Nature and Biodiversity Newsletter Number 46 | August 2019 … · 2019-10-01 · nature and...

1nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019

NATURAN u m b e r 4 6 | A u g u s t 2 0 1 9N a t u r e a n d B i o d i v e r s i t y N e w s l e t t e r

2000

Environment

40 years of the Birds Directive

ISSN

24

43-7

727

2 nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019

As I reach the end of this five-year mandate, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect back over this immensely busy and exciting period.

It all started with a major evaluation of the two nature Directives. The outcome demonstrated that our EU nature legislation is highly relevant and necessary, but its implementation needs to be improved, up-scaled and better financed working with different stakeholder communities. It also highlighted how important nature protection is to Europeans. Over half a million people responded to the public consultation, far more than for any other EU consultation ever held until then.

To address the shortcomings identified in the fitness check, I mandated my team to draw up an Action Plan immediately after. Two years later, the Plan is delivering on its promises. We have developed guidance and tools to facilitate integration of biodiversity, nature protection, green infrastructure and ecosystem services across economic sectors, we have focused our enforcement action, we have increased LIFE funding resources for nature and we are conducting a wide range of communication and awareness raising activities.

But broader and longer term actions are needed to protect nature and its vital services in the EU and globally. This year we have launched the evaluation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in order to prepare the post-2020 EU and Global Biodiversity frameworks. The aim is to draw lessons from our experience and to raise the political profile of biodiversity in view of the alarming rate of biodiversity loss confirmed by the recent IPBES report. The EU, in Europe and globally, needs to provide a policy response to these findings on the occasion of the upcoming CBD COP in Kunming, China, at the end of 2020.

The pressures on nature are enormous but, as a recent review of 40 years of the Birds Directive has shown, with time, resources and determination, species can be brought back from the brink of extinction.

I strongly believe that genuine political commitment and financing combined with the engagement of many different stakeholder groups can slow biodiversity loss and lead to a recovery of nature.

I am encouraged by the inclusion of environmental paths in the new European solidarity corps. And of course I am heartened by the growing prioritisation and understanding of biodiversity by Europeans.

It remains for me to thank all those I have had the privilege of meeting and working with. They have come from all walks of life but all are fighting for the same thing: to value and protect the biodiversity we love and need. Working with you all has truly been an inspiration. Thank you!

Karmenu VellaEuropean Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

© European Com

mission

Editorial

Natura 2000nature and biodiversity newsletter August 2019CONTENTS3–5 Preparing for the post-2020 EU Biodiversity Framework6–7 Attitudes of Europeans towards biodiversity8–9 Natura2000 barometer – update Summer 2019

10–1340 years of the Birds Directive

14–16 Natura News

Cover: Three-toed woodpecker© Pål Hermansen/naturepl.com


© Andrey Arm

yagov/Shutterstock©

Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com

© European Com

mission

© Stefan Rotter iStock.com

3nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019 333

In May 2011, the European Commission published a strategy to halt global biodiversity loss by 2020 and deliver on the EU’s international commitments made under the Convention on Biological Diversity. With only 18 months left to go, the time has come to take stock of progress at both EU and Member State level in reaching each of the six operational targets. From the discussions held so far, it seems inevitable that the EU will fall far short of its ambitions. The midterm review had already hinted at this back in 2015, prompting a redoubling of efforts and the adoption of a comprehensive Nature Action Plan in 2017 in order to speed up the implementation of the two EU nature Directives.

At international level too, all signs are that the global objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2020 will not be reached. This was confirmed by the recent publication in May of a landmark report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). According to the report nature continues to decline at rates unprecedented in human history and the rate at which species are going extinct has even increased, with serious impacts on people around the world (see box).

Taking stock at EU level In the face of such alarming findings, it is more important than ever to tackle the root

causes of this continued decline at the highest political level and with the same sense of urgency as the climate change debate. These are after all two of the greatest challenges for the 21st Century, requiring not just more action but also a major shift in mind set within society towards a more sustainable way of life. With this in mind, the Commission launched a major evaluation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy earlier this year. The study will examine in particular the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of the EU strategy in order to determine its relative success in addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss in Europe, and pinpoint the lessons learnt that

Preparing for the post-2020 EU Biodiversity FrameworkEU headline biodiversity target: ‘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’.

nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019©

European Comm

ission


can be used to inform future policy developments. Because the loss of biodiversity has major consequences for all parts of society, and requires a concerted effort from all sides, stakeholder consultation and engagement will be a vital part of this evaluation process. That is why, in May, the Commission, in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions (COR), organised a major conference to bring together EU policymakers and stakeholders within, and beyond, the environment and conservation community, to reflect on achievements and perceived failures of the existing strategy and to gather their views as to future orientations. Over 200 participants attended the conference, with many more following the debates via web streaming or through social media. A wealth of ideas and experiences were gathered through a mix of breakout sessions, panel discussions, spontaneous online polls and audience feedback. These findings will now be fed into the evaluation study. The conference will also be followed up by further

targeted interviews with key stakeholders and Member State authorities during the course of 2019. An online public consultation will be launched in the autumn in all languages to gather further evidence and feedback from the wider public including all those who have had a role in implementing the 2020 Strategy or are otherwise engaged in, or impacted by, its targets and actions. Thereafter, a final stakeholder conference will be held in June 2020 to present and discuss

The EU Biodiversity Strategy in a nutshell

The EU Strategy lays down the policy foundations and actions to be undertaken until 2020 and is built around six mutually supportive and inter-dependent targets which address the main drivers of biodiversity loss and aims to reduce the principal pressures on nature and ecosystem services in the EU.

