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SURF to Biodiversity 2020

Maria Tiefenbach Environment Agency Austria

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Content

Europe`s Biodiversity, Status and Threats EU Strategies 2020 Financing Biodiversity

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Europe`s Biodiversity

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Status of Biodiversity Species faced with the risk of extinction

- up to 25 % of European animal species, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and butterflies face the risk of extinction and are therefore included in the EU Regional Red List by IUCN

65 % of the habitats and 52 % of the species covered by the EU Habitats Directive are considered to be in an unfavourable conservation status (EEA-ETC/BD, 2009)

428%

17%

37%

18%

17%

30%31%

22%

Species

Habitats

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Threats

Habitat loss Overexploration Pollution Invasive Alien Species Climate change

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EUROPE 2020 - Headline targets for Growth and Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of Biodiversity Halting the loss of

biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU and restoring them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss

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Smart, sustainable, inclusive growth Employment Research & Development 20/20/20

Reduce of greenhouse gas emissions

Increase of energy efficiency

Education Combating poverty

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Biodiversity 2020

Implementation of Biodiversity targets on Member State, regional/local level

Financial support is essential

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SURF conclusions for improving ERDF

Thematic objectives Direct opportunities „protecting the environment and promoting

resource efficiency“ – „protecting biodiversity, soil protection and promoting ecosystem services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructure“ -> to be included into OPs as investment priority

Indirect opportunities e.g. Low carbon society Climate change adaptation Education

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SURF conclusions for improving ERDF

Better integration into the Operational Programms in general

Direct and indirect needs and priorities, e.g. Restoration of degraded ecosystems Public paticipation and awareness raising

Synergies between biodiversity and regional development, e.g. Infrastructure, Jobs and regional vitality

Avoid funding with negative impacts on biodiversity Integration of Prioritized Action Frameworks for funding

Natura 2000

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Overall objective Improve regional policies and practises for nature

conservation and biodiversity by increasing the opportunities for and the impacts of

financing nature conservation measures from ERDF funds

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Europe`s Biodiversity

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Sustainable Use of Regional funds - for Nature

Thank you for your Attention!