Revisão intercalar da estratégia da biodiversidade da ue

Proteger a natureza da Europa: mais ambição necessária para travar a perda de biodiversidade até 2020.
Bruxelas, 2 de outubro de 2015.
A revisão intercalar da estratégia da UE em matéria de biodiversidade mostra progressos em muitas áreas, mas ressalta a necessidade de um maior esforço dos Estados Membros na implementação para travar a perda de biodiversidade até 2020.
A revisão intercalar da Estratégia de Biodiversidade da UE avalia se a UE está a caminho de atingir o objectivo de travar a perda de biodiversidade até 2020. Os resultados mostram progressos em muitas áreas, mas destacam a necessidade de um esforço muito maior para assumir compromissos na implementação pelo Estados-Membros. A capacidade da natureza para limpar o ar e a água, polinizar culturas e limitar os impactos de catástrofes, como inundações, está sendo comprometida, com custos imprevistos potencialmente significativos para a sociedade e nossa economia. Uma pesquisa de opinião à escala da UE, também publicada hoje, confirma que a maioria dos europeus está preocupada com os efeitos da perda de biodiversidade e reconhece o impacto negativo que isso pode ter na saúde e no bem-estar humano e, em última instância, em nosso desenvolvimento econômico a longo prazo.
A UE adotou uma Estratégia para acabar com essa perda de biodiversidade até 2020. A avaliação de hoje, que vem no meio da estratégia, ressalta que há muito mais a fazer no terreno para traduzir as políticas da UE em ação. Em primeiro lugar, a legislação da UE em matéria de natureza deve ser melhor implementada pelos Estados-Membros. Mais de três quartos dos importantes habitats naturais da UE estão agora em um estado desfavorável e muitas espécies estão ameaçadas de extinção. A interrupção da perda de biodiversidade também dependerá da eficácia das preocupações com a biodiversidade nas políticas de agricultura, silvicultura, pesca, desenvolvimento regional e comércio. A Política Agrícola Comum reformada oferece oportunidades para uma maior integração das preocupações com a biodiversidade, mas será a medida em que os Estados Membros implementaram as medidas, a nível nacional, que determinarão o sucesso da PAC. Em última análise, nosso capital natural precisa ser reconhecido e apreciado, não apenas dentro das limitações de nossas áreas protegidas, mas de forma mais abrangente em nossas terras e mares. A Comissão está actualmente a efectuar uma verificação de aptidão das directivas da UE sobre aves e habitats para avaliar se está a atingir os seus valiosos objectivos da forma mais eficiente.
O Comissário Europeu para o Ambiente, os Assuntos Marítimos e as Pescas, Karmenu Vella, disse: "Há muitas lições a extrair deste relatório - alguns bons progressos e bons exemplos a imitar, mas é necessário muito mais trabalho para fechar as lacunas e alcançar nossos objetivos de biodiversidade até 2020. Não há espaço para a complacência - perder a biodiversidade significa perder nosso sistema de suporte vital. Não podemos pagar isso, e nossa economia também não pode ".
Restaurar habitats naturais e construir infraestruturas verdes continua a ser um desafio para a Europa. A Estratégia de infra-estrutura verde da UE - uma vez implementada - deve gerar múltiplos benefícios em uma variedade de setores, incluindo agricultura, silvicultura e pesca. As espécies exóticas invasoras também são uma das ameaças de crescimento mais rápido para a biodiversidade na Europa, causando danos significativos à agricultura, silvicultura e pesca, custando à UE pelo menos US $ 12 bilhões por ano. Um novo regulamento da UE entrou em vigor para combater a propagação de espécies exóticas invasoras e está em curso um trabalho para estabelecer uma lista de espécies invasoras de interesse da UE até o início de 2016.
Na escala global, a UE contribui muito para travar a perda de biodiversidade. Juntamente com os seus Estados-Membros, é o maior doador financeiro para a conservação da biodiversidade. A UE tomou medidas iniciais para reduzir os impulsos indiretos da perda de biodiversidade, incluindo o comércio de vida selvagem, a pesca ilegal e integrar a biodiversidade em seus acordos comerciais. A nova Agenda Global 2030 para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável reitera a necessidade de cumprir compromissos globais nesta área.
A publicação desta revisão intercalar coincide com a de um inquérito Eurobarómetro que mostra as preocupações expressas pelos europeus em relação às tendências atuais da biodiversidade. Pelo menos três quartos dos europeus pensam que existem graves ameaças para animais, plantas e ecossistemas a nível nacional, europeu e mundial, e mais da metade pensa que serão afetados pessoalmente pela perda de biodiversidade.
A estratégia da UE em matéria de biodiversidade até 2020 visa suspender a perda de biodiversidade e a degradação dos serviços ecossistêmicos, restaurá-los na medida do possível até 2020 e ajudar a evitar a perda de biodiversidade global. Estabelece metas em seis áreas principais: a plena implementação da legislação da natureza da UE; manutenção e restauração de ecossistemas e seus serviços; agricultura, silvicultura e pesca mais sustentáveis; controles mais apertados sobre espécies exóticas invasoras e uma contribuição maior da UE para evitar a perda de biodiversidade global. A Estratégia da UE enfatiza a necessidade de ter plenamente em conta os benefícios econômicos e sociais proporcionados pela contribuição da natureza e integrar esses benefícios em sistemas de relatórios e contabilísticos. A Estratégia também visa cumprir os compromissos globais em matéria de biodiversidade ao abrigo da Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica e contribui para a nova Agenda 2030 Mundial para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável.

Estratégia de Biodiversidade.
Em poucas palavras.
A Estratégia de Biodiversidade da UE visa travar a perda de biodiversidade e os serviços ecossistémicos na UE e ajudar a deter a perda global de biodiversidade até 2020. Reflecte os compromissos assumidos pela UE em 2010, dentro da Convenção Internacional sobre a Diversidade Biológica.
Na prática.
Em 2011, a UE adotou uma estratégia ambiciosa que estabelece 6 metas e 20 ações para travar a perda de biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos na UE até 2020 (leia a Estratégia). A avaliação intercalar da estratégia avalia se a UE está a caminho de atingir este objectivo. Isso mostra progresso em muitas áreas, mas destaca a necessidade de um esforço muito maior.
Proteger espécies e habitats - Meta 1.
Até 2020, as avaliações de espécies e habitats protegidos pela legislação da natureza da UE mostram melhor conservação ou um estado seguro para 100% mais habitats e 50% mais espécies.
Manter e restaurar os ecossistemas - Meta 2.
Até 2020, os ecossistemas e seus serviços são mantidos e aprimorados através do estabelecimento de infra-estrutura verde e restauração de pelo menos 15% dos ecossistemas degradados.
Alcançar uma agricultura e silvicultura mais sustentável - Meta 3.
Até 2020, a conservação de espécies e habitats dependentes ou afetados pela agricultura e silvicultura e a prestação de seus serviços ecossistêmicos mostram melhorias mensuráveis.
Tornar a pesca mais sustentável e os mares mais saudáveis ​​- Meta 4.
Até 2015, a pesca é sustentável. Até 2020, os estoques de peixes são saudáveis ​​e os mares europeus são mais saudáveis. A pesca não tem impactos adversos significativos em espécies e ecossistemas.
Combate espécies exóticas invasoras - Meta 5.
Até 2020, as espécies exóticas invasoras são identificadas, as espécies prioritárias controladas ou erradicadas, e os caminhos conseguiram evitar que novas espécies invasivas perturbem a biodiversidade europeia.
Ajude a parar a perda de biodiversidade global - Meta 6.
Até 2020, a UE intensificou o seu contributo para evitar a perda global de biodiversidade.

Revisão intercalar da estratégia da biodiversidade da ue
na revisão intercalar da Estratégia da UE para a Biodiversidade.
Comitê de Meio Ambiente, Saúde Pública e Segurança Alimentar.
Relator: Mark Demesmaeker.
na revisão intercalar da Estratégia da UE para a Biodiversidade.
O Parlamento Europeu,
- Tendo em conta o relatório da Comissão de 2 de Outubro de 2015 intitulado "A revisão intercalar da Estratégia da UE para a biodiversidade até 2020" (COM (2015) 0478),
- Tendo em conta o relatório da Comissão, de 20 de Maio de 2015, intitulado «O estado da natureza na União Europeia: relatório sobre o estado e as tendências dos tipos de habitats e das espécies abrangidas pelas directivas« Aves e habitats »para o período 2007-2012, nos termos do n. Artigo 17.º da Directiva Habitats e artigo 12.º da Directiva Aves (COM (2015) 0219),
- Tendo em conta o «Relatório sobre a consulta pública aberta sobre o« controlo da aptidão física »sobre as directivas« aves e habitats »(1),
- Tendo em conta o inquérito Eurobarómetro publicado em Outubro de 2015 sobre as atitudes das pessoas na Europa em relação à biodiversidade ("Eurobarómetro especial 436"),
- Tendo em conta o relatório da Agência Europeia do Ambiente intitulado "O Ambiente Europeu - estado e perspectivas 2015" ("SOER 2015"),
- Tendo em conta a Comunicação da Comissão de 7 de Fevereiro de 2014 sobre a abordagem da UE contra o tráfico de animais selvagens (COM (2014) 0064),
- Tendo em conta o relatório final do grupo de especialistas Horizon 2020 sobre soluções baseadas na natureza e Cidades remodelantes intitulado "Rumo a uma agenda política da UE para a investigação e a inovação para as soluções baseadas na natureza e as cidades de reconstrução", publicada em 2015,
- Tendo em conta a Facilidade de Financiamento do Capital Natural (NCFF), que faz parte do instrumento financeiro LIFE para medidas ambientais e climáticas,
- Tendo em conta a consulta da Comissão sobre a futura iniciativa da UE sob o lema "sem perda líquida de biodiversidade e serviços ecossistémicos"
- Tendo em conta os resultados da 12ª Conferência das Partes (COP 12) para a Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre a Diversidade Biológica (CDB), em particular: a revisão intercalar dos progressos realizados na implementação do plano de acção estratégico para a biodiversidade 2011-2020, incluindo a quarta edição do Global Diversity Outlook, com o objetivo de alcançar os Objetivos de Biodiversidade de Aichi; e medidas para melhorar a implementação,
- Tendo em conta a Decisão X / 34 da COP 10 sobre a biodiversidade, que salienta a importância da biodiversidade agrícola para a segurança alimentar e a nutrição, especialmente em face das alterações climáticas e dos recursos naturais limitados, tal como reconhecido pela Declaração de Roma da Cimeira Mundial de 2009 em Segurança Alimentar
- Tendo em conta as conclusões da reunião do Conselho do Ambiente de 12 de Junho de 2014, em particular o compromisso da UE e dos seus Estados-Membros de aumentar os recursos com vista a alcançar os compromissos de Hyderabad, duplicando o total dos fluxos de recursos financeiros relacionados com a biodiversidade até 2015 ;
- Tendo em conta o relatório do Secretariado da CDB e da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) intitulado "Conectando as Prioridades Globais: Biodiversidade e Saúde Humana - Uma Avaliação do Estado de Conhecimento", publicado em 2015,
- Tendo em conta a proposta de resolução apresentada na 69ª sessão da Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas para aprovação da agenda de desenvolvimento pós-2015, intitulada "Transformar o nosso mundo: a Agenda 2030 para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável",
- Tendo em conta os relatórios sobre Economia dos Ecossistemas e da Biodiversidade (TEEB), uma iniciativa mundial destinada a "tornar visíveis os valores da natureza"
- Tendo em conta a Convenção sobre o Comércio Internacional de Espécies da Fauna e Flora Selvagens Ameaçadas de Extinção (CITES) e a Convenção sobre Espécies Migratórias (CMS)
- Tendo em conta a Lista Vermelha da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (UICN) de espécies animais ameaçadas de extinção,
- Tendo em conta o Regulamento (UE) n. º 1143/2014 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 22 de Outubro de 2014, relativo à prevenção e gestão da introdução e propagação de espécies exóticas invasoras (2),
- Tendo em conta a Convenção Internacional da Organização Marítima Internacional para o Controlo e Gestão da Água de Lastro e Sedimentos dos Navios,
