CGBN Meeting 24 September 2015 Brussels. Mid-Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

Transcription

1 CGBN Meeting 24 September 2015 Brussels Mid-Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

2 2015 Mid-Term Review 1. Report from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament The 2015 Mid- Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to Accompanying Document - EU assessment of progress in implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (Staff Working Document) Member States' contributions to the mid-term review (based on 5NR to CBD) will be uploaded on BISE

3 Headline Target Halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, restore them in so far as possible, and contribute to averting global biodiversity loss Overall, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services have continued since the EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline (cf. SOER 2015) This is consistent with global trends and has serious implications for the capacity of biodiversity to meet human needs in the future Many local successes demonstrate that action on the ground delivers positive outcomes These examples need to be scaled up to have a measurable impact on the overall negative trends

4 Target 1 Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives Source: EEA 2015 Progress in carrying out actions under Target 1 Slightly increased number of species and habitats in secure/favourable or improved status (SoN Report 2015) Many habitats and species in unfavourable status remain so; and some are deteriorating further Challenges until 2020: completion of marine Natura 2000, effective management and finance to support Natura 2000

5 Target 2 Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services Trends in pressures on ecosystems Source: EEA 2015 Progress on policy and knowledge improvement actions Some restoration activities in Member States Not yet halted the trend of degradation of ecosystems and services National and regional frameworks to promote restoration and green infrastructure need to be developed and implemented A lot remains to be done to halt the loss of ordinary biodiversity outside Natura 2000

6 Target 3a Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity Changes ( vs ) in conservation status for habitats of Community interest associated with agricultural ecosystems (grassland and cropland) Source: EEA 2015 Continuing decline in the status of species and habitats of EU interest associated with agriculture CAP reform provides a range of instruments to support biodiversity. These opportunities need to be taken-up by Member States on a sufficient scale Local examples demonstrate success of sustainable agricultural practices. If implemented more broadly, they could put the EU back on track to achieve the target by 2020

7 Target 3b Increase the contribution of forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity Change ( vs ) in conservation status for habitats of Community interest associated with woodland and forest ecosystem at EU-27 level Source: EEA 2015 EU forest area has increased since the 2010 Biodiversity Baseline No signs of improvement in the conservation status of forest habitats and species covered by EU nature legislation EU-level data on the status of forest habitats outside Natura 2000 limited Forest Management Plans or equivalent instruments can play an important positive role in achieving the target, but their potential remains largely unused

8 Target 4 Ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources and achieve Good Environmental Status Significant progress in setting the policy framework for sustainable fisheries and GES Promoting improvements in Oceans Governance for more sustainable management of marine resources Uneven policy implementation across the EU; major challenges remain Just over 50% of MSY-assessed stocks fished sustainably in 2013 As a result of multiple pressures, marine species and ecosystems continue declining across Europe's seas

9 Target 5 Help combat invasive alien species Rate of introduction of marine non-indigenous species Fast-growing threat to biodiversity IAS Regulation entered into force in Work is under way to propose the first list of IAS of Union concern (by end 2015) Next critical step will be implementation by Member States Ratification of the Ballast Water Convention, crucial for addressing marine IAS, is slow-going with only 7 MS ratifications Source: EEA 2015

10 Target 6 Help avert global biodiversity loss Ecological footprint per region of the world Source: EEA (SEBI) EU remains by far the largest financial donor. Progress in increasing resources for global biodiversity Initial steps to reduce indirect drivers of global biodiversity loss. Insufficient progress in reducing the impacts of EU consumption patterns on global biodiversity On the current trajectory, existing efforts may not be sufficient to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

11 Financing Biodiversity aspects integrated into key EU financing instruments LIFE, while limited in size, has considerable return on investment for nature and. biodiversity Innovative financing set up (e.g. Natural Capital Financing Facility) Programming under ESIF reveals heterogenous picture across MS New processes for biodiversity proofing and for tracking biodiversityrelated financing in the EU budget EU external instruments are enshrined in the B4Life flagship initiative launched in 2014

