: ecosystem goods and services provide a whole range of direct and indirect economic benefits
Our life support system

5. Ecosystem goods & services
are important for
Provision of goods – food, fibre, fuel, medicines
Regulation of the air we breathe and quality of our waters
Soil fertility, pollination and other essential support services
Cultural benefits – from aesthetic enjoyment to spiritual solace
TEEB Report 2008:
« The annual welfare loss generated by loss of ecosystems services will amount to 6% of the global GDP by 2050 »

6. Loss of biodiversity in the EU
Europe has suffered more human-induced fragmentation than any other continent (MEA, 2001)
50% of wetlands and high-nature-value farmland gone
40% of all European bird species have unfavourable conservation status
EU Health Check 2009
« 50% of species and up to 80% of habitats of European conservation interest have unfavourable conservation status »

7. What do Europeans think of Biodiversity
They are familiar with the term “biodiversity”
They consider its loss a serious problem
They believe they are not affected yet
They suggest measures to be taken
They make personal efforts (yet many don’t know what to do)
They do not know “Natura 2000”

8. Part 2: Current EU biodiversity policy - the 2010 target8

9. EU biodiversity policy development
2001
European Council agrees to halt the loss of Biodiversity by 2010
Biodiversity included in SDS and 6th EAP as priority
2006
EC Commu-nication and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
2008
Mid-term review of the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
2009
Health Check for Habitats and Species
(only 17% are in ‘favourable condition’)
2010
15 March: Post-2010 vision and target adopted
Endorsed by EU heads of state on 26 March
EC contracting party to Convention on Biological Diversity (since 1993) 9

10. 2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan
Covers relevant sectors and horizontal policy areas in a unified way
Provides a joint approach by identifying what needs to be done at Community level and at MS level
4 Policy areas
10 Key Objectives
46 Targets
150 Priority actions

11. 2006 EU Biodiversity Action Plan
+ Supporting measures
Ensuring adequate financing,
Strengthening EU decision making,
Building partnerships,
Building public education, awareness and participation
Monitoring evaluation and review

12. Monitoring Progress
European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators

13. BAP mid-term assessment
Key findings (Dec 08):
Despite some progress it is highly unlikely -
based on current efforts – to achieve 2010
target
Significant additional commitment needed to
come close to target
At global level a significant reduction in the
rate of loss of biodiversity is not being
achieved

14. Part 3: Towards a post-2010 biodiversity policy for the EU14

15. January 2010 Communication
Aim: establish the level of ambition to underpin the EU post-2010 biodiversity policy
Maintain political momentum
Inform policy development
Trends
Implications
Achievements and shortcomings
Options for a 2020 target 15 15

16. Post 2010 Biodiversity Policy - 2050 Vision -
Biodiversity and ecosystem services – our natural capital – are preserved, valued and, insofar as possible, restored for their intrinsic value and to continue to support economic prosperity and human well-being, and to avert catastrophic changes linked to biodiversity loss.

17. Options for a 2020 headline target
1. Significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020
2. Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020
3. Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restore them insofar as possible
4. Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restore them insofar as possible, and step up the EU's contribution to averting global biodiversity loss
OPTION RETAINED BY THE ENV COUNCIL AND ENDORSED BY THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL (March 2010) 17

18. Next steps
Develop a fully-fledged strategy for biodiversity and ecosystem services by end 2010
Internet stakeholder consultation will be open during the summer: views welcome!
Seek to reach agreement at international level on an ambitious new global vision and targets at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Japan this October.

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