- Tendo em conta a Política Agrícola Comum após 2013 e, em particular, o Regulamento (UE) n. º 1307/2013, que estabelece regras relativas aos pagamentos directos aos agricultores no âmbito de regimes de apoio no âmbito da política agrícola comum (3) e ao Regulamento (UE) Nº 1305/2013 sobre o apoio ao desenvolvimento rural pelo Fundo Europeu Agrícola de Desenvolvimento Rural (FEADER) (4),
- Tendo em conta o Regulamento (UE) n. º 1380/2013 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 11 de Dezembro de 2013, relativo à Política Comum das Pescas, que altera os Regulamentos (CE) n. º 1954/2003 e (CE) n. º 1224/2009 do Conselho e revoga o Regulamento Regulamento (CE) n. º 2371/2002 e (CE) n. º 639/2004 do Conselho e Decisão 2004/585 / CE do Conselho (5),
- Tendo em conta o Quadro Financeiro Plurianual (QFP) 2014-2020,
- Tendo em conta a sua resolução de 20 de abril de 2012 sobre o nosso seguro de vida, o nosso capital natural: uma estratégia da UE em matéria de biodiversidade até 2020 (6),
- Tendo em conta a sua Resolução de 12 de Dezembro de 2013 sobre Infra-estruturas verdes - Reforço do capital natural da Europa (7),
- Tendo em conta a sua Resolução de 28 de Abril de 2015 sobre "Uma nova Estratégia florestal da UE: para as florestas e o sector florestal" (8),
- Tendo em conta o estudo do Serviço Europeu de Investigação Parlamentar de Abril de 2015 intitulado "Salvaguardar a diversidade biológica - política da UE e acordos internacionais"
- no que se refere ao relatório da Forest Europe intitulado "Estado das Florestas da Europa 2015" (9),
- Tendo em conta o estudo pelo seu Departamento de Política para os Direitos dos Cidadãos e os Assuntos Constitucionais de 2009 sobre as legislações e práticas nacionais no que se refere à aplicação da Directiva 92/43 / CEE do Conselho, de 21 de Maio de 1992, relativa à conservação dos habitats naturais e da natureza fauna e flora, particularmente o artigo 6º,
- Tendo em conta o parecer do Comité das Regiões, aprovado na 115.ª reunião plenária de 3 e 4 de Dezembro de 2015, intitulado "Contribuição para o controlo de aptidão para as directivas da UE sobre aves e habitats"
- Tendo em conta o artigo 52º do seu Regimento,
- Tendo em conta o relatório da Comissão do Meio Ambiente, da Saúde Pública e da Segurança Alimentar e o parecer da Comissão do Desenvolvimento (A8-0003 / 2016),
A. Recordando que a biodiversidade abrange a variedade única de ecossistemas, habitats, espécies e genes na Terra, nos quais os seres humanos são fortemente dependentes;
B. Considerando que a biodiversidade tem um valor intrínseco esmagador que deve ser protegido em benefício das gerações futuras; Considerando que a biodiversidade também oferece benefícios para a saúde humana e contribui com um enorme valor social e econômico, e que o custo de oportunidade socioeconômica de perder o objetivo principal da biodiversidade é de 50 bilhões de euros por ano;
C. Considerando que a agricultura desempenha um papel importante na consecução dos objectivos da biodiversidade; Considerando que a necessidade de uma produção eficiente de alimentos - para alimentar uma população mundial em rápida expansão - e os objetivos da política energética que exigem maior uso da biomassa como fonte de energia estão a fazer demandas significativas da indústria agrícola;
D. Considerando que os sectores agrícola e florestal contribuem para a preservação da biodiversidade no contexto da aplicação da legislação em vigor;
E. Considerando que a diversidade de espécies e variedades de plantas tradicionalmente cultivadas por fazendas pequenas e médias e fazendas familiares é de enorme importância tanto em resposta a diversas necessidades e usos nas comunidades rurais como na redução da vulnerabilidade das culturas ao clima, pragas e doenças adversas ;
F. Considerando que o cultivo sustentável e responsável da terra e a pecuária constituem um contributo essencial para a preservação da biodiversidade;
G. Considerando que a biodiversidade está sujeita a uma pressão severa em todo o mundo, que está provocando mudanças irreversíveis profundamente prejudiciais para a natureza, a sociedade e a economia;
H. Considerando que o objectivo 11 de Aichi exige a protecção de, pelo menos, 17% das zonas terrestres e das águas interiores através de sistemas de áreas protegidas geridos eficazmente; Considerando que a proporção de ecorregiões europeias com 17% do seu território dentro das áreas protegidas é muito reduzida quando as áreas protegidas exclusivamente pela Natura 2000 são excluídas;
I. Considerando que a restauração dos ecossistemas pode ter um impacto positivo na mitigação e na adaptação às alterações climáticas;
J. Considerando que pelo menos 8 em cada dez cidadãos da UE consideram o impacto da perda de biodiversidade como grave e que 552 470 cidadãos participaram da consulta pública sobre o controlo de aptidão para as directivas da natureza, a maior resposta a qualquer consulta da Comissão; Considerando que, de acordo com a pesquisa do Eurobarómetro, os cidadãos desejam receber mais informações sobre a perda de biodiversidade e a maioria das pessoas não conhece a Natura 2000;
K. Considerando que um número considerável de cidadãos comprometidos, por iniciativa própria ou como membros de grupos de acção locais ou regionais, estão a tomar medidas locais e regionais para promover a biodiversidade e, assim, conseguem resultados positivos num prazo relativamente curto;
L. Considerando que 65% dos cidadãos da UE vivem dentro de 5 km de um site Natura 2000 e 98% vivem em 20 km, sugerindo que estes sites têm potencial para ajudar a aumentar a conscientização sobre a biodiversidade e a prestar serviços ecossistêmicos que contribuam para o bem - sendo uma grande proporção da população da UE;
M. Considerando que as políticas de biodiversidade devem estar em plena conformidade com o princípio da subsidiariedade, de modo que as diferenças regionais em paisagens e habitats sejam plenamente respeitadas;
N. Considerando a importância da biodiversidade nas regiões ultraperiféricas e nos países e territórios ultramarinos, que representam reservas únicas de espécies de flora e fauna endêmicas; Considerando que as directivas aves e habitats não são, no entanto, aplicadas em algumas destas regiões;
1. Congratula-se com a revisão intercalar da estratégia de biodiversidade e os relatórios "Estado da Natureza" e "SOER 2015"; salienta a importância estratégica destes relatórios para alcançar os objectivos da UE em matéria de biodiversidade;
2. Manifesta a sua profunda preocupação com a perda contínua de biodiversidade; observa que os objectivos de 2020 não serão alcançados sem esforços adicionais, substanciais e contínuos; observa, ao mesmo tempo, que as evidências científicas demonstraram que a natureza da Europa seria em muito pior estado sem o impacto positivo das directivas da UE sobre as aves e os habitats e que os esforços orientados e adequadamente financiados produzem resultados positivos; enfatiza, no entanto, que ainda há um grande potencial de melhoria;
3. Salienta que a destruição do habitat é o factor mais importante que gera a perda de biodiversidade e é uma prioridade particular quando se trata de resolver esta perda, ou seja, através da redução da degradação e fragmentação;
4. Salienta que a perda de biodiversidade refere-se não apenas às espécies e aos habitats, mas também à diversidade genética; solicita à Comissão que elabore uma estratégia para a conservação da diversidade genética;
5. Sublinha o papel crítico da biodiversidade nos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (SDGs), em particular os Objetivos 14 ("Conservar e usar de maneira sustentável os oceanos, mares e recursos marinhos") e 15 ("Proteger, restaurar e promover o uso sustentável de ecossistemas terrestres" , gerenciar de forma sustentável florestas, combater a desertificação e parar e reverter a degradação da terra e interromper a perda de biodiversidade "); recorda que a UE tem uma biodiversidade incrível, em especial graças às suas regiões ultraperiféricas, mas também aos países e territórios ultramarinos associados; solicita, por conseguinte, à UE que permaneça fortemente empenhada em reforçar ainda mais a Convenção sobre a Diversidade Biológica e assegurar que seja implementada de forma eficaz;
6. Observa que a fragmentação, a degradação e a destruição do habitat como resultado da mudança do uso da terra, mudanças climáticas, padrões de consumo insustentáveis ​​e o uso dos mares são algumas das principais pressões e fatores que causam perda de biodiversidade na UE e além de suas fronteiras; enfatiza, portanto, a necessidade de identificar e estabelecer indicadores que medem inequivocamente e cientificamente o estado da biodiversidade em uma determinada área ou região e para apoiar o uso racional e sustentável de recursos, tanto na UE como a nível mundial, inclusive nos países em desenvolvimento, e , em particular, insta a UE a ancorar melhor os compromissos internacionais em matéria de biodiversidade com as suas estratégias de mudança climática e Europa 2020; salienta que uma economia mais eficiente em termos de recursos e uma redução do consumo excessivo podem permitir à UE reduzir a sua dependência dos recursos naturais, em particular do exterior da Europa; lembra também que as abordagens baseadas no ecossistema para mitigação e adaptação às mudanças climáticas poderiam fornecer alternativas econômicas para as soluções tecnológicas, enquanto o progresso em muitas ciências aplicadas depende da disponibilidade e da diversidade de ativos naturais a longo prazo;
7. Salienta a importância crucial do aumento da vontade política ao mais alto nível para salvaguardar a biodiversidade e travar a perda de biodiversidade; considera que a implementação da legislação existente, a aplicação e a integração da proteção da biodiversidade em outras áreas políticas são essenciais; solicita, em especial, às autoridades regionais e locais dos Estados-Membros que forneçam informações e sensibilizem a biodiversidade;
8. Lamenta que, na Europa, cerca de uma quarta parte das espécies selvagens correm o risco de extinção e muitos ecossistemas são degradados, causando graves prejuízos sociais e económicos para a UE;
9. Salienta que a natureza eo desenvolvimento económico não são mutuamente exclusivos; está convencido da necessidade de integrar a natureza mais plenamente na sociedade, incluindo a economia e as empresas privadas, a fim de gerar crescimento econômico sustentável e tomar medidas pró-ativas para proteger, restaurar e gerenciar melhor o meio ambiente; considera, em particular, que o compromisso de reduzir a exploração dos recursos deve ser central na união de objetivos ambientais e econômicos;
10. Salienta que a perda de biodiversidade tem custos econômicos devastadores para a sociedade, que até agora não foram integrados de forma suficiente às políticas econômicas e outras; considera vital reconhecer que investir na biodiversidade é essencial do ponto de vista socioeconômico; observa que um em cada seis empregos na UE depende, em certa medida, da natureza e da biodiversidade; salienta que a biodiversidade tem um potencial significativo para criar novas habilidades, empregos e oportunidades de negócios; acolhe métodos para medir o valor econômico da biodiversidade; considera que esses instrumentos podem aumentar a conscientização, melhorar o uso dos recursos disponíveis e resultar em uma melhor tomada de decisões;
11. Solicita à Comissão que reforce o papel que a biodiversidade e os ecossistemas desempenham nos assuntos económicos, com vista a uma economia verde, insta a Comissão a intensificar as medidas tomadas em apoio à ecologização do Semestre Europeu; salienta que a biodiversidade é uma responsabilidade social global que não pode basear-se unicamente na despesa pública;
12. Considera que o valor econômico da biodiversidade deve ser refletido em indicadores que orientam a tomada de decisões, sem levar à mercantilização da biodiversidade e que vão além do PIB; está convencido de que isso irá beneficiar a busca dos SDGs; solicita, neste contexto, a integração sistemática dos valores da biodiversidade nos sistemas contábeis nacionais como parte do processo de monitoramento SDG;
13. Salienta que a UE e os seus Estados-Membros não cumpriram os objectivos da Estratégia de Biodiversidade para 2010; solicita à Comissão, tendo em conta a falta de progressos no sentido da consecução dos objectivos de biodiversidade de 2020, fornecer relatórios bilaterais ao Parlamento, nos quais o Conselho e a Comissão elaborem a situação, os motivos da não realização e a estratégia para garantir o futuro conformidade;
Revisão intercalar da Estratégia de Biodiversidade.
