Implementation of TARGET 2 of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Claudia Olazábal Unit – Biodiversity DG ENV European Commission Nature Directors Meeting Denmark, 22 May 2012

2 Target 2 - EU2020 Biodiversity Strategy By 2020, ecosystem services are maintained and enhanced through the establishment of Green Infrastructure and the restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems  Action 5: Improve knowledge about ecosystems and their services in the EU  Action 6: Establish priorities for restoration and promote the use of Green Infrastructure  Action 7: Ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services

3 EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Council conclusions (15/3/2010), endorsed by the European Council on 26/3/2010 :  Adoption of a long term (2050) vision:  Adoption of a mid term (2020) headline target: European Union biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides – its natural capital – are protected, valued and appropriately restored for biodiversity’s intrinsic value and for their essential contribution to human well-being and economic prosperity, and so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided Halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restoring them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss A DUAL MANDATE

CBD Strategic Plan- Aichi Targets  Global Target 14 ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and wellbeing, are restored and safeguarded';  Global Target 15 ‘ By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification‘  Global Target 5 ‘[…] degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced […]‘  Global Target 11 " By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes 4

INTERINSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Council Conclusions March 2010, June 2011, December 2011 European Parliament report on the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy (April 2012) European Economic and Social Committee opinion 2011

6 Target 2 - EU2020 Biodiversity Strategy By 2020, ecosystem services are maintained and enhance through the establishment of Green Infrastructure and the restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems  Action 5: Improve knowledge about ecosystems and their services in the EU and inclusion in accounting systems  Action 6: Establish priorities for restoration and promote the use of Green Infrastructure  Action 7: Biodiversity proofing methodology and ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services Actions should take place in a chronological sequence However need to work in parallel Need to ensure close connections between the parallel developments

7 Policy tools Action 6a  Restoration prioritisation framework (by 2014) Knowledge-base Baseline Target 2 By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems Policy initiatives Target 1 Nature legislation Target 3 Agriculture and forests Target 4 Sustainable fisheries Target 5 Invasive alien species Other EU legislation, WFD, MSFD… Action 5  Mapping & assessment of ecosystems and services (by 2014)  Economic value assessment and integration into accounting and reporting systems(by 2020) Action 7a  Biodiversity proofing methodology (by 2014) Strategic approach to compensation Maintenance of ecosystem services Action 7b  No Net Loss initiative (by 2015) Action 6b  Green Infrastructure Strategy (by 2012)

KNOWLEDGE GATHERING  Green infrastructure (5 studies)  Biodiversity proofing  Estimating Target 2 financing needs  TEEB follow-up study for the EU  Mapping of ecosystems and ES  Options for reaching restoration target  Options for NNL initiative

Strategic questions- orientation debate  What is meant by 'restoration' and by 'degraded ecosystem'?  What is the reference point for the target?  What is the scale at which the 15% target should apply?  What are the links with other targets and existing legislation?

OVERALL DEFINITION TARGET 2 Definition « degraded ecosystems » -«restoration » When the obligation is triggered What is the obligation of result  IA of the Biodiversity Strategy proposed a definition  Work is ongoing in CBD context to establish definition

THE REFERENCE BASELINE 2010?  EEA Biodiversity Baseline  Complemented by assessment of ecosystems and mapping of ecosystems services (Action 5- ongoing to be completed by 2014)

SCALE OF THE 15% RESTORATION 15% restoration target is a target for the EU and Member States Several options for implementing the 15% target:  A 15% target for the EU as a whole and/or for each bio-geographical region.  A flat rate 15% undifferentiated target for each Member State;  A 15% target for each ecosystem type within each Member State;  A target based on the relative contribution of each Member State to the total stock of degraded ecosystems across the EU;  A target per ecosystem type based on the relative contribution of each Member State to the total stock of the degraded ecosystems of this type across the EU.  A target for each Member State based on the lowest net cost to the EU for achieving the 15% target. Possible additional middle ground scenarios combining different aspects

LINKS WITH OTHER TARGETS AND LEGISLATION Contributions will come from  Targets 3 (Agriculture forestry),  Target 4 (fisheries and marine environment),  Target 5 (invasive alien species) Whether and how to count contribution of existing legislation  Favourable conservation status (Nature legislation- open ended see Target1)  Good Ecological Status (Water Framework Directive- 2015)  Good Environmental Status (Marine Framework Directive- 2020) How to translate this into and area unit?

LINKS WITH OTHER TARGETS AND LEGISLATION Contributions will come from several envisaged actions  MS assisted by COM to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services (A5): DIAGNOSIS  MS assisted by COM to develop a strategic framework to set priorities for restoration (A6a): PRIORITISATION  COM to develop Green Infrastructure Strategy (A6b): GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS A TOOL  COM and MS to develop methodology to assess impacts of EU funded projects, plans & programs -Biodiversity Proofing (A7a) PRIOR SCREENING TO AVOID DETERIORATION  COM to propose an initiative on net loss of ecosystems and their services (A7b) NO DETERIORATION AND CONSERVATION AIM

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