The six targets focus on: • the full implementation of the EU nature legislation to protect biodiversity; • maintenance and restoration of ecosystems and their services, and the

deployment of green infrastructure;• more sustainable agriculture and forestry;• better management of EU fish stocks and more sustainable fisheries;• combatting invasive alien species; and• a greater EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.

Each target is further translated into a set of 20 prioritised actions and other accompanying measures designed to ensure these ambitions are fully realised.

The eu Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

Lynx pardina – brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to EU action.

© D

udarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.com

the emerging conclusions of the evaluation study. This is likely to be part of the EU Green Week 2020 which will be dedicated to the theme of biodiversity.

A New Deal for Nature and PeopleThe final Commission report is expected to be published by the end of 2020 and will pave the way for a new post-2020 EU framework for biodiversity. This will need to be in line with the new global biodiversity framework which is expected

to be adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China, in late 2020. The so called ‘New Deal for Nature and People’ aims to build on ongoing consultations, as well as the IPBES Global Assessment and the 5th Global Biodiversity Outlook, which is scheduled to be adopted in summer 2020. It will become the guiding framework for all countries, including the EU and its Member States, who will be


required to take the necessary actions to deliver on the new global targets, and revise their biodiversity strategies and other relevant policy documents. Various options for strengthening the global approach are being discussed, including more measurable targets, an overarching measurable objective (equivalent to the 1.5 or 2 degrees objective for climate change) and increasing accountability through a stronger review and monitoring of national strategies, action plans and biodiversity commitments. Such commitments can build on success stories and the increasing awareness across society and policymakers of the emerging ecological crisis, and readiness to engage into decisive transformative actions, for the sake of the wellbeing of current as well as future generations. The clock is ticking and we simply cannot afford to fail again this time. https://bit.ly/29SGDmp

The IPBES global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published its landmark global assessment on the state of global biodiversity in May this year. Compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries over the last three years, with inputs from another 310 contributing authors, the IPBES report is the most comprehensive study ever published on the subject.

According to the report, nature across most of the globe has now been significantly altered by multiple human drivers, with ecosystems and biodiversity showing rapid decline.

Today, 75% of the land surface is significantly altered, two-thirds of the ocean area is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts, and over 85% of wetlands have been lost.

Around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before in human history. More than 40% of amphibian species, almost a third of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are now threatened, and at least 680 vertebrate species have been driven to extinction since the 16th century.

Approximately half of the live coral cover on coral reefs has been lost since the 1870s, with accelerating losses in recent decades due to climate change. 100–300 million people are now at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of the loss of habitats providing protection from extreme weather.

The direct drivers of these changes in nature with the largest global impact have been (starting with those with most impact): changes in land and sea use; direct exploitation of organisms; climate change; pollution and invasion of alien species.

Despite efforts to conserve nature and implement policies, the Report concludes that global goals for conserving and sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories.

Goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between development pathways and their impacts on nature and explores a range of possible scenarios for the coming decades. https://www.ipbes.net/news/Media-Release-Global-Assessment

Hawksbill turtle, Indian Ocean coral reef, Maldives.

© Andrey Arm

yagov/Shutterstock

nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019


Every few years the Commission publishes a Eurobarometer report of people’s attitudes to nature and biodiversity across the 28 EU Member States. The latest such survey was published in May 2019. It reflects the views of some 27,640 respondents from different social and demographic groups who were interviewed face-to-face in their mother tongue. Since the last survey in 2015, people’s understanding of the meaning of the term “biodiversity” has increased, with two in five Europeans now saying that they have heard of the term and know what it

Attitudes of Europeans towards biodiversity

means. This is up 11 percentage points. At the other end of the spectrum, 29% of those interviewed have still not heard of the term. Nevertheless this is down from 39% three years ago. There is also still considerable variation by country: in six countries (Sweden, Bulgaria, Luxemburg, Croatia, France and Portugal) over half of the respondents have heard of the term and know what it means, whereas in others, like Latvia, Slovakia and Poland, only a quarter of the respondents knew what it stood for. The socio-demographic analysis shows that those aged 40–54 are most likely to have

heard of biodiversity and to know what it means (48%), while those aged 55 or over are the least likely to do so (36%). In general though, there is widespread agreement that it is important to stop biodiversity loss: over 70% of Europeans totally agree that we have a responsibility to look after nature and that doing so is essential in tackling climate change. An increasing proportion of the respondents also see climate change as a major threat to biodiversity, alongside pollution and man-made disasters. While there is generally high awareness of the

View over Lago di Carezza in Dolomites, Italy.


Special Eurobarometer 481

Survey requested by the European Commission,

Directorate-General for Environment

and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.

The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.

Special Eurobarometer 481 – Wave EB90.4 – Kantar Public Brussels

Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity

Summary

Fieldwork

December 2018 Publication

May 2019

© O

leh Slobodeniuk/iStock


range of threats to biodiversity, more “acute” threats such as man-made disasters and pollution tend to be more prominent in the public view than other key drivers, such as intensive land use. In terms of the actions that are important for the EU to take in order to protect biodiversity, almost half of the respondents thought nature and biodiversity should be restored to compensate for damage, and citizens should be better informed about the importance of biodiversity. The third most popular action was to ‘expand the areas where nature is protected’ (43%). More than a third of the respondents also said that the EU should ‘allocate more financial resources to nature protection’ (38%) and ‘make sure that subsidies to agriculture and fisheries do not harm biodiversity’ (36%).

