Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators 2010 – update May 2007 European Environment Agency

A set of biodiversity indicators for Europe: 26 specific indicators within 16 EU Headlines ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY, GOODS AND SERVICES Marine trophic index Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems Water quality in aquatic ecosystems SUSTAINABLE USE Area of ecosystems under sustainable management Forest Agriculture Fishery Aquaculture Ecological footprint STATUS AND TRENDS OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems, habitats Coverage of protected areas Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Change in status of threatened and/or protected species Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants, fish species of major socioeconomic importance THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY Nitrogen deposition Numbers and costs of invasive alien species (Trends in invasive alien species) Impact of climate change + Funding to biodiversity + Public awareness & participation + Patent applications This slide shows the interlinkages between the 16 European headline indicators, and how they can be grouped in the main four CBD focal areas. Forest related ones in Red. For trends in genetic diversity, the idea is to include forest related information at some point but this is not ready yet. UNECE/FAO ToS – Edinburgh May 2007

A proposed first set 26 specific indicators within 16 EU Headlines forest related indicators: 17. Forest: Growing stock, increment and fellings (based on MCPFE) 18. Forest: Deadwood (based on MCPFE) Forest area (additional information based on UN-ECE/FAO Forest Resource Assessment to be added to 4. Ecosystem coverage) The SEBI 2010 process started in 2005. Expert groups have been working to propose specific indicators for the European headline indicators, which are closely linked to the Headlines under the Convention on Biological Diversity The 26 indicators are a first proposed set of European biodiversity indicators. They have been selected on the basis of the criteria discussed earlier, and are currently the best available for the purpose of tracking progress towards, and helping to halt biodiversity loss by 2010. The set of European biodiversity indicators gives an overall picture on progress towards the 2010 target. For some headline indicators, specific measurements are available (e.g. the common birds indicator within the headline “Trends in the abundance and distribution of selected species”). For other headlines, a specific aspect is reflected in the indicator as a proxy for the full picture (e.g. growing stock, increment and fellings as a proxy for sustainbly managed forests). In 2008, a first assessment report based on this indicator set will be produced. This report will analyse and interpret the different messages of the individual indicators. The set of biodiversity Headline Indicators was developed in response to a specific request from policy makers. It will now be delivered for to these policy makers for political endorsement. SEBI 2010 was conceived as a process to in the first place select pan European biodiversity indicators. Countries are encouraged to critically study the proposed set and adopts proposed indicators where they feel they could contribute to their national policy processes. The SEBI 2010 process, through the EEA, will assist countries wishing to improve the geographical coverage of the indicators in the set, by submitting their relevant national data. EEA member countries already are closely involved, through EIONET and the CSI review, with indicator development at the EEA. This is the full list: 1. Abundance and distribution of selected species: a) Common birds b) European butterflies 2. Red List Index for European species 3. Species of European interest 4. Ecosystem coverage 5. Habitats of European interest 6. Livestock genetic diversity 7. Nationally designated protected areas 8. Sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives 9. Critical load exceedance for nitrogen 10. Invasive alien species in Europe 11. Occurrence of temperature-sensitive plant species 12. Marine trophic index of European seas 13. Fragmentation of natural and semi natural areas 14. Fragmentation of river systems 15. Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters 16. Water quality in freshwater 17. Forest: Growing stock, increment and fellings 18. Forest: Deadwood 19. Agriculture: N-balance 20. Agriculture: Area under potentially sustainable management 21. Fisheries: European commercial fish stocks 22. Aquaculture: Effluent water quality from finfish farms 23. Ecological Footprint of European countries 24. Percentage of European patent applications for inventions based on genetic resources 25. Financing Biodiversity Management 26. Public awareness (title to be confirmed) UNECE/FAO ToS – Edinburgh May 2007

2012 Ecosystem Assessment for Europe The EEA with DG ENV will produce an Ecosystem Assessment for Europe in 2012 Currently in the design stage Biodiversity will obviously be one of the key elements in the Assessment, and the SEBI indicators will provide the main material for the discussion. Where necessary, other indicators will be used as well. For example, SEBI includes several marine indicators, with a clear biodiversity focus. But for a full assessment of the forest ecosystem and its management (sustainable or not), we may use many other indicators, including socio economic ones. The European Ecosystem Assessment will cover the pan-European region and focus on sustainable use of selected ecosystem goods and services. The difference with the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment will be the smaller scale and increased detail of the assessment in order to specifically address European issues and policies. For this work to be successful, various communities and stakeholders need to be involved with their data and knowledge: a.o. the statistical offices (leading on SNA & SEEA activities), the national environmental agencies (which steer environmental monitoring and liaise to policy making), research networks and space agencies (developing important Earth observation programmes). UNECE/FAO ToS – Edinburgh May 2007

Next steps ongoing forest related work (within and outside SEBI 2010): landscape pattern and fragmentation (JRC), Forest Status indicator/CONECOFOR, European Forest Types, etc. 2007: publication of the EEA technical report 2008: Indicator based assessment report 2010: The biodiversity indicators will contribute to the Sate of the Environment report for Europe 2012: Ecosystem assessment for Europe The first Phase ends in mid 2007, with the documentation of the first set (EEA technical report summer 2007). Then we will get political approval for the set (EU, PEBLDS). In 2008 we will publish an Indicator based assessment report on the 2010 target The SEBI set will be a key contribution to the biodiversity chapter in the 2010 SOER Finally, the set will be the “biodiversity red line” of the assessment in the 2012 Ecosystem assessment for Europe (see next slide on the Ecosystem Assessment) UNECE/FAO ToS – Edinburgh May 2007

Consultation The indicators proposed are open for consultation at http://biodiversity-chm.eea.europa.eu/information/indicator/F1090245995/rep135246 Questions or comments? Contact frederik.schutyser@eea.europa.eu at the EEA UNECE/FAO ToS – Edinburgh May 2007