EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy: status & implementation Anne Teller Biodiversity Unit DG Environment European Commission
EU leaders commitment: A long term (2050) 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 well-being and economic prosperity, and so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided. A headline target to 2020 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 2
EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 2050 Vision 2020 Headline target The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. Full implementat Nature legislation Maintain and restore ecosystems Sustanaible agriculture and forestry Sustainable Fisheries & GES Combat Invasive Alien Species Help avert global biodiversity loss Target 1 Target 2 Target 3 Target 4 Target 5 Target 6 20 Actions / Monitoring (indicators)
Common Implementation Framework
BISE http://biodiversity.europa.eu/
Target 1 Nature conservation To improve significantly the status of all species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation by 2020 Tools: - MS Reporting under Art. 17 of HD by June 2013 - MS Reporting under and Art. 12 BD by end 2013; - EU assessment due by end 2014-beginning 2015 Knowledge/research Issues: - Lack of data - Different interpretations of definitions - Different monitoring, assessment, reporting approaches - Link with ecosystem & genetic health Governance: Reporting Expert Group under Nature Directives
Target 2 - Ecosystem maintenance and restoration By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems. Tools: - Mapping & Assessment of Ecosystems and Services (2014) - Restoration Prioritisation Framework (2014) - Green Infrastructure Communication (2013) - Biodiversity proofing of EU budget - No Net Loss of biodiversity & ecosystem services by 2015 Knowledge/research Issues: - Lack of (access to) data, - Different monitoring, assessment, reporting approaches - Knowledge gaps (ecosystem condition/services, interactions nature & social-ecological systems, valuation) Governance: MAES WG, GI/RPF WG, NNL WG
4-step approach Action 5 MAES Report once use many
Target 2 Action 5 One of the keystones of the strategy providing the knowledge base and reference against which future changes will be measured MAES as overarching roof assessment, linked to global initiatives to protect biodiversity. IPBES: the international platform of biodiversity and ecosystem services is expected to deliver by 2018 a global assessment based on regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Natural Capital Accounting: the UN statistics division is developing environmental economic accounts (SEEA), which will complement national economic accounts.
MAES analytical framework First output of the MAES working group. Sets a conceptual framework for mapping and assessment linking human well-being to biodiversity Makes proposals for a typology of ecosystems and ecosystem services linked to accounting systems
Knowledge/research issues Development of systematic, long-term strategy for generation and assessment of data concerning ecosystem condition Methodologies for assessment of ecosystem condition Relation between species & habitat status (Art. 17) and ecosystem condition Measurement of ecosystem services physical metrics Valuation of ecosystem services opportunities and constraints of monetary valuation Better knowledge about ecosystem services and social benefits for human health, identity, feeling of place, social exclusion development of technologies, information systems and processes for green infrastructure (green roofs, walls, management systems for buildings, etc.) Metrics for assessment of equivalence in terms of ecosystem descriptors, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services
Target 3a Sustainable Agriculture By 2020, significant improvement in the conservation status of species and habitats affected by agriculture (cf. Target 1) and in the provision of ecosystem services through biodiversity-related measures under the CAP. Tools: - Reporting under Art. 17 of HD and Art. 12 BD; - Agri databases (IACS, FSS) - MAES - RDP Knowledge/research Issues: - Access to agricultural data, lack of data on genetics - Agricultural measures & biodiversity conservation - Managed ecosystems, social benefits - Innovative & diversified solutions Governance: Agriculture & Biodiversity WG
Target 3b Sustainable Forestry By 2020, Forest Management Plans in line with Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) are in place for all forests and conservation status of forest species and habitats has improved significantly (cf. Target 1) Tools: - Reporting under Art. 17 of HD and Art. 12 BD; - MAES - EU Forest Strategy (2013) - SFM negotiation Knowledge/research Issues: - Access to forest inventory data - Link between forestry measures & biodiversity - Managed ecosystems, social benefits - Impact assessment (energy, industry, biomass) Governance: Standing Forestry Committee
Target 4 Sustainable Fisheries & GES Achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015/2020 and Good Environmental Status by 2020, as required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Tools: - Reform of CFP - Natura 000 marine sites designation - Reporting under MSFD, WFD & Nature Directives; - MAES Knowledge/research Issues: - Access to fisheries data - Fish stock management measures & biodiversity (MSY) - Sustainable ecosytem-based fisheries, management tools - Spatial planning, social benefits - Quality descriptors (GES) Governance: MSFD Coordination Group
Target 5 Invasive Alien Species By 2020, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their pathways are identified and prioritised, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and pathways are managed to prevent the introduction and establishment of new IAS Tools: - Reporting under EU Plant & Animal Health Regimes - Reporting under Nature Directives / EU Red Lists - EASIN by JRC - New legislative instrument to fill gaps Knowledge/research Issues: - Lack of data, long-term monitoring - Broad impact of IAS and interaction with biodiversity - Economic instruments Governance: To be established, inc. Scientific Review Group
Target 6 Global Biodiversity By 2020, the EU has stepped up its contribution to averting global biodiversity loss Tools: - Footprint indicator, OECD markers; - ABS Protocol (by 2015) - BEST in overseas territories Knowledge/research Issues: - Indirect drivers of biodiversity loss (consumption, resource efficiency, trade-related impacts genetics - Lack of data on resource mobilisation for global biodiversity (CBD COP-10 follow up) - Biodiversity proof EU development cooperation - Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use Governance: Biodiversity & Development Cooperation WG
Policy reporting timeline 22 MAY 2 nd EU Art.17 Report BDS Mid- Term Review 3rd EU Art.17 Report MAES 2020 MAES Event BDS MAES 2015 BDS Final EU MSFD REPORT WFD REPORT EEA SOER Report 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2020 Global MARCH 2014 5NR TO CBD COP13 COP14 COP15 OCTOBER 2013 CBD SBSTTA17 OCT. 2014 COP12 GBO4 Mid-Term Review Strategic Plan MAY 2015 MDG IPBES Assessment Final Report Strategic Plan GBO4
Conclusions Need for involving scientific community in close collaboration with DG Research & Innovation (governance) Need to closely align research's work programme with (biodiversity) policy agenda Need to find ways to fund monitoring and assessment Need to think creatively how best to make use of different funding instruments under H2020 and beyond, including financial instruments Need to work on how to better reap the outcomes of EU funded research and feed into policy process and vice versa (science-policy interface)
Towards more evidence-based policy 1. Inclusive process to assess interactions between people and environment and enhance mutual benefits (social justice) 2. Transparent and independent (peer-review) process to support decision-making (and avoid conflict of interest) 3. Dynamic interaction between science and policy on emerging (or re-emerging) policy issues 4. Operational policy & management options and scenarios (policy tools) 5. Innovative funding / calls (ERA Net of policy makers, crowd-funded research projects)
Thank you for your attention