Awareness of Natura 2000 Awareness of Natura 2000 has increased slightly since 2015 with three in ten Europeans stating that they are aware of the network. The majority (70%) however have still not heard of it. Awareness of the Natura 2000 network continues to vary widely across Member States. There are nine Member States where a majority has heard of the Natura 2000 network, with the highest awareness seen in Bulgaria and Finland (both 76%). These are also the countries with the highest proportions of the respondents that say that they have heard of the Natura 2000 network and know what it is (41% and 40% respectively), along with Greece (40%). In sharp contrast, just 4% in the United Kingdom have heard of the Natura 2000 network

(including just 1% who know what it is) and 16% in Germany have heard of it (including 5% who know what it is). Nevertheless, a large majority of Europeans continues to think that nature protection areas are important for biodiversity, particularly in protecting endangered animals and plants, preventing the destruction of valuable nature areas on land and at sea, and safeguarding nature’s role in providing food, clean air and water. Most the respondents are also unwilling to accept damage to protected nature in exchange for economic development: almost half of the respondents consider that such kind of developments ‘should be prohibited, because these are our most important nature areas’ (45%). The same proportion (45%) consider this ‘acceptable only for projects of major public

interest and if the damage is fully compensated for ’. Just 6% considers this kind of economic development should take precedence over nature in protected areas. These findings are similar to those observed in the 2015 survey, although there has been a slight increase in the proportion of the respondents who say that ‘damage or destruction of nature is acceptable only for projects of major public interest and if the damage is fully compensated for’. Overall, the survey indicates that Europeans place a very high value on nature and biodiversity and are strongly concerned over its loss, with awareness increasing since 2015. However a significant proportion continues to remain unaware of biodiversity loss and of the existence of Natura 2000.

https://bit.ly/2LsO9LO

© Radu To/iStock

© Stefan Rotter/iStock

The large blue butterfly, Phengaris [Maculinea] arion.

The European souslik Spermophilus citellus.

I will read some statements about why it might be important to halt the loss of biodiversity. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with them.(% ‐ EU)

QA2

Tend to disagreeTend to agreeTotally agree Don't knowTotally disagree

May‐June 2015

December 2018

LOOKING AFTER NATURE IS ESSENTIAL IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

77WE HAVE A RESPONSABILITY TO LOOK AFTER NATURE

BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY NATURE ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR LONG‐TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BIODIVERSITY IS INDISPENSABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS SUCH AS FOOD, MATERIALS AND MEDICINES

OUR HEALTH AND WELL‐BEING ARE BASED UPON NATURE AND BIODIVERSITY

76

19

21

22

10

11

7167

24

27

33

1

112

63

6030

3344

11

2

2

6256

3035

44

11

34

61 30 5 1 3

53 36 5 1 5

You have heard of it but you do not know what it is

Have you heard of the Natura 2000 network?(%)

QA5

You have never heard of it Don't knowYou have heard of it and you know what it is

‐8

12

32

52

72

92

112

132

BG EL FI SI PL CY MT EE AT LU HU PT NL CZ HR SE EU28 BE FR SK IT LV DK IE ES LT RO DE UK

41

35

22

2

40

22

38

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1

24 35 42 52 42 47 47 62 55 64 72 62

36

3131

23

3331 32

2028

2014

2440

3427 25 25 22 21 18 17 15 14 13

59 7060 63 69 63 65 75 81 82 78 79 73 83 95

28 28

1926

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1611 11

16 1421

11

313 12 11 11 11 10 9 9 7 7 6 6 6 51


barometer

Member States

Natura 2000 network (terrestrial and marine)

TERRESTRIAL MARINE

SCI SPA Natura 2000 network SCI SPA Natura 2000 network

Total N° Natura 2000 Sites

Total area Natura 2000 km2

SCI area(km2)

SPA area(km2)

Natura area(km2)

% land area covered

SCI area(km2)

SPA area(km2)

Natura area(km2)