12 Partnership Cooperation enhanced through Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process Awareness raising through Natura 2000 Award scheme Engagement of private sector in EU Business and Biodiversity platform, Overseas partnership of (BEST) TEEB, and synergies with other conventions

13 Knowledge 1 Streamlined reporting under the Nature Directives Towards more integrated assessment (MAES/IPBES) Development of indicator-based monitoring and reporting Facilitated access to information through BISE Support for research (FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, ERA-Net, SPI) and innovation Still major knowledge gaps need to be filled (e.g. marine, ecosystem health, links to services, etc.)

14 Conclusions (1) Policy frameworks in place Progress under each target A wealth of positive experience to build on Timelag to see impact on biodiversity Targets can only be reached if implementation and enforcement efforts become considerably bolder and more ambitious, and integration effective. At the current rate of implementation, biodiversity loss will continue in the EU and globally, with significant implications for the capacity of ecosystems to meet human needs in the future.

15 Conclusions (2) Urgent to intensify implementation across all targets Strong partnerships and full engagement of key actors at all levels needed in order to: 1. Complete and manage effectively Natura Implement Invasive Alien Species Regulation 3. Recognize natural capital throughout the EU Effective integration with a wide range of policies: Coherent priorities and adequate funding Agriculture and forestry Marine and fisheries Regional development. Achieving biodiversity objectives can contribute to the growth and jobs agenda, food and water security and quality of life, as well as to the SDG implementation.

16 MTR Leaflet 1. Key trends since EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline 2. Dashboard on progress towards EU Targets

17 EU 2020 Biodiversity Headline Target Key trends since the EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline Poor conservation status Species Overall, 23% of the EUlevel species assessments have a favourable conservation status and 4% of species are unfavourable but improving; 20% are stable, 22% are deteriorating and 14% are without a known trend. EU bird population status and trends Over half (52%) of the bird species are considered to have a secure population status. Short-term trends indicate that some 4% of all bird species are non-secure but increasing, and 6% are stable, even if a further 20% are declining Natura 2000 network extended Since 2010, the network of Natura 2000 sites has progressed and is nearly completed for terrestrial and inland water habitats covering about 18 % of the land surface. The coverage of the marine network has increased to 4%, still well below the 10% global target. Habitats Overall, 16% of the EUlevel habitat types assessments have a favourable conservation status and 4% are improving; 33% are unfavourable but stable. A further 30% are still deteriorating, which is a serious cause for concern. Many species threatened with extinction Freshwater species - mollusc (55%) and freshwater fish (43%) - are the groups with the highest proportion of threatened species, together with marine mammals (43%), followed by amphibians (22%), reptiles (21%) and birds (18%). 1% 23% Threatened Near Threatened Ecosystems under pressure Threats to ecosystems and services related to biodiversity persist and many pressures are estimated to increase. 66% 10% Least Concern Data Deficient

18 EU 2020 Biodiversity Headline Target Key trends since the EU 2010 Biodiversity baseline Habitat loss still a major concern In the period , the expansion of artificial surfaces has continued (e.g. urban sprawl, infrastructure) as compared to the period % Urban Grassland -0.2% -0.1% Heathland and shrub Wetlands 0.0% -0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% Cropland Woodland and forest Sparsely vegetated land Rivers and lakes Invasive Alien Species a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystems In the seas around Europe, more than 80% of non-indigenous species have been introduced after Intensive agriculture is still a major pressure There has been no measurable improvement in the status of agriculture-related habitats and species covered by the Habitats Directive since % 4% 46% Favourable assessments Improved assessments Assessments which have deteriorated 39% Unfavourable and unknown assessments that did not change Marine environment still overexploited Currently most of the assessed commercial stocks in European waters (58%) are not in Good Environmental Status (GES), with 19% of stocks exploited sustainably, 11% with their reproductive capacity intact, and only 12% considered in GES. Pollution improvements in some areas Water quality in European rivers has improved for e.g. oxygen-consuming substances (BOD5), and ammonium. Global dimension Europe's ecological footprint remains high it is over twice the size of its biocapacity.

