1. EU biodiversity policy: Towards a post-2010 strategy
European Commission DG Environment Unit B2 - Biodiversity
EU biodiversity policy:
Towards a post-2010 strategy
Anne Teller, DG ENV.B2- Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Water workshop, 18/06/10

2. Lessons learned from 2010 biodiversity target
Responses have increased (e.g. Natura 2000)
Pressures on biodiversity have increased
Biodiversity loss has continued

3. EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10)
Wetland still being lost (EEA CLC 2010)
Near 3% lost in last 16 years but EU had already lost more than half of its wetlands before 1990
5% decline in marshes and bogs
4.4% growth in water bodies (artificial reservoirs)
Expansion of artificial areas at expense of wetlands across EU and mainly in Boreal and Atlantic regions
Fragmentation (EEA, JRC)
Still increasing through drainage and infrastructure development

4. EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10)
Conservation status (EC 2009)
Poor conservation status of habitats – only 10% favourable in wetlands and 15% in lakes and rivers
64% aquatic species are in unfavourable conservation status, 50% are in in the worst category (plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians) and still a lot of unknown (mammals, amphibians)
Invasive alien species
Invasive alien species remain a threat (140 in freshwater), increasingly so in marine systems and in the context of a changing climate

5. EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (1/6/10)
Water quality
Water quality has improved in freshwaters, and the state of freshwater systems is improving generally
Ecosystem services (RUBICODE 2009, JRC 2010)
Climate regulation still degrading in wetlands, lakes & rivers
Water regulation and purification services are mixed
Hazard regulation (flood defence) is degrading
Recreational opportunities mixed
Biodiversity (in particular birds and migratory species) still degrading

6. EU post-2010 vision and target
- adopted March
By 2050, 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 wellbeing and economic prosperity, and so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided.
By 2020, Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU and restore them insofar as feasible, and step up the EU's contribution to averting global biodiversity loss. 6 6

7. Post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy
Focus on key ecosystems, pressures, drivers and responses:
Time-bound (2020)
Measurable
Prioritised
Fill gaps and build on existing mandates
The Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE) will support biodiversity policy and disseminate (and later on generate) information to/from a wide audience. Together with the Adaptation CHM, BISE will be an overarching tool to facilitate data collection and reporting (Biodiversity Data Centre), harvest information from other sources (e.g. other data centres, other COM services, LIFE-Nature projects, research project…) and to generate integrated knowledge (e.g. Baseline assessments).
Ecosystems and ecosystem services:
- EURECA: a spatial assessment of the health/state of ecosystems in the EU
JRC work on ecosystem services mapping 7

8. Related deliverables Monitoring, assessment Establish a baseline
Further develop indicators
Finalise Natura 2000 funding needs assessment
BAP final assessment
Fill knowledge gaps
Launch BISE
Develop strategic plan
IPBES, TEEB
Address policy gaps
Invasive species
Soil
Ecosystem services
Biophysical maps
Green Infrastructure
Exchange best practice
EU strategy

9. Post-2010 water related developments
EU Strategy on Green Infrastructure 2011
Need to decrease fragmentation affecting connectivity, ecosystem health and ability to provide services
Need to enhance ecosytem-based approaches (e.g. flood prevention) including financial support (revision Cohesion Policy)
Conference in autumn 2010
EU Strategy on Invasive species
Strategy and early warning system in 2011 (consultation 09/10)
Monitoring
WISE/BISE joint work in 2011
EU post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy and 2020 sub-targets (2010/2011)

10. EU post-2010 biodiversity strategy timeline
2010 Green Week
Ghent Conference
Nature Directors ES
Nature Directors on Forest & Biodiversity

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