AUSTRIA 350 12891 9381 10254 12891 15.37% n.a. n.a. n.a. AT

BELGIUM 310 5163 3282 3186 3891 12.75% 1128 318 1271 BE

BULGARIA 339 41048 33258 25226 38222 34.46% 2482 550 2827 BG

CYPRUS 64 1785 753 1534 1654 28.84% 124 110 131 CY

CZECH REPUBLIC 1153 11148 7951 7035 11148 14.14% n.a. n.a. n.a. CZ

GERMANY 5200 80816 33528 40260 55214 15.46% 20938 19738 25603 DE

DENMARK 384 22664 3289 2488 3616 8.39% 16492 12176 19048 DK

ESTONIA 567 14861 7806 6203 8106 17.92% 3883 6480 6754 EE

SPAIN 1863 222420 117581 101502 138016 27.34% 54892 52064 84404 ES

FINLAND 1866 50636 42197 24550 42495 12.57% j 7676 j 7402 j 8141 FI

FRANCE 1779 200364 48506 44012 70750 12.88% jj 106287 jjj 116574 jj 129613 FR

GREECE 446 58778 21912 27646 35982 27.27% 17528 8516 22796 GR

CROATIA 779 25690 16040 17034 20704 36.58% 4668 1112 4986 HR

HUNGARY 525 19949 14442 13747 19949 21.44% n.a. n.a. n.a. HU

IRELAND 604 19486 7166 4311 9229 13.13% 9784 1584 10257 IE

ITALY 2613 64124 42899 40126 57265 19.00% 5801 4006 6859 IT

LITHUANIA 559 9666 6304 5530 8103 12.41% 958 1056 1563 LT

LUXEMBOURG 66 702 416 418 702 27.03% n.a. n.a. n.a. LU

LATVIA 333 11834 7421 6610 7447 11.53% 2664 4280 4387 LV

MALTA 52 4183 41 16 42 13.29% j 2282 3221 j 4142 MT

NETHERLANDS 196 20605 3139 4771 5522 13.30% 12074 8627 15083 NL

POLAND 984 68393 34187 48428 61156 19.56% 4339 7224 7237 PL

PORTUGAL 166 57062 15680 9204 19010 20.67% 30918 8747 38052 PT

ROMANIA 606 60577 40310 37118 54214 22.74% 6188 1630 6362 RO

SWEDEN 4087 75854 55106 26448 55611 13.40% 20174 14448 20243 SE

SLOVENIA 355 7682 6634 5066 7672 37.84% 4 9 10 SI

SLOVAKIA 683 14633 6151 13105 14633 29.96% n.a. n.a. n.a. SK

UNITED KINGDOM 934 153137 13176 16091 21008 8.58% 121745 j 21507 132130 UK

EU 28 27863 1336151 598556 541919 784252 18.04% 453029 301379 551899 EU 28

THIS NATUrA BArOMETEr is produced by DG Environment with the help of the European Environment Agency. It is based on information officially transmitted by Member States up to 15.3.2019.

The Natura 2000 network is composed of sites under the Habitats Directive (pSCI, SCIs or SACs – labelled ‘SCIs’ in the barometer) and sites under the Birds Directive (SPAs). The figures relating to the total area of Natura 2000 sites (i.e. SPAs + SCIs) have been obtained through GIS analysis. This avoids any risk of counting sites twice if they have been designated under both Directives.

Arrows indicate increase in the area of the Natura 2000 network since the last update of the barometer in November 2017.

Significant progress continues to be made in the marine environment. Further marine sites have been designated in Finland, France, Malta and the United Kingdom.

j Small increase in 2019 jj Moderate increase in 2019 jjj Substantial increase in 2019

Natura 2000 in EU 28

59.75% land

40.25% marine

8


Member States

Natura 2000 network (terrestrial and marine)

TERRESTRIAL MARINE

SCI SPA Natura 2000 network SCI SPA Natura 2000 network

Total N° Natura 2000 Sites

Total area Natura 2000 km2

SCI area(km2)

SPA area(km2)

Natura area(km2)

% land area covered

SCI area(km2)

SPA area(km2)

Natura area(km2)

AUSTRIA 350 12891 9381 10254 12891 15.37% n.a. n.a. n.a. AT

BELGIUM 310 5163 3282 3186 3891 12.75% 1128 318 1271 BE

BULGARIA 339 41048 33258 25226 38222 34.46% 2482 550 2827 BG

CYPRUS 64 1785 753 1534 1654 28.84% 124 110 131 CY

CZECH REPUBLIC 1153 11148 7951 7035 11148 14.14% n.a. n.a. n.a. CZ

GERMANY 5200 80816 33528 40260 55214 15.46% 20938 19738 25603 DE

DENMARK 384 22664 3289 2488 3616 8.39% 16492 12176 19048 DK

ESTONIA 567 14861 7806 6203 8106 17.92% 3883 6480 6754 EE

SPAIN 1863 222420 117581 101502 138016 27.34% 54892 52064 84404 ES

FINLAND 1866 50636 42197 24550 42495 12.57% j 7676 j 7402 j 8141 FI

FRANCE 1779 200364 48506 44012 70750 12.88% jj 106287 jjj 116574 jj 129613 FR

GREECE 446 58778 21912 27646 35982 27.27% 17528 8516 22796 GR

CROATIA 779 25690 16040 17034 20704 36.58% 4668 1112 4986 HR

HUNGARY 525 19949 14442 13747 19949 21.44% n.a. n.a. n.a. HU

IRELAND 604 19486 7166 4311 9229 13.13% 9784 1584 10257 IE

ITALY 2613 64124 42899 40126 57265 19.00% 5801 4006 6859 IT

LITHUANIA 559 9666 6304 5530 8103 12.41% 958 1056 1563 LT

LUXEMBOURG 66 702 416 418 702 27.03% n.a. n.a. n.a. LU

LATVIA 333 11834 7421 6610 7447 11.53% 2664 4280 4387 LV

MALTA 52 4183 41 16 42 13.29% j 2282 3221 j 4142 MT

NETHERLANDS 196 20605 3139 4771 5522 13.30% 12074 8627 15083 NL

POLAND 984 68393 34187 48428 61156 19.56% 4339 7224 7237 PL

PORTUGAL 166 57062 15680 9204 19010 20.67% 30918 8747 38052 PT

ROMANIA 606 60577 40310 37118 54214 22.74% 6188 1630 6362 RO

SWEDEN 4087 75854 55106 26448 55611 13.40% 20174 14448 20243 SE

SLOVENIA 355 7682 6634 5066 7672 37.84% 4 9 10 SI

SLOVAKIA 683 14633 6151 13105 14633 29.96% n.a. n.a. n.a. SK

UNITED KINGDOM 934 153137 13176 16091 21008 8.58% 121745 j 21507 132130 UK

EU 28 27863 1336151 598556 541919 784252 18.04% 453029 301379 551899 EU 28

update Summer 2019 Viewer

Developed by the European Commission, with the assistance of the European Environment Agency (EEA) the ‘Natura 2000 Viewer’ enables the user to locate and explore Natura 2000 sites anywhere in the EU at the press of a button. Various search options are available:

•Locate a specific Natura 2000 site: use the search tool to zoom in on the location of a specific Natura 2000 site.