14. Solicita à Comissão e aos Estados-Membros, com carácter de urgência, que dê maior prioridade à consecução dos objectivos de 2020; solicita uma abordagem multipartidária e salienta o papel vital dos atores nacionais, regionais e locais e da sua plena participação nesse processo; salienta que o financiamento e a maior sensibilização, compreensão e apoio do público à protecção da biodiversidade também são essenciais; considera que uma boa política de informação e o envolvimento precoce de todos os atores envolvidos, incluindo os atores socioeconômicos, são, portanto, fundamentais para alcançar esses objetivos;
15. Solicita à UE que reduza a sua pegada de biodiversidade em todo o mundo, de acordo com o princípio da Coerência das Políticas para o Desenvolvimento, e que aumente os limites ecológicos dos ecossistemas, fazendo progressos na consecução dos objectivos principais da biodiversidade e cumprindo os compromissos em matéria de protecção da biodiversidade ; solicita igualmente à UE que assista os países em desenvolvimento nos seus esforços para conservar a biodiversidade e garantir a sua utilização sustentável;
16. Lamenta o lento progresso dos Estados-Membros na aplicação da legislação ambiental da UE; salienta a necessidade de mais informações sobre o estado da implementação nos Estados-Membros;
17. Sublinha que a plena implementação e execução e financiamento adequado das Directivas sobre Natureza é um pré-requisito vital para garantir o êxito da estratégia como um todo e cumprir o seu objectivo principal; solicita, tendo em conta o curto espaço de tempo disponível, que todas as partes interessadas tenham o máximo para conseguir isso e gerar um amplo apoio;
18. Insta os líderes da UE a ouvir o meio milhão de cidadãos que pediram que nossas leis fortes de proteção da natureza sejam aceitas e melhor implementadas;
19. Solicita à Comissão que melhore as orientações, o que deverá facilitar a plena implementação e aplicação das directivas de acordo com a jurisprudência existente; solicita à Comissão que dê maior prioridade ao diálogo com os Estados-Membros e todas as partes interessadas, incluindo os agentes socioeconómicos, a fim de incentivar o intercâmbio de melhores práticas;
20. Reconhece que um dos principais benefícios das directivas sobre a natureza é a medida em que ajudam a garantir condições equitativas em toda a UE, fornecendo um padrão básico de protecção do ambiente que todos os Estados-Membros devem satisfazer, de acordo com os requisitos para as condições comuns normas e o princípio do reconhecimento mútuo no mercado único;
21. Observa que, em 2012, apenas 58% dos sites Natura 2000 tinham planos de gestão; está preocupado com os níveis divergentes de implementação; insta os Estados-Membros a completar a designação dos sítios terrestres e marinhos Natura 2000 e a elaborar planos de gestão, em consulta com todas as partes interessadas;
22. Salienta que, embora a gestão dos sítios Natura 2000 em toda a UE cumpra um mínimo de 5,8 mil milhões de euros, trazem benefícios ambientais e socioeconómicos no valor de 200 mil milhões de euros a 300 mil milhões de euros anualmente; solicita aos Estados-Membros que garantam que os sítios Natura 2000 sejam geridos de forma transparente;
23. Reconhece o contributo vital que as Áreas Marinhas Protegidas estabelecidas no âmbito da rede Natura 2000 desempenharão no sentido de alcançar um Bom Estado Ambiental ao abrigo da Directiva-Quadro Estratégia Marinha e no cumprimento da meta global de 10% das áreas costeiras e marinhas protegidas, conforme estabelecido em Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, até 2020; lamenta que este objetivo ainda esteja longe de ser alcançado;
24. Solicita à Comissão e aos Estados-Membros que aumentem a recolha de dados e o acompanhamento dos habitats e das espécies, nomeadamente quando existem lacunas importantes, a fim de avaliar os progressos realizados na consecução destes objectivos;
25. Manifesta a sua preocupação pelo facto de ainda não existir uma visão detalhada do financiamento real e do financiamento da conservação da natureza por cada Estado-Membro; considera que isso é uma lacuna significativa em nosso conhecimento; solicita à Comissão e aos Estados-Membros que identifiquem e compilem sem demora as rubricas orçamentais nacionais relevantes;
26. Reitera os seus anteriores pedidos de co-financiamento da UE para a gestão dos sítios Natura 2000, que devem ser complementares dos fundos de desenvolvimento rural, estruturais e de pesca e aos fundos disponibilizados pelos Estados-Membros;
27. Insta a Comissão e os Estados-Membros a continuar a aplicar rigorosamente as Directivas da Natureza; salienta que o cumprimento e a aplicação da legislação da UE devem ser melhorados, por exemplo, pelo uso de sanções proporcionadas, eficazes e dissuasivas;
28. Solicita, neste contexto, esforços adicionais para travar todos os assassinatos, armadilhas e trocas ilegais de aves e resolver os conflitos locais resultantes; solicita à Comissão e aos Estados-Membros que desenvolvam novas ferramentas para a detecção de actividades ilegais nos sítios Natura 2000;
29. Solicita à Comissão que apresente uma proposta específica para o desenvolvimento de uma rede transeuropeia de infra-estruturas verdes (RTE-G) até 2017; encoraja o desenvolvimento conjunto, em conjunto com os Estados-Membros, de uma estratégia para os corredores europeus da vida selvagem para espécies específicas;
30. Solicita aos Estados-Membros que não o fizeram que desenvolvam e implementem imediatamente os quadros de priorização da restauração dos ecossistemas;
31. Solicita aos Estados-Membros que priorizem o objectivo de restabelecer 15% dos ecossistemas degradados até 2020 e utilizar as dotações disponíveis no âmbito do QFP para esse fim; solicita à Comissão que apresente orientações sobre como utilizar essas dotações para restaurar os ecossistemas degradados e para a proteção da biodiversidade em geral;
32. Chama a atenção para a importância da agricultura e da silvicultura para atingir esse objetivo e para a necessidade de soluções sustentáveis ​​para a agricultura e a silvicultura;
33. Reconhece o impacto adverso da poluição do ar na biodiversidade e nos serviços ecossistêmicos, com cargas críticas para o nitrogênio nutriente e a acidez sendo utilizada como indicador de pressão sobre os ecossistemas naturais e a diversidade de espécies;
34. Solicita à Comissão e aos Estados-Membros que invistam na biodiversidade, a fim de apoiar a capacidade de inovação das empresas, nomeadamente no domínio da engenharia ecológica;
35. Observa que a incorporação da conservação da natureza a outras áreas políticas continua a ser de suma importância e salienta o papel crucial da agricultura e da silvicultura neste contexto;
36. Salienta que a preservação da biodiversidade é fundamental para a produção de alimentos e alimentos para animais e, por conseguinte, é do interesse dos agricultores; destaca a importância de uma abordagem multipartidária que também envolve e encoraja ativamente os agricultores e operadores florestais a lidar conjuntamente com esses desafios;
37. Recorda que a Política Agrícola Comum (PAC) já dispõe de instrumentos para restabelecer, preservar e melhorar a biodiversidade, como as Áreas de Focalização Ecológica (EFA); salienta que restaurar, preservar e melhorar os ecossistemas relacionados com a agricultura e a silvicultura, incluindo nas zonas Natura 2000, é destacado como uma das seis principais prioridades para o desenvolvimento rural na UE;
38. Regista com pesar que ainda não houve uma melhoria mensurável no estado da biodiversidade na agricultura, mas reconhece que ainda é cedo demais para avaliar a eficácia real da PAC reformada; congratula-se com os planos da Comissão para avaliar os progressos realizados na implementação da PAC e insta a Comissão e os Estados-Membros a monitorarem, avaliar e, se necessário, melhorar a eficácia das medidas ecológicas - incluindo a avaliação da flexibilidade dos Estados-Membros - e as medidas relevantes de desenvolvimento rural em o contexto da PAC; solicita à Comissão que tenha em conta as suas conclusões na revisão intercalar da PAC;
39. Solicita aos Estados-Membros que utilizem melhor os instrumentos existentes da PAC e da política de coesão para ajudar os agricultores e os operadores florestais a atingir os objectivos em matéria de biodiversidade;
destaca a necessidade de promover o uso sustentável de recursos genéticos vegetais e variedades agrícolas tradicionais, juntamente com soluções sustentáveis ​​para agricultura e silvicultura;
40. Salienta que os EPT devem, em princípio, ser áreas de protecção e promoção de processos agroecológicos, como a polinização e a conservação do solo; asks the Commission to publish data on how many Member States have been permitting the use of pesticides and fertilisers in these EFAs since Regulation EU (No) 1307/2013 came into force;
41. Calls on the Commission, in the interests of transparency, to make public the justifications given by Member States for their choice of greening measures;
42. Insists that the Commission and the Member States ensure that financial resources under the CAP are redirected from subsidising environmentally harmful activities to financing sustainable agricultural practices and maintaining connected biodiversity;
43. Stresses the need to protect agricultural biodiversity in developing countries in order to achieve food security; calls on the Commission, therefore, to invest in agro-ecology in developing countries, in line with the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food;
44. Calls on the Commission to promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes and forest biodiversity and productivity and by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; calls, in addition, on the Commission to prohibit the destruction of natural forests, to safeguard endangered species and to ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees;
45. Calls on the Commission to take greater account, as part of its strategy to support biodiversity, of tropical forests, given their concentration of ecosystems, habitats and particularly endangered vulnerable species, their vital role for the environmental balance and the climate, and their social and cultural function for native populations;
46. Calls for the Member States to develop and implement forest management plans with the aim of improving the conservation status of forest habitats and species and improving the availability of information; asks the Commission to develop criteria and standards for the collection of information on forest biodiversity, with a view to ensuring consistency and comparability;
47. Draws attention to the potential threat to biodiversity posed by the growing demand for agrofuels and the increasingly intense pressure on developing countries to produce them, through the conversion and degradation of habitats and ecosystems such as wetlands and forests;
48. Urges that social and environmental sustainability criteria for biomass production form a coherent part of the framework laid down by the Renewable Energy Directive (RED); deems it crucial to develop sustainability standards for all sectors in which biomass may be used, together with sustainable forest management criteria to ensure that bioenergy does not contribute to climate change or become an additional driver of land grabs and food insecurity;
49. Notes with concern that 90 % of the palm oil consumed in the world is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia at the expense of peat forests, which are burned down to make way for large acacia and oil-palm plantations; points to the fact that, according to a study conducted by the World Bank, Indonesia has become the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, precisely because of forest fires;
50. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management in order to achieve the goal of maximum sustainable yield by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods; stresses the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard, inter alia, marine biodiversity and stocks, and to support economic growth via the blue economy;
51. Stresses the fundamental importance of marine ecosystems and resources as a foundation for sustainable development for coastal countries; calls on the Member States to implement previous commitments fully and to work with governments at the global, regional and national levels to deliver a significant scale-up of ambition and action with a view to achieving equitable and economically and ecologically sustainable fisheries;
52. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the EU plays a leading role in securing an agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond the jurisdiction of states;
53. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States and third countries to improve the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing ;
54. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the environmental quality of EU seas by carrying out projects seeking to cut chemical, physical and microbiological pollution by optimising the sustainability of maritime traffic and protecting biodiversity, which is inevitably endangered; notes, in this connection, that 12.7 million tonnes of plastic (5 % of total production) end up in the oceans each year through sewer systems, waterways and landfills along coasts, which disrupts the environment and the biodiversity of the entire planet;
55. Urges the Commission to establish, without delay and in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union, on the understanding that such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets; stresses the importance of regularly updating this list and carrying out additional risk assessments for species, so that the legislation on invasive alien species can act as a powerful lever;
56. Calls on all Member States to ratify the International Maritime Organisation Ballast Water Management Convention with a view to preventing the spread of invasive alien species through maritime and inland water transport and contributing to the implementation and achievement of the target;
57. Calls on the Member States to monitor imports of exotic species into their territory and to report regularly on them to the Commission and other Member States; calls for greater restrictions on imports and private possession of endangered species, including primates, reptiles and amphibians;
58. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020, ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas; urges the Commission and the Member States to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy;
59. Urges the remaining Member States to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation ahead of COP-MOP 2 in December 2016;
60. Recalls that, at the global level, the EU makes a significant contribution to the fight against biodiversity loss and that, with its Member States, it is the main donor of funds for biodiversity conservation and the biggest contributor of official development assistance for biodiversity;
61. Welcomes the Commission's B4Life flagship project for 2014-2020, but believes that the EU must step up its contribution to averting global biodiversity loss, and calls for the EU and its Member States to deliver on their Hyderabad commitments to double total biodiversity-related funding flows to developing countries by 2015 and to maintain this level until at least 2020;
62. Stresses that wildlife crime and habitat loss pose a direct and prevalent threat to global biodiversity; recognises that the omission of wildlife trafficking and the lack of action relating to EU involvement in CITES are a serious gap in the EU Biodiversity Strategy; underlines the urgent need for coordinated action to combat the illegal wildlife trade; calls on the Commission to submit an ambitious action plan for combating illegal trafficking in wild animals and plants, and in products derived from them, and calls for similar measures to be taken to tackle deforestation and forest degradation;
Fitness check of the Nature Directives.
