Commission adopts new strategy to halt loss of biodiversity by 2020

The European Commission has adopted a new strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020.The Commission will follow up different proposals and initiatives listed in the Strategy in 2012, and will review the strategy in 2014.

The Commission believes that the previous biodiversity strategy - the 2006 Biodiversity Action Plan – failed to halt biodiversity loss. As a result, an attempt has been made to make new 2020 strategy more focused, with a limited number of targets; six main targets, with 20 follow-up actions.

Target 1 covers implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives. It states that by 2020, 100% more habitat assessments and 50% more species assessments under the Habitats Directive should show an improved conservation status; and 50% more species assessments under the Birds Directive should show a secure or improved status.

Other targets cover:

• Better protection for ecosystems, and more use of green infrastructure
• More sustainable agriculture and forestry
• Better management of EU fish stocks
• Tighter controls on invasive alien species
• A bigger EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss

The 2020 strategy will not expand the Natura 2000 network, as 18% of EU territory is already covered. The global 2020 target of having at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water conserved through protected areas has therefore already been met. However, the Commission will further develop the EU Business and Biodiversity Platform and encourage greater cooperation.

The new biodiversity strategy can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/pdf/2020/1_EN_ACT_part1_v7%5b1%5d.pdf

Environmental groups and Green MEPs have criticised the European Commission’s 2020 Biodiversity strategy for failing to provide concrete solutions to species and habitat loss. WWF, for example, said there were doubts as to whether the political will and understanding needed to meet its six sub-targets existed. Furthermore, Green Party MEPs said that the six sub-targets were inconsistent with the strategy’s wider goals.

WWF press release can be found here:
http://www.wwf.eu/?200225/Wider-EU-policy-reforms-are-key-to-protecting-Nature