•Find a Natura 2000 site near you: type in a location anywhere in the EU and the map will automatically zoom in on that area and highlight all the Natura 2000 sites present.

•Look for a particular species or habitat type: find all Natura 2000 sites designated for a particular species or habitat type by typing in its name or code.

•Discover the distribution and conservation status of a habitat type or species: as reported under the latest Article 17 report of the Habitats Directive or the latest Article 12 report of the Birds Directive.

•Search according to different backgrounds: The Viewer can be overlaid on some 250,000 different layers available under ArcGIS online (e.g. topography, land use, climate, demographics...).

The Viewer will be of interest to:

•the general public, teachers and school children interested in finding out more about the EU’s natural heritage and the

Natura 2000 network;

•land owners, users and other stakeholders who would like to know about Natura 2000 sites in their area;

•developers preparing new plans or projects;

•non-governmental organisations;

•government authorities, land use planners and policymakers; and

•researchers and scientists.

9

10 nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019101010 nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019

40 Years of the Birds Directive – a European success story

10

1971 ramsar Convention

1979 Bern and Bonn Conventions

EU lEvEl 1973 First EU Action Programme for the environment

1979 Birds Directive

1992 Habitats Directive

1992 LIFE Fund

1984ACE Biotopes Fund

1992 Biodiversity Convention IntErnatIonal

lEvEl

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Adopted 40 years ago, in 1979, the EU Birds Directive was a truly ground-breaking piece of legislation. It was one of the first environmental laws to be adopted at European level, despite the Community’s then limited powers in the environmental field. The Directive also came at a time when international conservation initiatives were still very much in their infancy. The first World Summit on the Human Environment had been held just a few years before and only one international nature convention was in existence – the Ramsar Convention on the conservation

of wetlands, which had entered into force in 1975. But, even at that time, the alarming decline in birdlife had captured the hearts and minds of people across Europe. Reports were emerging about the large-scale drainage of wetlands, and the loss of other major habitats through agricultural industrialisation, unchecked development and urban sprawl. This, combined with the dramatic decline in bird numbers through pollution, persecution and the excessive use of harmful pesticides such as DDT, brought into sharp focus the need for urgent action. The

ensuing public outcry galvanised governments to take action. The nine Member States that made up the EU at the time fully recognised that, because of the migratory nature of many birds, they would be much stronger and more effective if they worked together. And so, the Birds Directive came into being, protecting over 500 wild bird species across their entire natural range within the EU, irrespective of country borders. The Directive also brought a new focus to wildlife conservation, based on the protection and management of habitats as well as species. Until then most conservation

The EU population of the Griffon Vulture is increasing again after years of persecution.

Environment

The Birds Directive:40 years conserving our shared natural heritage

© D

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2004Biodiversity ConventionBiodiversity Targets

2010Biodiversity Convention 10-year Strategic Plan

1992 Habitats Directive

1998First EU Biodiversity Strategy

2010 EU Biodiversity Strategy

1995AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds)

2014EU regulation on invasive alien species

2006EU Biodiversity Action Plan

2017 EU Action Plan for nature, people and the economy

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

1111

initiatives tended to focus on the conservation of a few iconic species. Yet, it had become increasingly evident that, in order to save a species, one had also to conserve its habitat. The Birds Directive was one of the first pieces of legislation to introduce provisions to protect the most important habitats of threatened and vulnerable bird species, paying particular attention to wetlands of international importance. Forty years on, the Birds Directive remains as far-reaching, ambitious and relevant as ever. It continues to set the standard for bird conservation across the now 28 Member States and, together with the Habitats Directive adopted in 1992, forms the bedrock of the EU’s biodiversity policy.

Taking stockBut, what has it actually achieved over the years and has it really made a difference on the ground? This is a complex question, considering the sheer scale and scope of the Directive, and the wide-ranging threats and pressures that Europe’s birds continue to face. The 40th anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect back on all that has been achieved to-date, and all that remains to be done. Inevitably, it takes time, money, diligence and goodwill to turn decades of decline and bad habits around, but, as the Birds Directive has shown, with patience and persistence, it can be done, which gives us hope for the future. This timely retrospective was an edifying experience. It

confirmed that, where targeted action takes place on a sufficient scale, the status of species and habitats invariably improves, and has even led to some of the world’s most remarkable species recoveries. The following highlights some of the Birds Directive’s top achievements, as well as some of its remaining challenges. These are extracted from a new brochure published by the European Commission to celebrate the Birds Directive’s 40th anniversary.

Site protection Today, thanks to the Birds Directive, over 5611 sites have been protected for wild birds across the EU, covering more than 749 045 km2 of land and sea – equivalent to an area the size of Germany and Poland put together. These sites protect the habitats of 194 birds species listed in Annex I that are

threatened, restricted in range or particularly vulnerable to changes in their habitats. Along with sites protected under the Habitats Directive, these Special Protection Areas form part of the Natura 2000 network, which is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. Progress in classifying SPAs was initially quite slow and remained stagnant for the first 10–15 years. But then, with the adoption of the Habitats Directive in 1992, the gradual enlargement of the EU to 28 Member States, and the powerful influence of the European Court of Justice, the number of protected sites grew rapidly, increasing almost four-fold between 1996 and 2016. The SPA network is now considered largely complete on land, even for countries that have only recently joined the EU, such as Slovenia and Croatia

who have designated around 30% and 25% respectively of their territory as SPA. In total, around 92% of all the Important Bird Areas identified by BirdLife International in the EU-28 are classified as SPAs. Several scientific studies have been published recently on the effects of this Europe-wide designation process. They all confirm that SPAs have been instrumental in protecting the Annex I bird species for which they were designated. These species have, on average, fared significantly better than other species. Around 40% of Annex I birds are now showing an increasing population, compared to just 22% of other birds.