19 Progress towards the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 Targets Progress Key messages EU 2020 Headline Target To halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restore them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss. Target 1 Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives Overall, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU have continued since the 2010 baseline as confirmed by the 2015 European Environment State and Outlook Report (SOER). This is consistent with global trends and has serious implications for the capacity of biodiversity to meet human needs in the future. While many local successes demonstrate that action on the ground delivers positive outcomes, these examples need to be scaled up to have a measurable impact on the overall negative trends. The latest report on the State of Nature in the EU shows that the number of species and habitats in secure/favourable or improved conservation status has slightly increased since the 2010 baseline. However, many habitats and species that were already in unfavourable status remain so, and some are deteriorating further. While much has been achieved since 2011 in carrying out the actions under this target, the most important challenges remain the completion of the Natura 2000 marine network, ensuring the effective management of Natura 2000 sites, and securing the effective finance to support the Natura 2000 network. Target 2 - Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services Progress has been made on policy and knowledge improvement actions under this target, and some restoration activities have taken place in the Member States. However, this has not yet halted the trend of degradation of ecosystems and services. National and regional frameworks to promote restoration and green infrastructure need to be developed and implemented. A lot remains to be done to halt the loss of ordinary biodiversity outside the Natura 2000 network. Target 3a - Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity The continuing decline in the status of species and habitats of EU importance associated with agriculture indicates that greater efforts need to be made to conserve and enhance biodiversity in these areas. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has an essential role to play in this process in interaction with relevant environmental policies. The CAP reform for provides a range of instruments which can contribute to supporting biodiversity. These opportunities need now to be taken-up by Member states on a sufficient scale, if the target is to be achieved. Local examples demonstrate successful sustainable agricultural practices. If implemented more broadly, they could put the EU back on track to achieve the target by 2020.

20 Progress towards the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 Targets Progress Key messages Target 3b - Increase the contribution of forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity EU forest area has increased since However, the conservation status of forest habitats and species covered by EU nature legislation shows no signs of improvement. EU level data on the status of forest habitats outside Natura 2000 is limited. Forest Management Plans or equivalent instruments can play an important positive role in achieving the target, but their potential, remains largely un-used. Target 4 - Ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources and achieve GES Significant progress has been made in setting the policy framework for sustainable fisheries under the reformed EU Common Fisheries Policy, and of Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Commission is promoting improvements in Oceans Governance for more sustainable management of marine resources. However, policy implementation has been uneven across the EU and major challenges remain to ensuring that the objectives are achieved according to schedule. Just over 50% of MSY-assessed stocks were fished sustainably in Subjected to multiple pressures, marine species and ecosystems continue declining across Europe's seas. Target 5 - Help combat Invasive Alien Species Target 6 Help avert global biodiversity loss The IAS Regulation entered into force in Work is underway to propose the first list of IAS of Union concern. If this list is adopted by the end of 2015, the EU can be considered on track with the actions envisaged under Target 5. The next critical step for achieving the Target will be implementation by the Member States. The ratification of the Ballast Water Convention, crucial for addressing marine invasive alien species, is lagging behind with only 7 MS ratifications. Wildlife diseases and the release of alien macro-organisms for biological control need to be addressed at the EU level. The EU remains by far the largest donor and has made progress in increasing resources for global biodiversity. The EU has taken initial steps to reduce indirect drivers of biodiversity loss, including wildlife trade, and to integrate biodiversity into its trade agreements. However, progress is insufficient in reducing the impacts of EU consumption patterns on global biodiversity. On the current trajectory, existing efforts may not be sufficient to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by the deadlines.

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