EU Biodiversity Policy Workhop Policy and Advocacy for NGOs June 2010, Belgrade Duška Dimović, WWF. Earth Hour 2010 Review

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1 EU Biodiversity Policy Workhop Policy and Advocacy for NGOs June 2010, Belgrade Duška Dimović, WWF Earth Hour 2010 Review

2 EU Nature legislation is central pillar of EU biodiversity policy A unique co-operation of MS conserving species & habitats across entire natural range, irrespective of political boundaries Sets common high biodiversity standards Ensures care for nature in EU enlargements Provides a legal basis for integration of nature into other EU policies

3 Natura 2000 is already delivering benefits Safeguards Europe s «biodiversity hotspots» The largest co-ordinated network in the world (c.18% of the EU territory) A wider concept than nature reserves for sustainable land & water use Promotes partnership between users, business, owners, hunters and NGOs 2007 SCIENCE article Natura 2000 works!

4 2009 EU Health Check of the conservation status of habitats and species revealed Grasslands, wetlands & coastal habitats most under pressure Habitats associated with agriculture show worse conservation status Positive development of many target species 17% Only seemed to be in Favourable Conservation Status Need second report for trends analysis Date 16 June

5 Why does this situation persist? Long-term destruction & degradation of nature in EU Most vulnerable species/habitats in EU Directives Implementation delays in Member States Natura 2000 only now almost established Insufficient investments in nature Poor integration with other policy sectors True economic values of nature not yet appreciated

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7 What now needs to be achieved? A measurable improvement in conservation status of species and habitats by 2020 A significant step-up in restoration and management of Natura 2000 sites The necessary financial investments A supportive wider EU policy framework policy coherence

8 Step up Natura 2000 management and protection Designate SCIs as SACs (now overdue) Set Conservation objectives + management & restoration plans Better integrate NATURA 2000 into the wider landscape (green infrastructures) Engage key economic sectors & develop guidelines to promote good practice Where relevant develop flexible approaches (working with nature)

9 Ensuring adequate Financing for Natura 2000 Ongoing calculation of costs and benefits Evaluation of the current integration approach Linked to reforms of CAP, CFP, Cohesion and Budget and EU 2020 agenda Essential for MS to define needs and priorities for the next financial and programming period Should we develop a programme-based approach? Commission Communication first half of 2011

10 Integrating into the wider policy context Natura 2000 is model on how to achieve sustainable development (economic growth while maintaining ecosystem services) N2K is an established network to develop, test and apply EU policies aimed at valuing, protecting, restoring and enhancing the provision of ecosystem services N2K can form the core elements of green infrastructure N2K is a major tool for climate change adaptation and mitigation

11 Post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy VISION 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. HEADLINE TARGET 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.

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13 On the basis of the above, it is proposed to have a discussion on a set of 6 strategic sub-targets that would cover these possible scopes: Sub-target 1 (ST1) Integration and sustainable use of resources Sub-target 2 (ST2) Overexploitation Sub-target 3 (ST3) Fragmentation and Green Infrastructure Sub-target 4 (ST4) Invasive Species Sub-target 5 (ST5) Nature Conservation Sub-target 6 (ST6) Contribution to global biodiversity

14 Overall target(s) for the policy EU nature conservation policy by 2020: The full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives make a significant contribution to the overall 2020 biodiversity target and its related ecosystem resilience and services. This does include the establishment, management and financing of the European network of protected areas/natura 2000 which are seen as the cornerstone of EU s biodiversity work, together with the protection of endangered species and habitats outside of Natura 2000 in accordance with the Directives. Indicator for the overall target: All species and habitats listed in the Habitats Directives are in a favourable conservation status according to the fourth composite Article 17 monitoring report of the Habitats Directive released in 2020/21.

15 Sub-target 2012: The Natura 2000 network is completed in the terrestrial and marine environment Indicator for the sub-target 2012: The Natura 2000 network has been evaluated as sufficient (Natura 2000 sufficiency index is 100 % for all EU Member States).

16 Sub-target 2014: All Natura 2000 sites have management plans or measures in place Indicator for the sub-target 2014: All SACs have been designated, according to the official data of the EC (eg Natura 2000 barometer on SACs or management), following the adequate minimum requirements agreed among all stakeholders. Biogeographical discussions could be a way forward to evaluate the designation of SACs.

17 Sub-target 2014: The new EU budget provide enough money for the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives Indicator for the sub-target 2014: There are no harmful subsidies for biodiversity from the EU budget. The EU budget provides between 3 5 billion Euro per year to the Natura 2000 network. All national operational programmes of the different EU funding lines include sufficient obligatory measures for the financing of Natura 2000

18 Sub-target 2016: The third composite Article 17 monitoring report of the Habitats Directive released in 2014/15 is complete and includes a significant increase of species and habitats in a favourable conservation status Indicator for the sub-target 2016: All species and habitats listed in the Habitats Directive are reported and more than 50 % of them have a favourable conservation status.

19 Sub-target 2016: The importance of biodiversity for its intrinsic value and human wellbeing is understood and recognized by key policy makers at national, regional and local level, by key economic actors and an important part of citizens Indicator for the sub-target 2016: The national accounting of all EU MS includes natural capital related indicators. More than one third of European citizens know what Natura 2000 is and recognize its importance (Eurobarometer or similar survey).

20 Sub-target 2018: The Natura 2000 network is a coherent ecological functioning network and allows species and habitats to adapt to the increasing pressure caused by climate change Indicator for the sub-target 2018: All national land-use planning instruments consider the concept of Green Infrastructure which allows the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species. Article 10 of the Habitats Directive is fully applied in all EU Member States.

21 Conclusions EU nature legislation has a key role to play in attainment of EU post-2010 biodiversity policy goals Management & restoration of Natura 200 will significantly contribute to reversing biodiversity loss in EU Need to ensure adequate investments including EU funding and to fully value the services and benefits of the Natura 2000 network Wider species protection provisions of nature legislation need also to be used to achieve 2020 biodiversity goals Commission will continue to ensure that nature Directives are correctly and fully applied& promote sharing of experience and good practices

22 WWF IN SHORT +100 WWF is in over 100 countries, on 5 continents WWF has over 5,000 staff worldwide 1961 WWF was founded In M WWF has over 5 million supporters THANK YOU! Date 16 June