Species protection The second major pillar of the Birds Directive concerns its species protection measures. At the time the Directive was adopted, millions of birds were being captured and killed unnecessarily across the EU for various reasons. This added even more pressure on many species whose populations were already decimated by agricultural pesticides and industrial pollution. The Birds Directive imposed a general EU-wide ban on the wholesale persecution of wild birds, which had a rapid impact on various populations. Birds of prey, in particular, made a remarkable recovery across Europe after centuries of persecution. Europe is now one of the few places in the world where vulture populations are increasing to safe numbers. The Directive also introduced a system of careful control to

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The continuing problem of illegal bird crimeDespite the success of the Birds Directive in protecting wild birds species across Europe, there is still a huge problem with their illegal capture, killing and trade. An estimated 25 million birds are killed every year around the Mediterranean basin as they migrate between Europe and Africa. This is having a major impact on many species’ populations and is a major barrier to their recovery. Although enforcement is primarily a responsibility of Member States, the Commission is playing a major supporting role through awareness raising, training of enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges, as well as information exchange and data gathering. It is also working actively with third countries within the framework of the Bern Convention’s Tunis Action Plan 2013–2020 on the eradication of illegal killing, trapping and trade of Birds and of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

ensure that, where wild birds continue to be hunted or used, this is done in a sustainable manner that does not jeopardise their survival. In the beginning, the hunting provisions of the Directive caused considerable controversy, leading to misunderstandings on all sides. But, the launch of the Commission’s ‘Sustainable Hunting Initiative’ in 2001 proved to be a turning point. Its aim was twofold: to improve the overall understanding of the legal and technical aspects of the Directive’s provisions on hunting and to foster a closer cooperation and dialogue between hunting and conservation groups.

It led not only to a greater recognition of the legitimacy of hunting as a form of sustainable use but also of the potentially significant role that responsible hunters can play in helping to safeguard biodiversity. It also prompted hunters and conservationists to work together to conserve Europe’s wild birds and their habitats, something that would have been unthinkable in the 1980s.

Conservation action The creation of the Natura 2000 network represents, in itself, a major achievement for nature conservation in Europe. But this is usually only the start of the process; once sites have been designated under Natura 2000,

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the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetusalbicilla became extinct in several EU Member States as a direct result of persecution. Thanks to its legal protection and a ban on harmful chemicals, such as DDT and PCB, the EU population has quadrupled since 1970.

the Eurasian Spoonbill Platalealeucorodiahad declined as a result of habitat loss. Thanks to the protection of over 800 sites for the species as SPAs and habitat restoration works the Atlantic flyway population more than doubled between 1991 and 2012.

Member States must also protect them from damaging activities and take the necessary conservation measures to maintain, or restore the protected habitats and species, to an optimal condition. This is clearly a complex process considering the sheer number of protected areas involved and the often complex mix of pressures, threats and land use issues at stake. Only with strong stakeholder engagement and sufficient human and financial resources to implement the necessary conservation measures can there be any real progress. EU funding has been key in this respect. The LIFE fund in particular has made a major

contribution. Adopted at the same time as the Habitats Directive in 1992 it has co-financed over 1700 nature and biodiversity projects so far, a third of which were for improving the conservation status of some 230 bird species and their habitats across the EU. This has resulted in a total investment of €1.3 billion so far. EU Agri-environmental measures have also been an important source of funding for Natura 2000 sites and many examples now exist of schemes tailored to the management of birds species and their habitats. But as yet they have not been rolled out on a sufficiently large enough scale to have more than a local impact, or indeed to

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Bird jaw trap with dead blue tit Parus caeruleus, Portugal.


as partridges, quail and grouse are also not faring well with more than half still declining or threatened. The worsening status of these species can be put down to a number of factors, but are usually due to pressures outside protected areas and across the wider countryside, such as diffuse pollution, intensified land or sea use, over-exploitation and climate change. All of these require a major step change in the wider policy agendas if they are to be properly addressed.

Future challenges After decades of hard work, a great deal has been achieved for Europe’s birdlife thanks to the Birds Directive. These achievements give hope for the future. They illustrate that, where actions are taken at a sufficient scale and with sufficient resources, even the direst of situations can be turned out. But, clearly many major challenges lie ahead, and there is still a long way to go to fulfil the Birds Directive’s full potential. So let’s just keep going, come what may! The 40 years Birds Directive brochure is available on: https://bit.ly/2RB706R

Black-tailed Godwit Limosalimosa has been in decline, mainly as a result of intensified grassland management and pressures of hunting. Despite the introduction of a hunting moratorium and other efforts to reverse this trend, the species has been unable to recover so far.

Black Woodpecker Dryocopusmartiusis a widespread species that requires mature trees and ample dead wood for a viable population. Its European population is stable, reflecting the maturing of many European forests.

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counter the overall negative effects of wider EU agricultural policies and practices. In conclusion, whilst progress has been made in managing and restoring SPAs across the EU, it is clear that there is still much work to be done if these sites are to reach their full potential in conserving Europe’s rich birdlife.