63. Stresses that the Nature Directives are milestones for nature policy, not only within the EU but also internationally; considers that, thanks to their concise, coherent and consistent form, these Nature Directives can, so to speak, be regarded as smart regulation avant la lettre ;
64. Stresses that Natura 2000 is still a relatively young network, whose full potential is far from having been achieved; considers that the Nature Directives remain relevant and that best practices in implementation demonstrate their effectiveness; stresses that there is ample flexibility in the Nature Directives, including the option for adaptation according to technical and scientific progress; notes that smart implementation and international cooperation are essential for reaching the biodiversity targets;
65. Opposes a possible revision of the Nature Directives because this would jeopardise the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy, would bring about a protracted period of legal uncertainty, with the risk that it would result in weakened legislative protection and financing, and would be bad for nature, for people and for business; emphasises, in this connection, that the ongoing REFIT check of the Nature Directives should focus on improving implementation;
66. Is convinced that any difficulties in achieving the objectives of the Nature Directives and the Biodiversity Strategy in general lie not with the legislation but primarily with its incomplete, divergent and inadequate implementation, enforcement and integration into other policy areas;
67. Stresses that there is ample flexibility within the Nature Directives to facilitate their implementation taking into account economic, social, cultural and regional requirements, as enshrined in the Habitats Directive; urges the Commission, nevertheless, to clarify their interpretation and implementation guidelines in order to avoid and resolve sticking points;
68. Calls for a detailed examination of the role of large predators and the possible introduction of adjustment measures to ensure that biodiversity, the agricultural landscape and the centuries-old practice of letting stock graze in mountain regions are maintained;
69. Recognises the benefits of EU nature legislation for the preservation of ecosystems, habitats and species in protected areas; regrets, however, that the French outermost regions, which constitute unique reserves of species and ecosystems and represent a significant proportion of European and global biodiversity, are excluded from this legislative framework and from all other legislative frameworks adapted to their specific characteristics; emphasises, however, the success of all projects financed by the LIFE+ programme in these regions and of the European BEST initiative to strengthen biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories;
70. Calls on the Commission, following on from the BEST preparatory action, to introduce a sustainable funding mechanism for biodiversity protection in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories;
The way ahead: additional measures.
71. Regards biodiversity loss outside protected nature areas as a gap in the strategy; encourages the Commission and the Member States to gather information about these habitats and species and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society;
72. Considers that such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport;
73. Encourages the Member States to ensure, by means of urban planning initiatives, the carefully considered use of space and adequate protection of the Natura 2000 network, to preserve open spaces – in particular by opting for a pastoralist approach rather than abandoning the land, which increases natural risks such as avalanches, mudslides and ground movements – and to establish a coherent network of blue-green infrastructure in rural and urban areas, while at the same time creating the requisite legal certainty for economic activities; calls on the Commission to produce an overview of best practices in this area;
74. Considers it essential, in order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, that the Commission draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility, which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity; considers that LIFE projects should be linked to funding from other programme streams such as the Structural Funds, so as to scale up and replicate successful projects through the EU and create a larger multiplier effect;
75. Calls on the Commission to expand the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing, and calls for better linkage between the various financing tools;
76. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals while ensuring that the next MFF guarantees no net overall loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
77. Calls on the Commission to set up a high-level group on natural capital with a view to achieving these goals by giving them greater political prominence and priority;
78. Regrets that EU environmental law is not subject to coherent and effective environmental inspections and surveillance aimed at detecting and preventing breaches of environmental law across different sectors, including for protected nature conservation sites; welcomes the preparatory work undertaken towards an EU framework for environmental inspections, and calls on the Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal without further delay;
79. Stresses the importance of innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the Nature Directives, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to focus in particular on the links between biodiversity preservation and benefits to human health and economic well-being, and to coordinate data collection measures; recalls that there are still large gaps in knowledge regarding the state of marine ecosystems and fishery resources; calls on the Member States to ensure that data on the impact of fisheries and aquaculture on the wider environment are collected and are publicly available;
80. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to launch a European initiative on pollinators without delay – paying particular attention to pest resistance in plants affecting bees and other pollinators – and on the basis of policies already conducted in the Member States, and to make proposals on the soil framework directive, on a directive on access to justice and on the revised EU legal framework for environmental inspections without further delay;
81. Highlights with concern the increasing body of scientific evidence which demonstrates the negative effect neonicotinoid pesticides can have on essential services such as pollination and natural pest control; calls, therefore, on the Commission to maintain its ban on the use of neonicotinoids;
82. Urges the Commission and the Member States to apply fully the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms, in order to prevent any negative impact on biodiversity;
83. Stresses the importance of the LIFE programme for the environment, and in particular the Nature and Biodiversity subprogramme, in order to protect and enhance European biodiversity;
84. Strongly believes that the environment and innovation complement one another, and draws particular attention to nature-based solutions which provide both economically and environmentally smart solutions to address challenges such as climate change, scarcity of raw materials, pollution and antimicrobial resistance; calls on the relevant stakeholders to take up these ‘calls’ under Horizon 2020; calls on the Member States to be more effective in leaving regulatory room to facilitate smart solutions which deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity;
85. Stresses that the issues relating to biodiversity, climate change and scarcity of raw materials are inseparably linked; recalls that maintaining climate change well below 2° Celsius as compared with pre-industrial levels will be essential for preventing biodiversity loss; recalls, meanwhile, that a range of ecosystems act as a buffer against natural hazards, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies;
86. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take this into account by ensuring that the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020 is fully integrated with the EU's position in discussions on a new international agreement on climate change, especially in the light of the fact that, according to the EU-funded ROBIN project, biodiversity protection is part of the solution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, particularly given that tropical forests have the potential to mitigate 25 % of total greenhouse gas emissions;
87. Calls on the Commission to include matters relating to the environment and climate change in the international agreements it concludes and to carry out environmental analyses focused on the possibilities for protecting and improving biodiversity; stresses the importance of systematically identifying and evaluating potential impacts on biodiversity; calls on the Commission to follow up on the findings of the study entitled ‘Identification and mitigation of the negative impacts of EU demand for certain commodities on biodiversity in third countries’ by proposing possible ways to contribute to avoiding or minimising the loss of global biodiversity caused by certain production and consumption patterns in the EU;
88. Urges the Member States – on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken, and taking into account the risks and the negative climate, environmental and biodiversity impacts involved in hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons, and the gaps identified in the EU regulatory regime for shale gas activities – not to authorise any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU;
89. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the Guadeloupe roadmap adopted in October 2014 is acted on, and to put in place the necessary tools for biodiversity protection in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories;
90. Stresses the global role of the EU Biodiversity Strategy; calls on the Commission to integrate biodiversity provisions into ongoing trade negotiations and to integrate biodiversity objectives into EU trade policies;
91. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.
Biodiversity loss is a loss to nature, humanity and the economy.
Biodiversity, the unique variety of ecosystems, habitats, species and genes on Earth, of which humanity also forms part, has an overwhelming intrinsic value. In addition, human beings are extremely dependent on biodiversity for numerous valuable ecosystem services, such as clean air, clean water, raw materials, pollinators and protection against flooding, to name just a few. Biodiversity is therefore essential for our health and wellbeing and for our economic prosperity.
Biodiversity is under severe pressure, worldwide and also in Europe. Species are becoming extinct at breakneck pace. This is due to human activity. Habitat change, pollution, overexploitation, invasive alien species and climate change are the principal causes of biodiversity loss.
Biodiversity loss is particularly detrimental and means losses for nature, humanity and the economy: it jeopardises necessary ecosystem services and undermines the natural resilience of the Earth for addressing new challenges. In the ‘Global risks perception survey 2014’, the World Economic Forum ranked biodiversity loss and the collapse of ecosystems in the top 10. The limits and capacity of the planet are being exceeded, triggering irreversible changes. Thus biodiversity loss is also inseparably linked to issues such as climate change and scarcity of raw materials, which is also clear from the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Estratégia da UE para a Biodiversidade até 2020.
The European aim to halt biodiversity loss failed in 2010. The EU responded by drawing up a new strategy in 2011. Heads of State or Government defined the headline target as being to halt biodiversity loss and the deterioration of ecosystem services, to restore them in so far as feasible by 2020 and to step up EU efforts to avert the degradation of global biodiversity.
Consequently, the strategy was built around six targets, each underpinned by specific actions: (1) full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives (the Nature Directives); (2) maintaining and restoring ecosystems and ecosystem services; (3) increasing the contribution of agriculture and forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity; (4) ensuring sustainable use of fish stocks; (5) combating invasive alien species and (6) stepping up the EU’s contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.
Mid-term review: still far from halfway.
In 2015, the verdict is crystal clear: without substantial additional efforts, the EU will in 2020 again fail to achieve its agreed targets. The figures speak for themselves. The EU-28’s ecological footprint is twice as large as Europe’s biocapacity. Barely 23% of species and 16% of habitats have a favourable status. There is most certainly too little progress to permit the headline target to be achieved. Significant progress has only been made on two targets (Target 4, fisheries, and Target 5, invasive alien species), while results for the other targets are seriously insufficient and give most cause for concern in the case of agriculture and forestry.
