1. EU 2010 biodiversity baseline
7th Meeting of the CGBN
Brussels, 2 March 2010

2. EU 2010 biodiversity baseline
Outline of the presentation:
Rationale for the baseline
Main specifications / characteristics
Content
Examples

3. Rationale for the baseline (i)
What will be in the ‘baseline’?
Facts & figures on the state and trends of biodiversity & ecosystems components
Why biodiversity is important and why is it urgent to act: provide arguments and rational

4. Rationale for the baseline (ii)
Why do we need that?
To support development of post-2010 target(s) and sub-targets
For measuring/monitoring progress and achievement from 2011 to 2020

5. Main specifications/characteristics (i)
Target audience: policy makers
Laymen language, clear layout
Compilation and re-arrangement of EXISTING data and information
No new data collection, no new assessments or evaluations (except for updates)
Snapshot at EU level and/or biogeographical level when relevant

6. Main specifications/characteristics (ii)
Use validated, published, peer reviewed data (e.g. EU reporting)
Statistics/indicators from on-going and regular reporting: possibility to compare different points in time
‘One-off’ data not useful to monitor progress; may be useful to give context
Provide links ‘biodiversity / human well-being’

7. Content Executive summary – the what & why
Available for the Greenweek 1st week of June
Executive summary – the what & why
Scoreboard – summ. of facts & figures
Facts & figures
Species and genetic resources
Ecosystems
Ecosystem services
Pressures

8. Examples of data sets and sources

9. Conservation status of species
17% of the assessments across the EU were favourable
52% unfavourable
31% unknown
Show differences between biogeographical regions
Stress knowledge gap between Marine / Terrestrial assessments

10. IUCN Red List categories
EU 25
Mammals -terrestrial
Mammals - marine
Reptiles
Amphibians
Threatened (CR, EN, VU)
24 (14.5%)
6 (23%)
27 (21%)
18 (22%)
Not threatened (NT, LC)
132 (80%)
8 (31%)
99 (77%)
63 (77%)
Data Deficient (DD)
9 (5.5%)
12 (46%)
2 (2%)
1 (1%)
Total
165 26
128 82
Amphibians
Nearly a quarter are considered threatened in Europe
59% have declining populations, 36% are stable and only 2% are increasing
All amphibian species considered threatened are endemic to Europe and are found nowhere else in the world
Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are the most significant threats to amphibians in Europe
Source: IUCN 2007

11. Birds in Europe
Birds
EU25 (2004)
Pan-Europe (2004)
Unfavourable and threatened (CR, EN, VU)
54 (12%)
226 (43%)
Unfavourable but not threatened
159 (36%)
Secured
232 (52%)
298
Total
445
524
48% of EU birds have an unfavourable conservation status
Proportionally, birds have a worst conservation status in the EU – but improving - than in Pan-Europe – which is worsening
Marine, coastal and wetland bird species are increasing in the EU
Farmland birds are still declining, although less than last years; populations remain at very low levels compared to those of 1990
Source: BirdLife International 2004

12. Other data Endemic species: EU particular responsibility
Genetic diversity
Crops and crop wild relatives
More than 80 % of the Euro-Mediterranean flora consists of crops and their wild relatives
EU27: more than crop and crop wild relative species occur; 3 % of them are included Annex II, IV and V of the Habitats Directive
70 % of species listed in Annex II, IV and V of the Habitats Directive are included in the CWR Catalogue
Livestock races
Alien/invasive (pressures/threats)

13. Agro-ecosystems Corine Land Cover – Land use change
Conversion of agricultural areas into other classes between 1990 and 2000
Example of graph not the good one
Will update with CLC 2006 for EU (except GR and UK?)

14. How are ‘agro-species’ doing?
Grassland butterflies, population index (1990=100)
Source: De Vlinderstichting/Butterfy Conservation Europe/Statistics Netherlands, 2008.
Common birds in Europe, population index (1980=100)
Source: EBCC/RSPB/BirdLife International/Statistics Netherlands 2008
Both SEBI 2010 indicators

15. Conservation status of species and habitats dependent on agro-ecosystems