And the result?Today, thanks to the Birds Directive, many species that were previously considered threatened in Europe are now off the danger list. This is to a great extent the result not only of species and site protection measures but also of targeted EU Species Action Plans and

LIFE funding which has brought several species back from the brink of extinction, and led to the recovery of many others. More than half of the EU’s wild species now have a stable population but, inevitably, not everything is rosy. Clearly, some species have done better than others. From the latest State of EU Nature report, it can be seen that, on the one hand almost 90% of all herons, pelicans, ibises and spoonbills now have a secure EU population status. These typically breed in colonies in wetlands and other well-defined areas that can be more easily protected and managed within the Natura 2000 network.

Other water birds, such as ducks, geese and swans are also generally increasing. Several migratory geese species, such as the barnacle and pink-footed goose, have adapted to more intensive agriculture practices, and, thanks to reduced hunting pressure, their populations have literally exploded across north-west Europe. Sea ducks on the other hand remain highly threatened. The situation for eagles and falcons is equally encouraging, they recovered well once their persecution was made illegal and poisonous pesticides were banned. As a result over 60% of the species (17 out of 28 species) now have a secure status. Birds associated with forests also had the lowest share of threatened species (3%) although some old-growth forest specialists, such as the white-backed woodpecker, are still rare. Birds associated with grasslands and agricultural habitats, on the other hand, have the highest proportion of threatened species (23%), followed by birds associated with marine habitats, such as petrels, shearwaters and storm-petrels indicating trouble with the marine environment. Several huntable species, such

Unsustainable agricultural practices have led to a worrying decline in farmland birds whose numbers have fallen by 50% since 1980.

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nature and biodiversity newsletter | August 2019

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• NEWS • PUBLICATIONS • EVENTS

The European Natura 2000 Award 2020 Now in its fifth year, the high-profile Natura 2000 Award is once again open for applications. If you have been working hard for Natura 2000, be it through active conservation work, awareness raising or other successful initiatives, this award is for you! The award is available in five categories: communication; socio-economic benefits; conservation; reconciling interests/perceptions; cross-

border cooperation and networking. In addition, the European Citizens’ Award is given to the project receiving

the largest number of public votes. So why not apply? The deadline is 30 September 2019. All six winners will be presented with their Award at the high-level Ceremony in May 2020 in Brussels. To find out more, go to: https://bit.ly/1cpVvBK

The future EU LIFE fundA provisional agreement has been reached between the Commission, the European Parliament (EP) and the Council over the future EU LIFE fund (2021–2027). The programme will be similar to the existing fund but will have a significantly bigger budget, which is proposed to be increased to €5.45 billion for the seven-year period. The Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme (€2.15 billion) will continue to support

‘traditional’ action projects aimed at developing, applying and promoting best practice in relation to nature and biodiversity. It will also support new, dedicated ‘Strategic Nature Projects’ (SNaP) in all Member States to help mainstream nature and biodiversity policy objectives into other policies and financing programmes, such as agriculture and rural development. These ‘SNaPs’ will replace the current Integrated Projects. The provisional LIFE agreement will now be subject to formal approval by the EP and Council, and is dependent upon an overall consensus between Member States on the EU’s future long term budget. In the meantime, a new call for Integrated Projects has been launched under the existing programme. The deadline for submission of a concept note is 5 September 2019. For full details go to: https://bit.ly/2HwHZqw

Updated guidance on Article 6 of the Habitats Directive Article 6 is one of the most important articles of the Habitats Directive as it defines how Natura 2000 sites are managed and protected. It is also one of the most discussed, not least because it has potentially significant economic implications. Back in 2002, the Commission drew up a guidance document ‘Managing Natura 2000

sites’ on the interpretation of certain key concepts of Article 6, including the Appropriate Assessment procedure, in order to assist Member States and stakeholders in their correct application. The guidance document has recently been updated to take account of more than 15 years of experience in implementing the provisions of Article 6. It also incorporates jurisprudence established through a large body of rulings issued by the European Court of Justice, as well as various Commission notes on the management of Natura 2000 sites. The document, which has been published as an official Commission Notice after an extensive consultation procedure, is intended to assist Member State authorities, as well as anyone else involved in the management of Natura 2000 sites and the application of the Article 6 permit procedure. It will be further complemented by an update of the methodological guide on Article 6(3)&(4) procedures later in the year which will offer more practical ‘how to’ advice on carrying out the Article 6 assessment and permitting procedure. The guidance document ‘Managing Natura 2000 sites’ is available in all EU languages, go to: https://bit.ly/1qwUQsb

New Union List of Invasive Alien Species The EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) was adopted in January 2015. It establishes a coordinated Europe-wide framework for action to

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prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impacts of IAS on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to limit their damage to the economy and human health. At its core is a list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern for which Member States must adopt targeted measures. The Regulation lays down the conditions to be met for an IAS species to be included on the Union list. This includes the need for a scientifically robust risk assessment. Forty-nine species have been added to the list up to now, 37 in 2016 and 12 in 2017. Following the positive opinion of the Member States at the IAS Committee on 14 June 2019, a further 17 species – 13 plants and four animals – will be added later this year. This will include the common myna bird Acridotheres tristis from Asia and the tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima which has spread widely across the EU, having been used as an ornamental species in urban parks. It also includes the pumpkinseed or pond-perch, Lepomis gibbosus, a small predatory fish that has escaped from aquaria and ponds and a first marine species, Plotosus lineatus, a catfish that entered the Mediterranean through the Suez canal. https://bit.ly/1lrd3BF