Thus the general trend remains extremely bleak and worrying. In this respect, the mid-term review confirms the findings of the ‘SOER 2015’ and ‘The State of Nature’ reports. The international perspective of the Global Biodiversity Outlook Report 2014 conveys a similar message: despite considerable efforts and progress in certain sectors, it is possible that most of the Aichi targets will not be achieved by 2020 unless substantial additional efforts are made.
At the same time, it is promising and encouraging that targeted efforts and investments in nature and biodiversity can indeed result in success stories. The return of certain species is a clear illustration thereof. The rapporteur calls for best practices to be seized as catalysts for change, because, although the successes are so far outweighed by the general negative trend, they demonstrate that the existing legislation works, that the 2020 targets are achievable and that there is still enormous potential for improvement.
Political will for implementation, enforcement and integration.
The rapporteur advocates greater political will to genuinely tackle biodiversity loss as a policy priority, and considers a multi-stakeholder approach to be necessary, in which regional and local actors play a special role.
In the rapporteur’s view, better implementation and enforcement of existing legislation are key for progress.
The most obviously relevant legislation consists of the Nature Directives: full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives is an absolute precondition for achieving the biodiversity strategy as a whole. The Nature Directives are milestones in Europe’s nature conservation policy and, due to their concise, coherent and consistent form, can, so to speak, be regarded as smart regulation avant la lettre. It is thanks to the Nature Directives that the EU has a unique network, Natura 2000, which, with 26 000 protected areas, comprises 18% of the land area and 6% of the marine environment. The rapporteur observes that Natura 2000 is a relatively young network, whose full potential is far from having been achieved.
The rapporteur unequivocally opposes a possible revision of the Nature Directives because this would jeopardise the biodiversity strategy itself, bring about a protracted period of legal uncertainty and possibly weaken the legislation. Moreover, the rapporteur is convinced that the problem lies not with the legislation itself but primarily with its incomplete and inadequate implementation and enforcement. The rapporteur therefore considers it far more efficient for both the Commission and the competent authorities in the Member States to pursue better implementation in consultation with each other. Improved guidelines, strict enforcement and exchanges of best practices are crucial in this regard.
The collective and transversal approach which is necessary in order to halt biodiversity loss effectively remains problematic. Integrating biodiversity into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a particular challenge. The rapporteur calls for the effectiveness of greening measures and other rural development measures to be monitored, assessed and increased.
Investment in nature and biodiversity is socially and economically necessary.
The rapporteur endorses the moral argument that biodiversity should be protected because of its great intrinsic value and as a way of keeping our planet as intact as possible for future generations. Moreover, he strongly believes that investing in nature and biodiversity is also essential from a socioeconomic point of view. With this in mind, he deplores the fact that nature and economic development are again in opposition. A change of mind-set is imperative. Methods to measure the economic value of biodiversity, such as ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity’ (TEEB), despite possible shortcomings, can play a useful role here and contribute to more awareness, a better use of available resources and better informed decision-making.
The following statistics clearly demonstrate the enormous socioeconomic impact of biodiversity:
• each year, ‘non-action’ causes losses of ecosystem services equivalent to 7% of global GDP;
• the socioeconomic opportunity costs of not reaching the 2020 targets are estimated at €50 billion a year;
• one in six jobs in the EU depends to some extent on nature; 4.5 million jobs in the EU are dependent on ecosystems protected by Natura 2000;
• the value of pollination services provided by insects is estimated at €15 billion a year;
• the damage caused by invasive alien species in the EU is estimated at €12 billion a year;
• the costs of managing Natura 2000 (€5.8 billion a year) are many times less than the added value produced by Natura 2000 (€200-300 billion).
Of course, investing in nature and biodiversity costs money. But these costs are far outweighed by the added value which nature and biodiversity have to offer, and the loss of value resulting from ‘non-action’.
The voice of the citizens.
Citizens regard nature and biodiversity as important. According to the Eurobarometer survey (No 436) on biodiversity, at least eight out of 10 EU citizens regard the impact of biodiversity loss as serious. Citizens also responded loud and clear during the recent public internet consultation concerning the fitness check of the Nature Directives. This consultation drew in a record number of participants, namely 552 470 (by way of comparison, this is three times as many as for TTIP). The ‘Nature Alert!’ campaign played a decisive role in this regard.
On the other hand, the Eurobarometer survey revealed that citizens wished to receive more information about biodiversity loss and that most people are not familiar with Natura 2000. What remains unknown can hardly be expected to generate enthusiasm. In order to generate greater public support for investment in nature and biodiversity, the rapporteur considers it essential to persuade more people of the importance of biodiversity. In order to do so, attention should be drawn to the socioeconomic value of biodiversity and the impact of biodiversity loss on health, wellbeing and welfare. Policy-makers at all levels have an important task to fulfil here.
Additional actions are needed.
The rapporteur considers that additional, innovative solutions are necessary in order to halt biodiversity loss, and he proposes a number of specific actions to this end:
• the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) could create a win-win situation for nature and the economy;
• nature should not be restricted to nature in protected areas. Guaranteeing access for all to quality nature and prevention of biodiversity loss outside these protected areas constitutes a gap in the existing strategy. A European framework for preventing the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services could address this shortcoming;
• in order to use available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility are needed, which should guarantee that projects deliver positive and tangible results for biodiversity;
• it remains necessary to gather reliable and comparable data: in particular, the links between health and biodiversity and the pollinator decline require more research and further action;
• nature-based solutions can significantly contribute to tackling challenges such as climate change: for example, a tailored plan to introduce more nature into towns can significantly lower the temperature there. The rapporteur considers it vital that individual members of the public are also able to contribute, good examples being the revival of allotments and the increasing success of the concept of the ‘living garden’.
Nature is making a cry for help. The question is whether it will rouse us from our torpor and spur us on to further action. The rapporteur is convinced that biodiversity and nature must be central in a smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe, and calls for greater political will to genuinely halt biodiversity loss. This is essential both for nature itself and for the health, wellbeing and welfare of our children and our grandchildren.
OPINION of the Committee on Development.
for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
on the mid-term review of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy.
Rapporteur: Jordi Sebastià.
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:
1. Recalls that, at global level, the EU makes a significant contribution in the fight against biodiversity loss and that, with its Member States, it is the main donor of funds for biodiversity conservation and the largest contributor of official development assistance for biodiversity, with a doubling of funding between 2006 and 2013; emphasises, nevertheless, the need to boost the EU’s contribution to preserving biodiversity at global level in order to attain the Aichi Biodiversity Targets on time;
2. Underlines the critical role of biodiversity in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goals 14 ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’ and 15 ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss’; recalls that the EU has incredible biodiversity, in particular thanks to its outermost regions, but also in overseas countries and territories that are associated with it; calls therefore for the EU to remain strongly committed to further strengthening the Convention on Biological Diversity and to ensure that it is implemented effectively;
3. Notes that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction due to land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders; emphasises, in the light of this, the need to identify and establish indicators that unequivocally and scientifically measure the state of biodiversity in a given area or region and to support a rational and sustainable use of resources both within the EU and at global level, including in developing countries, and, in particular, urges the EU to better anchor its international biodiversity commitments to its climate change and Europe 2020 strategies; stresses that a more resource-efficient economy and a reduction in overconsumption could enable the EU to reduce its dependence on natural resources, in particular from outside Europe; recalls also that ecosystem-based approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation could provide cost-effective alternatives to technological solutions, while progress in many applied sciences depends on the long-term availability and diversity of natural assets;
4. Calls for the removal of environmentally harmful subsidies, in line with the EU’s 2020 Strategy and Target 3 of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
5. Deplores that actions taken by the EU to reverse biodiversity loss remain outweighed by continued and growing pressures on Europe’s biodiversity, such as land-use change, pollution and climate change; recalls that biodiversity loss is costly for society as a whole, particularly for economic actors in sectors that depend directly on ecosystem services, such as farmers; calls for the EU to mainstream biodiversity across sectors in the economy and to enable synergies in the implementation of the various international multilateral environmental agreements;
6. Takes the view that the economic value of biodiversity should be reflected in indicators guiding decision-making (without leading to the commodification of biodiversity), and going beyond GDP; is convinced that this will benefit the pursuit of the SDGs; calls, in this connection, for the systematic integration of biodiversity values into national accounting systems as part of the SDGs monitoring process;
7. Recalls that maintaining climate change well below 2 degrees Celsius as compared with pre-industrial levels will be essential for preventing biodiversity loss; recalls, meanwhile, that a range of ecosystems act as a buffer against natural hazards, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy;
8. Recalls that forests are home to around 90 % of terrestrial biodiversity, while more than one billion people depend on them for their livelihoods; notes with concern that rising international demand for woody biomass risks threatening biodiversity and forest ecosystems on which poor people depend for their livelihoods; fears that EU import dependency may spark widespread deforestation in developing countries, trigger illegal logging and weaken Voluntary Partnership Agreements under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan; recalls also that an increased use of biomass could lead to an intensification of forestry practices and a reduction in forest carbon stocks, thus jeopardising the objective of limiting climate temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius; calls for the EU to develop an action plan on deforestation and forest degradation which is applicable at global level, including in developing countries, while continuing its initiatives to strengthen good forest governance, in particular through its FLEGT agreements;
9. Urges that social and environmental sustainability criteria for biomass production form a coherent part of the framework of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED); deems it crucial to develop sustainability standards for all sectors in which biomass might be used, together with sustainable forest management criteria to ensure that bioenergy does not contribute to climate change or become an additional driver of land grabs and food insecurity;
10. Urgently calls on the Commission and the Member States to give priority to achieving the 2020 targets; calls for a multi-stakeholder approach and stresses the vital role of regional and local actors in this process; stresses that greater public awareness of and support for biodiversity are also essential;
11. Recalls that the expansion of agrofuels, based overwhelmingly on the expansion of large-scale industrial monoculture and intensive agriculture, harm the environment, biodiversity, soil fertility and water availability; urges the Commission to ensure that the EU’s policy on biofuels is consistent with the commitments the EU has entered into under the Convention on Biological Diversity, with climate policy and commitments (including those entered into at COP 21) and with the objectives of the UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programme;
12. Notes with concern that 90 % of the palm oil consumed in the world is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia at the expense of peat forests, which are burned down to make way for large acacia and oil-palm plantations; points to the fact that, according to a study conducted by the World Bank, Indonesia has become the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, precisely because of forest fires;
13. Stresses the need to protect agricultural biodiversity in developing countries in order to achieve food security; calls therefore on the Commission to invest in agro-ecology in developing countries, in line with the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food;
14. Notes that EU development assistance and trade agreements concluded between the EU and African countries are influencing African seed law reform by including provisions on intellectual property protection, with the aim of facilitating cross-border trade in seeds and protecting commercial seed varieties; calls on the Commission to ensure that the EU’s commitments to farmers’ rights in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture are reflected in all technical assistance and financial support for seed policy development; calls for the EU, in line with the EU food security policy framework, also to support intellectual property rights regimes that enhance the development of locally adapted seed varieties and farmer-saved seeds;
15. Calls for reassessing the status of biodiversity in agriculture by taking into account Parliament’s findings in the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy;
16. Recalls that climate change, habitat modification, invasive species, grazing pressures, changed hydrology, land grabbing, monoculture, meat overconsumption, expanding transport and unsustainable use of energy are exerting growing pressure on biodiversity worldwide, as they result in land fragmentation, rising CO 2 levels and loss of habitats;
17. Calls for the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide, in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development, and to bring it within the ecological limits of ecosystems by progressing in achieving the Biodiversity Headline Targets and fulfilling the commitments on biodiversity protection; calls also for the EU to assist developing countries in their efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use;
18. Calls on the Commission to include in the international agreements it concludes matters relating to the environment and climate change and to carry out environmental analyses focused on the possibilities of protecting and improving biodiversity; stresses the importance of systematically identifying and evaluating potential impacts on biodiversity; calls on the Commission to follow up on findings resulting from a study on the ‘Identification and mitigation of the negative impacts of EU demand for certain commodities on biodiversity in third countries’ by proposing possible ways to contribute to avoiding or minimising the loss of global biodiversity caused by certain production and consumption patterns in the EU.
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION.
Result of final vote.
Members present for the final vote.
Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Maria Heubuch, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Arne Lietz, Linda McAvan, Norbert Neuser, Maurice Ponga, Cristian Dan Preda, Lola Sánchez Caldentey, Elly Schlein, György Schöpflin, Pedro Silva Pereira, Davor Ivo Stier, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Rainer Wieland.
Substitutes present for the final vote.
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote.
Pál Csáky, José Inácio Faria, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández.
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE.
Result of final vote.
Members present for the final vote.
Marco Affronte, Margrete Auken, Pilar Ayuso, Zoltán Balczó, Catherine Bearder, Simona Bonafè, Biljana Borzan, Lynn Boylan, Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, Soledad Cabezón Ruiz, Alberto Cirio, Miriam Dalli, Seb Dance, Angélique Delahaye, Jørn Dohrmann, Stefan Eck, Bas Eickhout, Eleonora Evi, José Inácio Faria, Karl-Heinz Florenz, Francesc Gambús, Elisabetta Gardini, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Jens Gieseke, Sylvie Goddyn, Matthias Groote, Françoise Grossetête, Jean-François Jalkh, Giovanni La Via, Peter Liese, Norbert Lins, Susanne Melior, Massimo Paolucci, Gilles Pargneaux, Piernicola Pedicini, Bolesław G. Piecha, Michèle Rivasi, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Renate Sommer, Dubravka Šuica, Tibor Szanyi, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Damiano Zoffoli.
Substitutes present for the final vote.
Nikos Androulakis, Simona Bonafè, Nicola Caputo, Mark Demesmaeker, Herbert Dorfmann, Luke Ming Flanagan, Elena Gentile, Martin Häusling, Jan Huitema, Merja Kyllönen, Mairead McGuinness, Ulrike Müller, James Nicholson, Alojz Peterle, Christel Schaldemose, Jasenko Selimovic, Keith Taylor.
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote.
Lucy Anderson, Michał Boni, Monika Hohlmeier, Sander Loones.

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Document 52015DC0478.
COM(2015) 478 final.
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL.
THE MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY TO 2020.
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL.
THE MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY TO 2020.
Biodiversity — the unique variety of life on our planet — underpins our economy and well-being. It provides us with clean air and water, food, materials and medicines, health and recreation; it supports pollination and soil fertility, regulates climate and protects us from extreme weather.
However, human-induced changes to ecosystems and the extinction of species have been more rapid in the past 50 years than at any time in human history. 1 Biodiversity loss is one of the core planetary boundaries 2 that have already been crossed by humanity. Together with climate change, this increases the risk of irreversible changes and undermines economic development and the resilience of societies in the face of new challenges. The World Economic Forum listed ‘biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse’ among the top 10 global risks in 2015. 3.
The EU 2010 biodiversity baseline 4 indicated that up to 25 % of European animal species were facing extinction, and 65 % of habitats of EU importance were in an unfavourable conservation status, mainly due to human activities. Basic ecosystem services have continued deteriorating.
As a response, in 2011, the European Commission adopted an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020, 5 with the headline target set by EU Heads of State and Government to ‘halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2020, to restore ecosystems in so far as is feasible, and to step up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss’. The strategy is an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy 6 and the 7 th Environmental Action Programme. 7 It implements EU commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The strategy is built around six targets, each supported by a set of actions.
The present mid-term review takes stock of progress in implementing the EU biodiversity strategy against the 2010 baseline. It aims to inform decision-makers of areas in which increased efforts are needed to meet the EU biodiversity objectives by 2020.
Box 1. The socio-economic costs of not delivering on the EU biodiversity targets.
The opportunity cost of not reaching the 2020 EU biodiversity headline target has been estimated at up to EUR 50 billion a year. 8 One in six jobs in the EU depends to some extent on nature. 9 The value of insect pollination services alone has been estimated at EUR 15 billion a year in the EU. At around EUR 5.8 billion, the annual costs of maintaining the EU Natura 2000 network are but a fraction of the economic benefits generated by the network through services such as carbon storage, flood mitigation, water purification, pollination and fish protection, together worth EUR 200-300 billion annually. Restoring ecosystems and green infrastructure can improve air and water quality and flood control, reduce noise, encourage recreation and promote opportunities for green businesses. Among agri-environmental practices that support biodiversity, organic farming is a sector with positive employment trends that attracts younger workers, provides 10-20 % more jobs per land area than conventional farms , and creates added value for agricultural products . Maintaining healthy marine habitats and sustainable fish stocks is essential for the long-term viability of the fishing sector. There is an important economic dimension to combating invasive alien species, which cause damage of at least EUR 12 billion a year to EU sectors. Policy inaction and failure to halt the loss of global biodiversity could result in annual losses in ecosystem services equivalent to 7 % of world GDP, 10 with the greatest impacts being felt by the poorest nations and the rural poor. 11.
Box 2. Note on methodology.
The assessment of progress in the mid-term review takes account of the way that the different targets are defined. The headline target is formulated in terms of the desired state of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020. Progress towards this target at the point of the mid-term review has been assessed in terms of both status and trends. The six operational targets have both policy-related and status-related elements. The assessment under each of these targets presents: (i) where we stand at mid-term; (ii) what action has been implemented; and (iii) gaps and further efforts needed to reach the target by 2020.
The mid-term review draws on the best available information from a wide range of sources summarised in the accompanying Staff Working Document. 12 Trends in status of habitats and species of EU importance are based on data reported under the Birds and Habitats Directives (period 2007-2012 vs 2001-2006 13 ).
2. Summary of progress since 2011.
Headline target: Halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restore them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.
Overall, as compared with the EU 2010 biodiversity baseline, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU have continued , as confirmed by the 2015 European environment — state and outlook report . 14 This is consistent with global trends and has serious implications for the capacity of biodiversity to meet human needs in the future. While many local successes demonstrate that action on the ground delivers positive outcomes, these examples need to be scaled up to have a measurable impact on the overall negative trends.
Since the last reporting period, the number of species and habitats of EU importance with secure/favourable or improved conservation status has increased slightly. Populations of some common birds appear to be stabilising but other species linked to fragile freshwater, coastal and agricultural ecosystems continue to decline; 70 % of EU species are threatened by habitat loss. While some ecosystem services (in particular provisioning) are increasing, others such as pollination are decreasing.
The key threats to biodiversity — habitat loss (in particular through urban sprawl, agricultural intensification, land abandonment, and intensively managed forests), pollution, over-exploitation (in particular fisheries), invasive alien species and climate change — continue to exert pressure causing loss of species and habitats and resulting in ecosystem degradation and weakening ecosystem resilience. 15 The EU-28 footprint is still over twice its biocapacity 16 and this compounds pressures on biodiversity outside Europe.
Since the launch of the strategy, progress has been made in establishing policy frameworks, improving the knowledge base and setting up partnerships. These initiatives will need to be translated into concrete actions at national, regional and local levels if we are to see sustained improvements in biodiversity on the ground. Progress towards the headline target will also depend on the setting and achievement of objectives in policy areas not directly targeted by the strategy, notably climate, air, chemicals, water, and soil protection.
There is ample evidence of major efforts by stakeholders that have resulted in positive local trends in biodiversity. These examples send an important message that targeted action on the ground can bring very positive results. They provide models for guiding implementation in the second half of the strategy.
2.1. Target 1: Halt the deterioration in the status of all species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status so that, by 2020, compared with current assessments: (i) 100 % more habitat assessments and 50 % more species assessments under the Habitats Directive show an improved conservation status; and (ii) 50 % more species assessments under the Birds Directive show a secure or improved status.
The latest report on the state of nature in the EU 17 shows that the number of species and habitats in secure / favourable or improved conservation status has increased slightly since the 2010 baseline. However, many habitats and species that were already in unfavourable status remain so, and some are deteriorating further. While much has been achieved since 2011 in carrying out the actions under this target, the most important challenges remain the completion of the Natura 2000 marine network, ensuring the effective management of Natura 2000 sites, and securing the necessary finance to support the Natura 2000 network .
Figure 1 — Progress towards Target 1: percentage of secure/favourable or improving assessments for birds (Birds Directive) and for habitats and species of Community interest (Habitats Directive)
Source: EEA 2015.
As indicated in Figure 1 above, more species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation show a secure/favourable or improving conservation status since the 2010 baseline. Some emblematic species, such as the Eastern Imperial Eagle, show recovery as a result of targeted conservation measures supported by dedicated financing. However, the status of many other species and habitats remains unfavourable, with some declining trends.
The Natura 2000 network has been largely completed for terrestrial and inland water habitats, covering about 18 % of the land surface. The marine network coverage has increased to 6 %, still well below the 10 % global target.
Member States have progressed at different rates in developing and implementing action plans for species and Natura 2000 site management plans. In 2012, only 58 % of Natura 2000 sites had management plans, or had such plans in development. 18 The Natura 2000 biogeographical process has encouraged cooperation between Member States on habitat management and restoration, and financing opportunities for Natura 2000 sites have increased. 19 A full assessment of the integration of Natura 2000 in the new multiannual financial framework will only be possible once all programmes have been approved.
Guidance has been developed on use of wind energy, port development and dredging, extractive industries, agriculture, aquaculture, forests and energy infrastructure in the context of Natura 2000 sites. 20.
Training was organised for judges and prosecutors on the enforcement of key provisions of nature legislation. Major improvements have been seen in the monitoring and reporting of biodiversity data, and in streamlining the reporting requirements under the two nature directives .
Communication and awareness raising have been stepped up with the launch of the Natura 2000 communication platform, an annual Natura 2000 award scheme and national campaigns.
The Commission is undertaking a fitness check of the Birds and Habitats Directives 21 as part of its regulatory fitness and performance programme. This will be a comprehensive and evidence-based analysis of whether the legislation and its implementation are proportionate to the set objectives and are delivering as intended. The results will be presented in the first half of 2016.
While it will take time for the positive effects of many of these actions to become apparent, it is clear that significantly more efforts and investment will be needed in the remaining period up to 2020, so as to complete Natura 2000 in marine areas to achieve the 10 % global target, ensure that all Natura 2000 sites are managed effectively, and establish adequate financial and administrative conditions to achieve conservation objectives and allow the potential of ecosystem services to deliver within and beyond the territories of Natura 2000.
2.2. Target 2: By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems.
Progress has been made on policy and knowledge improvement actions under this target, and some restoration activities have taken place in Member States. However, this has not yet halted the trend of degradation of ecosystems and services. National and regional frameworks to promote restoration and green infrastructure need to be developed and implemented. A lot remains to be done to halt the loss of ordinary biodiversity outside the Natura 2000 network.
Figure 2 — Trends in pressures on ecosystems.
Pollution and nutrient enrichment.
Woodland and forest.
Heathland, shrub and sparsely vegetated land.
Freshwater (rivers and lakes)
Marine (transitional and marine waters, combined)*
*NB: results for marine ecosystem are preliminary.
Projected future trends in pressure.
Very rapid increase.
Observed impact on biodiversity to date.
Source: EEA 2015 22.
Recent analysis 23 confirms increasing trends for some provisioning services (e. g. timber production) and decreasing trends for services directly related to biodiversity (e. g. pollination) for the period between 2000-2010. As illustrated in Figure 2, some major pressures on ecosystems are decreasing (e. g. atmospheric deposition of sulphur); however, other threats to ecosystems and their services persist and many are increasing, thereby slowing overall progress towards the target.