Latest on the Biogeographical processTwo further Natura 2000 seminars are taking place in 2019. The third Atlantic seminar was held in Antwerp, Belgium in June while the third Boreal seminar is foreseen for October in Talliin, Estonia. Next year, it will be the turn of the Alpine and Mediterranean regions to hold their third round of seminars. Following each event, an updated roadmap is drawn up to identify priorities and actions for further cooperation within each region. Every year, the Commission also supports a series of networking events within the framework of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process which can focus on particular issues. These are demand led. Full details are available on:https://bit.ly/2gFs88y

Support for biodiversity actions in the EU Overseas In place since 2011, the EU BEST programme supports the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, across the EU’s nine Outermost Regions (ORs) and 25 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). So far, 90 projects have been supported to the tune of over €14.75 million. Selected through a series of open calls for proposals, the projects have undertaken a wide range of activities including: designating and managing terrestrial and marine protected areas, encouraging participative and integrated approaches to ecosystem management, combating invasive alien species, valuing ecosystem services, protecting endangered species, as well as networking, education,

capacity building and outreach activities. New calls for proposals for swift small grants will be launched in the coming months under the BEST 2.0+ (for Overseas Countries and Territories) and LIFE4BEST (for Outermost Regions) Programmes. So keep an eye out for announcements on the BEST website: https://bit.ly/2Fe6l6A A brochure on the 90 BEST projects funded so far is also available from: https://bit.ly/2Iotcy7

The European Business and Nature SummitA ‘European Business and Nature Summit’ (EBNS), co-organised by the EU Business@Biodiversity Platform will take place on November 7–8 in Madrid. The event aims to showcase and build on action from all sectors and stakeholders in support of biodiversity, and contribute to shaping the new post-2020 Deal for Nature and People in order to strengthen the role of business in contributing to protecting biodiversity and natural capital. The summit will be highlighting examples of best practices, tools and approaches to deliver a positive business impact on biodiversity. It will also provide a forum to discuss business opportunities and progress made by businesses and financial institutions in better accounting for their impacts and dependencies on nature, and in taking informed decisions to generate a net positive impact. In this respect, the EU Business&Biodiversity Platform is working on the assessment of biodiversity accounting approaches for businesses and financial institutions to compare the different methods used for natural capital accounting and biodiversity and the obstacles they have faced. The platform has recently published a report on this topic. More info on: https://bit.ly/2XUwFcZ The report is available on:https://bit.ly/2SKQaC3

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The pumpkinseed fish was added to the Union List of Invasive Alien Species this year.

Humberto Delgado rosa, Director at DG Environment giving a presentation at the third Atlantic seminar, Antwerp, Belgium.

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rila monastery, Bulgaria, located in the heart of a large Natura 2000 site.

The Natura 2000 Newsletter is produced by DG Environment, European Commission. Author: Kerstin Sundseth Ecosystems LTD, Brussels. Commission Editors: Sofia Pachini, DG Environment. Design: www.naturebureau.co.uk

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2019. © European Union, 2019

Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse policy of European Commission documents is regulated by Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the EU copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders.

The newsletter does not necessarily reflect the official view of the European Commission.

Photos: Cover © Pål Hermansen/naturepl.com; p. 2 © Aydin Bahramlouian/AEWA, © Stefan Rotter/iStock.com, © Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com, © European Commission © European Commission; p. 3 © European Commission; p. 4. © Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.com; p. 5 © Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock; p. 6 © Oleh Slobodeniuk/iStock; p. 7 © Radu To/iStock, © Stefan Rotter/iStock; p. 10 © David Kjaer/naturepl.com; p. 12 © Paulo Oliveira/Alamy Stock Photo, © Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com, © Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com; p. 13 © Volodymyr Kucherenko/iStock.com, © Sven Zacek/naturepl.com, © Hans & Jens Erikson/naturepl.com; p. 14 © European Commission; p. 15 By Cephas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, wikimedia, © Theo Vanderluis; p. 16 © dennisvdw/iStock

New report on natural and cultural heritage Europe’s natural and cultural heritage is not only unique but also inextricably linked. Nevertheless, despite facing similar threats and challenges, it is rare that these two sectors work together. As part of its contribution to the new European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage (2018), and as a follow up to the Action Plan on Nature, People and the Economy, DG Environment commissioned a new study to examine the spatial overlaps between natural and cultural heritage in Europe, their perceived values to society and the threats and challenges they both face. The report also investigates the main stumbling blocks preventing greater cooperation between the two sectors and explores the many advantages of working together towards a more sustainable, greener economy. The different EU funds that can be used to kick start joint nature and culture initiatives as part of a wider sustainable

development drive are also explored. The report is available from:https://bit.ly/2WQwhzY

Green Infrastructure and ecosystem servicesThe Commission has recently adopted a review of progress in implementing the EU Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy. The report is part of a package of measures aimed at further supporting the deployment of EU-level green and blue

infrastructure. It will be further supported by a Commission Guide which will put forward criteria for a strategic EU-level Green Infrastructure, whilst outlining financing opportunities and technical support tools. The third element of the package, an EU guidance document on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making, was adopted in July. For further information and links to the documents go to: https://bit.ly/2fukTQL

Print ISSN 1026-6151 KH-AA-19-002-EN-CPDF ISSN 2443-7727 KH-AA-19-002-EN-N

A reminder about the Natura 2000 Newsletter surveyWe would like to thank all those who have replied to our online survey on the newsletter already, your views are very useful for us. If you have not had a chance to fill in the survey there is still time until 1 October 2019 to do so. This is an opportunity for you to let us know what you think. The survey is available on: https://bit.ly/31BNOL3

Environment

Working together within the Natura 2000 network

Natural aNd Cultural Heritage iN europe:

KH-01-19-558-EN

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ISBN 978-92-76-08752-6

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/iStock

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