The Commission and Member States have taken important steps to improve the knowledge base. The mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, when completed by the 2020 target, will allow public decision-makers and private-sector stakeholders to capture the value of the EU’s ecosystem wealth and associated socio-economic benefits in their planning decisions. The Joint Research Centre report provides a solid baseline against which progress will be tracked, with a first update expected in 2016.
The EU green infrastructure strategy 24 promotes the integration of green infrastructure solutions into other EU policies and financing instruments. The Commission has also published a study 25 to support Member States in prioritising the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Although there are few comprehensive restoration strategies at national and sub-national levels, some restoration is taking place — often in response to EU legislation such as the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and the Birds and Habitats Directives.
Over the coming years, increased efforts will be needed to complete and implement national restoration prioritisation frameworks. Further investments, coupled with capacity building and the integration of green infrastructure into national and sub-national planning frameworks, will be important drivers to maintain and restore ecosystems and their services. A lot remains to be done in relation to halting the loss of ordinary biodiversity in the 80 % of the EU territory falling outside of Natura 2000, which will require consideration of the most suitable approach to ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
2.3. Target 3: Increase the contribution of agriculture and forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.
2.3.1. Target 3A — Agriculture: By 2020, maximise areas under agriculture across grasslands, arable land and permanent crops that are covered by biodiversity-related measures under the CAP so as to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and to bring about a measurable improvement* in the conservation status of species and habitats that depend on or are affected by agriculture and in the provision of ecosystem services as compared to the EU 2010 Baseline, thus contributing to enhance sustainable management.
(*) Improvement is to be measured against the quantified enhancement targets for the conservation status of species and habitats of EU interest in Target 1 and the restoration of degraded ecosystems under Target 2.
The continuing decline in the status of species and habitats of EU importance associated with agriculture indicates that greater efforts need to be made to conserve and enhance biodiversity in these areas. The common agricultural policy (CAP) has an essential role to play in this process in interaction with relevant environmental policies. 26.
The CAP reform for 2014-2020 provides a range of instruments that can contribute to supporting biodiversity. If the target is to be achieved, these opportunities need now to be taken up by Member States on a sufficient scale. Local examples demonstrate successful sustainable agricultural practices. If implemented more broadly, they could put the EU back on track to achieve the target by 2020.
Figure 3 — Changes (2007-2012 vs 2001-2006) in conservation status for habitats of Community interest associated with agricultural ecosystems (grassland and cropland)
Source: EEA 2015.
The 2015 European environment — state and outlook report identifies intensification in agricultural practices and land abandonment, along with urban sprawl and grey infrastructure, as key pressures on biodiversity. The 2015 report The State of Nature in the European Union also points to agriculture and human-induced modifications of natural conditions as the most prominent pressures on terrestrial ecosystems in the period 2007-2012, with 20 % of the pressure stemming from agriculture alone. As illustrated in Figure 3, there has been no measurable improvement in the status of the majority of agriculture-related species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation since the last reporting period. Grasslands and wetlands have the highest proportion of habitats in ‘ unfavourable — bad’ or ‘deteriorating’ status. While populations of common bird species have started stabilising since 2010, farmland birds have continued declining. Pollination services are in steep decline 27 with multiple pressures on wild bees. 28 Grassland butterflies are declining severely and there is no sign of levelling off.
While overall trends continue to be a cause for serious concern, there are many local improvements as a direct result of good agricultural practices and biodiversity measures under the CAP, in particular under the agri-environment measures and in Natura 2000 sites. Such successes carry an important message on the achievability of the 2020 biodiversity target, but would need to be spread wider to achieve measurable results at EU level.
The CAP reform for 2014-2020 includes various instruments that can contribute to support biodiversity. Cross-compliance represents the basic layer of environmental requirements and obligations to be met by farmers. Direct payments reward the delivery of environmental public goods. One of the three greening practices under the first pillar — ecological focus areas — specifically targets biodiversity. Finally, the Rural Development Regulation 29 provides national and regional authorities with a wide range of biodiversity-favourable options to choose from. These options include a sub-priority on the restoration, preservation and enhancement of ecosystems, a target for biodiversity output in rural development programmes, collaboration mechanisms among farmers and foresters, and a greater focus on advising farmers on water and pesticide use but also on biodiversity, including the obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directives.
The reformed CAP gives Member States’ national and regional authorities the flexibility to decide how and to what extent they take up these opportunities. Member States’ rural development programmes and choices related to ecological focus areas will be carefully monitored and evaluated with respect to biodiversity protection. Based on programmes adopted at the time of finalising this report, 19.1 % 30 of total agricultural land is under management contracts supporting biodiversity and/or landscapes, with very large disparities among Member States and regions. Understanding the reasons for disparity in take-up among Member States will be critical for further progress towards the 2020 target.
2.3.2. Target 3B — Forests: By 2020, Forest Management Plans or equivalent instruments, in line with Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), are in place for all forests that are publicly owned and for forest holdings above a certain size** (to be defined by the Member States or regions and communicated in their Rural Development Programmes) that receive funding under the EU Rural Development Policy so as to bring about a measurable improvement* in the conservation status of species and habitats that depend on or are affected by forestry and in the provision of related ecosystem services as compared to the EU 2010 Baseline.
(*) Improvement is to be measured against the quantified enhancement targets for the conservation status of species and habitats of EU interest in Target 1 and the restoration of degraded ecosystems under Target 2.
(**) For smaller forest holdings, Member States may provide additional incentives to encourage the adoption of Management Plans or equivalent instruments that are in line with SFM.
EU forest area has increased as compared with the EU 2010 biodiversity baseline. However, the conservation status of forest habitats and species covered by EU nature legislation shows no significant signs of improvement. EU-level data on the status of forest habitats outside Natura 2000 is limited.
Forest management plans or equivalent instruments can play an important positive role in achieving the target, but their potential remains largely unused.
Favourable conservation status assessments of forest habitats of European importance have decreased from nearly 17 % to about 15 % in the latest assessment. The vast majority of assessments remain unfavourable (80 %) but results vary considerably across Europe’s biogeographical regions, with the highest proportion of favourable assessments being found in the Mediterranean region.
Figure 4 — Change (2007-2012 vs 2001-2006) in conservation status for habitats of Community interest associated with woodland and forest ecosystem at EU-27 level 31.
Source: EEA 2015.
The EU forest strategy 32 highlights the economic, social and environmental importance of Europe’s forest ecosystems and sets the guiding principles of sustainable forest management, resource efficiency and global forest responsibility. The Commission is also developing criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. Securing adequate funding for biodiversity-favourable measures in forested areas remains a challenge. During the period 2007 to 2013, a total of EUR 5.4 billion was allocated to forests under rural development programmes whereas the annual cost of managing the Natura 2000 network (of which over half is forest) is around EUR 5.8 billion.
Forest management plans or equivalent instruments could play a key role in achieving Target 3B, including in private forests. Overall, a large share of EU forests is covered by some form of management plan but there nevertheless remain significant variations across the Member States. The take-up of some of the measures identified in the EU biodiversity strategy has been limited. Improving EU-level information on forest status will allow a more precise assessment of the situation and the design of appropriate policy responses to meet the target.
2.4. Target 4: Achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015*. Achieve a population age and size distribution indicative of a healthy stock, through fisheries management with no significant adverse impacts on other stocks, species and ecosystems, in support of achieving Good Environmental Status by 2020, as required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
* The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which entered into force in 2014, aims to ensure MSY exploitation rates for all stocks by 2015 where possible, and at the latest by 2020.
Significant progress has been made in setting the policy framework for sustainable fisheries under the reformed EU common fisheries policy, and for achieving good environmental status under the MSFD. The Commission is promoting improvements in oceans governance for more sustainable management of marine resources. However, policy implementation has been uneven across the EU and major challenges remain to ensure that the objectives are achieved according to schedule. Just over 50 % of MSY-assessed stocks were fished sustainably in 2013.
As a result of multiple pressures, marine species and ecosystems continue declining across Europe’s seas.
The reformed common fisheries policy provides a sound policy framework for sustainable fisheries, and implementation is advancing. Harvesting levels are at or approaching maximum sustainable yield for an increasing number of commercial stocks. Progress has been noteworthy in the northern waters where most stocks subject to catch limits are assessed (up to 90 % in the Baltic) and the majority are managed under the maximum sustainable yield. However, in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, less than 10 % of landings come from assessed stocks and around 90 % of assessed stocks remain overexploited. 33.
Fishing mortality has significantly decreased for a number of stocks in the Baltic and the greater North Sea. 34 This is evidence that they are responding positively to the implementation of long-term management plans and fishing practices respecting the MSY objective.
Marine biodiversity across Europe’s regional seas continues to decline. Having good quality, reliable and comprehensive data on the marine environment is a challenge in itself, with 80 % of species and habitats under the MSFD categorised as unknown (commercial fish stocks being a positive exception). Only 4 % of habitats are documented as being in good environmental status. Climate change and acidification compound the negative impacts of overfishing, pollution and marine litter, habitat destruction and invasive alien species. 35.
In support of reducing the adverse impact of fishing on non-target species and ecosystems, the new common fisheries policy aims — through the gradual introduction of a landing obligation by 2019 — to eliminate discarding. This will require strengthened monitoring at Member State level in order to lead to practices that are cleaner, more selective and which avoid by-catch, and to improve by-catch data.
Continued efforts at the national level to implement management plans and monitor the enforcement of rules will be paramount in addressing pressures on marine biodiversity by 2020, along with improved monitoring, broadening the knowledge base and coordination of marine biodiversity information. Building on experience and expanding research networks will be a key task.
2.5. Target 5: By 2020, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their pathways are identified and prioritised, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and pathways are managed to prevent the introduction and establishment of new IAS.
Invasive alien species are a fast-growing threat to biodiversity. The IAS Regulation 36 entered into force in 2015. Work is under way to propose the first list of invasive alien species of Union concern . If this list is adopted by the end of 2015 , the EU can be considered to be on track with the actions envisaged under Target 5.
The next critical step for achieving the target will be implementation by Member States. Ratification of the Ballast Water Convention, crucial for addressing marine invasive alien species, is slow-going with only 7 Member State ratifications to date.
Currently, there are more than 11 000 alien species in the European environment and 10-15 % of them are causing problems . In the seas around Europe, more than 80 % of non-indigenous species have been introduced since 1950 (see Figure 5 ).
Figure 5 — Rate of introduction of marine non-indigenous species 37.
Source: EEA 2015.
The new IAS Regulation provides a framework to prevent and manage the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in the EU. The European Alien Species Information Network 38 is being set up to assist Member States in its implementation. Work is under way with Member States to finalise the first list of invasive alien species of Union concern based on species’ risk assessments, including potential economic threats. A scanning exercise to prioritise future risk assessments will support a preventive approach. The Commission's 2013 proposals on plant 39 and animal 40 health also aim to support biodiversity protection.
The swift adoption of the first list of invasive alien species of Union concern and effective implementation by the Member States will be decisive for continued progress towards this target. Progress on related policies will be crucial, in particular the ratification and enforcement of the Ballast Water Convention and the application of the animal health regime for wildlife diseases.
2.6. Target 6: By 2020, the EU has stepped up its contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.
The EU remains by far the largest financial donor and has made progress in increasing resources for global biodiversity. The EU has taken initial steps to reduce indirect drivers of global biodiversity loss, including wildlife trade, and to integrate biodiversity into its trade agreements. However, progress is insufficient in reducing the impacts of EU consumption patterns on global biodiversity. On the current trajectory, existing efforts may not be sufficient to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by the deadlines. 41.
The EU is the largest contributor to biodiversity-related official development assistance and has more than doubled funding between 2006 and 2013.
In order to regulate access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation, the EU ratified the Nagoya Protocol in 2014. New legislation has been adopted to regulate compliance measures, and an additional implementing act is being prepared.
The 2013 EU Timber Regulation aims to stop the circulation of illegally logged wood on the EU market. The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Plan encourages trade in legal timber. There is a growing consumer preference for products from sustainably managed forests. Some progress has also been made on palm oil, but too little action has been taken regarding other commodities and the EU-28 footprint is over twice the size of its biocapacity.
Figure 6 — Ecological footprint per region of the world.
Source: EEA (SEBI) 42.
All recent EU free trade agreements have provisions on the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements. The EU has also supported global efforts against wildlife trafficking, 43 including promoting progress towards the adoption of a comprehensive UN General Assembly Resolution on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife. On 8 July 2015, the EU officially became a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Actions to biodiversity-proof EU development cooperation have been addressed through the mainstreaming of environment and climate change. A compulsory environmental screening for any new development cooperation action addresses potential impacts on protected or vulnerable areas, ecosystem services, the introduction of alien species, and the use of fertilisers, pesticides or other chemicals. Programming has paid special attention to the potential for biodiversity protection and improvement.
The EU and its Member States have played an active role in shaping the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Implementing these commitments in the EU and supporting their achievement on a global scale will help to advance towards meeting this target. Reaching the international target of doubling biodiversity-related funding flows to developing countries by 2015 and maintaining them until 2020, as well as increasing the effectiveness of funding, will require continued commitment, better prioritisation and coordination with other donors. Achieving EU objectives will require further action to address the EU ecological footprint, and the effective implementation of recently adopted policy and legislation, with particular focus on compliance under the Nagoya Protocol. More efforts are also needed to implement provisions on biodiversity in recent trade agreements, to further integrate biodiversity objectives into EU trade policies and to encourage initiatives to promote sustainable trade.
3. Horizontal measures.
Insufficient financing was a major factor in the failure to reach the 2010 biodiversity target. Biodiversity aspects have been integrated to various degrees into European structural and investment funds, notably the common agricultural policy, cohesion policy funds and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. A robust analysis of the allocations to biodiversity will only be possible once all rural development and operational programmes are adopted. The LIFE programme remains a small but highly effective funding source for nature and biodiversity. It will also support innovative financing through the recently launched Natural Capital Financing Facility.
The Commission has developed a process to track biodiversity-related expenditure in the EU budget in order to estimate more accurately the integration of biodiversity in programming. 44 A methodology has also been developed to ‘biodiversity-proof’ the EU budget, to ensure that spending has no negative impacts but supports biodiversity objectives.
EU financing instruments are key in delivering on international biodiversity commitments, in particular through the Development and Cooperation Instrument and the European Development Fund, as well as under the Partnership Instrument. EU efforts to enhance resource mobilisation from these external instruments are enshrined in the ‘Biodiversity for Life’ flagship initiative (B4Life) launched in 2014.
There has been considerable progress in establishing partnerships and engaging stakeholders and civil society. The re-launched EU Business and Biodiversity Platform supports the active involvement of businesses in the strategy implementation. The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas (BEST) preparatory action contributes to the transition towards swift and easy access to funding for biodiversity protection and sustainable use of ecosystem services. The EU has also supported the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity initiative, both within the EU and in developing countries, and has encouraged synergies between the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conventions.
3.3. Strengthening the knowledge base.
The knowledge and evidence base for EU biodiversity policy has been improved through streamlined reporting under the nature directives, and the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, recognised internationally as the most advanced regional assessment scheme under the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Research and innovation framework programmes have an important role in the assessment of ecosystem services, in synergy with other EU funds. Horizon 2020 supports integrated assessments and science-policy interfaces with a focus on nature-based solutions. Cohesion policy funding for research and innovation is another source of support. However, major gaps in data and knowledge remain, in particular concerning the marine environment, the assessment of ecosystem health and links to ecosystem services and resilience. The integration of — and open access to — data from biodiversity monitoring and reporting under relevant EU legislation (such as agriculture, fisheries, and regional policy) needs to be strengthened as a priority for the remainder of the implementation period. EU external instruments have resulted in the creation of regional observatories in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries for better informing the decision-makers in natural resource management.
The mid-term review assessing progress under the EU biodiversity strategy shows that the 2020 biodiversity targets can only be reached if implementation and enforcement efforts become considerably bolder and more ambitious. At the current rate of implementation, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services will continue throughout the EU and globally, with significant implications for the capacity of biodiversity to meet human needs in the future.
Progress has been made in establishing important policy frameworks: the new common fisheries policy, the Invasive Alien Species and Timber Regulations, and the introduction of biodiversity provisions in bilateral trade agreements, to name just a few. The reformed common agricultural policy provides opportunities for enhanced integration of biodiversity concerns but the extent of take-up by Member States will be decisive for success. The Commission has supported and complemented efforts made by Member States, regional and local authorities and stakeholders in enforcing environmental legislation, addressing policy gaps, providing guidelines, funding, promoting partnerships and fostering research and the exchange of best practice. There is a wealth of positive experience that can be a model for advancing towards the EU biodiversity targets in the remaining period until 2020.
It is now urgent to intensify the implementation of measures across all targets and to ensure that the principles included in the policy frameworks are fully reflected on the ground. Achieving the 2020 biodiversity objectives will require strong partnerships and the full engagement and efforts from key actors at all levels, in particular with respect to completing the Natura 2000 network for the marine environment, ensuring effective management of Natura 2000 sites and implementing the Invasive Alien Species Regulation, and considering the most suitable approach for recognizing our natural capital throughout the EU.
Achieving this target will also require more effective integration with a wide range of policies, by setting coherent priorities underpinned by adequate funding — in particular in the sectors of agriculture and forestry which together account for 80% of land use in the EU, as well as marine, fisheries and regional development. EU financing instruments can assist in the process. Achieving biodiversity objectives will also contribute to the growth and jobs agenda, food and water security, and to quality of life, as well as to the implementation of sustainable development goals globally and in the EU.

European Parliamentary Research Service Blog.
Empowering through knowledge.
EU Biodiversity strategy to 2020: mid-term assessment.
Written by Dessislava Yougova.
In 2011, the EU adopted a Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 aiming ‘to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and to restore them as far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss’ . The strategy has six mutually supportive targets and twenty related actions and has also to meet Convention of Biodiversity global targets.
On 2 October 2015, the Commission published its mid-term assessment report which draws a rather lukewarm picture of the results of EU biodiversity policy. Several reports (see below) had already sent out alarm signals regarding the continued erosion of Europe’s biodiversity (EEA, SOER 2015).
In this context, the “fitness check” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, which are the main pieces of the EU legislation on nature, pours oil on the flames. In the framework of the Luxembourg EU Council Presidency, Camille Gira, Luxembourg’s Secretary of State for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure was invited by the Committee of the Regions to a round table on the subject. Gira gave active support to both legislative instruments and concluded that ‘the mid-term review is an opportunity to draw the right conclusions to get us back on track to achieving our biodiversity goals’ .
A public hearing was held in the European Parliament on 12 October 2015 to discuss the challenges faced by EU biodiversity and the opportunities provided by ecosystems. An own-initiative report is expected to be adopted by the Environment Committee in December 2015, in response to the EEA report on the State of Nature in Europe and to the mid-term review of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy. This will also constitute Parliament’s contribution to the ongoing fitness check of legislation on nature.
Biodiversity: the state of play in the EU.
This report provides facts and figures on the state of nature in the EU. It is based on reports from Member States under the Birds and the Habitats directives and on assessments at EU level. See also EC Press release and article in ENDS Europe.
Biodiversity , in: The European environment: state and outlook (SOER) 2015 , EEA, March 2015.
According to this study “the main EU target of ‘halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services’ by 2020 remains a serious challenge. Dados recentes mostram que 60% das avaliações de espécies e 77% das avaliações de habitat continuam em estado de conservação desfavorável. Constant habitat loss, diffuse pollution, over-exploitation of resources, and growing impacts of invasive alien species and climate change contribute cumulatively”. See also the chapter Growing pressures on ecosystems.
Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of biodiversity. Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 is a mid-term assessment of progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. See also the article in ENDS Europe.
This short briefing note explains the term of biodiversity and points out the main raisons for the current state of the nature in the EU with special focus on forest ecosystems.
EU biodiversity policy.
This mid-term assessment of the progress on the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy concludes that despite the success of the EU nature legislation, Europe is “far from halting biodiversity loss, as many plants and animals are threatened with extinction in the EU”. The main reason is “the poor implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives”. Assessing the progress under the six targets of the EU Biodiversity strategy, it recommends more financing, better implementation and enforcement of the EU law, more political will for restoring degraded ecosystems, expanding green infrastructure and supporting the Natura 2000 network. See also summary and article in ENDS Europe.
The core objective of the Birds and Habitats Directives is to achieve a favourable conservation status of habitats and species of European importance. This study analyses how the concept of favourable conservation status has been interpreted and implemented across the Member States and identifies examples of good practice.
Ecosystem services.
Ecosystem services and biodiversity , In-depth report, Science for Environment Policy, May 2015, 32 p.
This report analyses the links between biodiversity and ecosystem services in order to understand if the implementation of ecosystem services framework will also protect the biodiversity. The focus is on the synergies and trade-offs among multiple ecosystem services and the fundamental role of biodiversity. It examines also the mapping techniques which quantify state of ecosystems and their services, as well as the progress towards integrated valuation of the benefits that ecosystems provide.
This report outlines and explains the major elements for mapping pressures, ecosystem conditions and impacts in order to provide a ” first overview on how pressures affect ecosystem conditions, habitat quality and biodiversity, and how pressures and conditions are changing over time”. It is a contribution to Target 2 Action 5 ‘Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES)’ of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.
This publication describes the life of TEEB to date. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) initiative was launched by Germany and the European Commission in 2007 in order to mainstream the economics of nature. The objective is to draw attention to the invisibility of nature in the economic choices made by policy-makers, public administration, and business.
This report overviews different initiatives to classify, assess and value ecosystem services at national and regional level in EU Member States. It describes the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative assessment option.
The multifunctionality of green infrastructure : In-depth report, Science for environment policy, EC, March 2012, 40 p.
Green Infrastructure (GI) is the network of natural and semi-natural areas, features and green spaces in rural and urban, terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine areas. This report describes the different functions of GI as a tool for providing ecological, economic and social benefits through natural solutions and outlines its ability to provide several functions and benefits on the same spatial area.
Biodiversity offsetting.
This report reviews international best practice on how to measure biodiversity losses and gains from offsets. It also looks at how to ensure effective conservation activities through regulatory and management systems, how to secure long term land use and how to ensure financial sustainability of conservation management over time. Finally, it explores the implementation issues that could be faced in the EU.
According to this briefing the biodiversity offsetting causes more problems than it solves.
This report presents the findings of a research project undertaken by GHK Consulting and BIO Intelligence Service for DG Environment.

The mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.
The EU 2010 biodiversity baseline indicated that up to 25% of European animal species were facing extinction, and 65% of habitats of EU importance were in an unfavourable conservation status The opportunity cost of not reaching the 2020 EU biodiversity headline target has been estimated at up to EUR 50 billion a year One in six jobs in the EU depends to some extent on nature The value of insect pollination services alone has been estimated at EUR 15 billion a year in the EU Invasive alien species cause damage of at least EUR 12 billion a year to EU sectors Policy inaction and failure to halt the loss of global biodiversity could result in annual losses in ecosystem services equivalent to 7% of world GDP 70% of EU species are threatened by habitat loss.
Recent Publications.
Eventos.
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