Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission: Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 — and beyond
Date: 2006-12-06
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: action programme, biodiversity, environmental cooperation, environmental education, environmental protection, support policy, sustainable development

10.3.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 57/7

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission: Halting
the loss of biodiversity by 2010 — and beyond

(2007/C 57/02)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission: Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 — and
beyond. Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being and its annexes, in particular the Action Plan (COM
(2006) 216 final);

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 2 December 2005 to consult it on this
subject, under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to its Bureau's decision of 25 April 2006 to instruct the Commission for Sustainable Devel-
opment to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats
and of wild flora and fauna, and Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild
birds;

Having regard to its Opinion of 12 February 2003 on the Communication from the Commission: Towards
a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection — CdR 190/2002 fin (1);

Having regard to its Opinion of 17 November 2005 on The contribution of local and regional authorities to
combating climate change — CdR 215/2005 fin;

Having regard to its Opinion of 26 April 2006 on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament
and of the Council establishing a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy (COM
(2005) 505 final — 2005/0211 (COD)) and on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the
European Parliament — Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment (COM
(2005) 504 final) — CdR 46/2006 fin;

Having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 159/2006 rev. 1) adopted on 6 October 2006 by its Commission
for Sustainable Development (rapporteur: Mr van Gelder, Queen's Commissioner of the Province of Zeeland,
NL/EPP);

adopted unanimously the following opinion at its 67th plenary session, held on 6 and 7 December
2006 (meeting of 6 December):

The Committee of the Regions' views and recommenda-
tions

The Committee of the Regions

1. General comments

1.1 welcomes the Communication and the proposed Action
Plan which provide an accurate assessment of the situation and
highlight the measures to be taken in order to help achieve the
2010 objectives; agrees with the Commission's evaluation but
regrets the delay in its publication;

believes that biodiversity to a large extent determines
1.2
the identity of the region; stresses that biodiversity is an impor-
tant basis for quality of life, health, recreation and tourism and
the production of regional products and services;

1.4 welcomes the Council Conclusions of 23-24 March
2006 calling for the integration of the 2010 objectives into all
relevant Lisbon agenda policies. The regional development plans
implemented in many regions show that the tension between
economics and biodiversity can be resolved;

1.5
points out that, in contrast to the general acknowledge-
ment of the intrinsic value of biodiversity, its economic value is
underestimated; in the long run biodiversity is a prerequisite for
health, a high standard of living and employment;

1.6
underlines the need to build partnerships between all
stakeholders in order to raise awareness amongst citizens (espe-
cially children) and the public and private sectors of the impor-
tance of biodiversity, so that a common effort
is made to
preserve biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem services;

points out that the number of species and high-value
the ten new

1.3
ecosystems has increased with the advent of
Member States of the European Union;

(1) OJ C 128, 29.5.2003, p. 43.

1.7
regrets that, in spite of the political commitments made
by all the Member States, the 2010 objectives are still a long
way off and calls for biodiversity to be placed high on the poli-
tical agenda by all levels of government;

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is pleased that there are many examples at local and
1.8
regional
level that show that the loss of biodiversity can be
stemmed and the restoration of habitats achieved (see CdR 159/
2006 appendix);

EU budget, and that the EU therefore has a strong leverage for
influencing farming methods; argues, therefore, in the frame-
work of the 2008 review of the 2007-2013 financial perspec-
tive, for a substantial shift of funding towards sustainable forms
of farming and landscape preservation;

2. Biodiversity in the EU

2.1
deplores the insufficient allocation of EU funds for
financing the 2010 objectives in the 2007-2013 financial
perspective, especially for the Natura 2000 initiative and rural
development; calls therefore for Member States to provide their
regions and municipalities with the means to preserve and
restore biodiversity on their territory, in particular in order to
maintain Natura 2000 sites; and urges the greater use of the
Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund for projects with
special benefit to biodiversity;

2.2
points out that for optimal realisation and conservation
of the Natura 2000 ecological network, it is essential for the
regions to strike the right balance between the top-down
approach and the flexibility needed to establish this network.
Uniform management criteria must adopted for all sites included
in the network;

2.3
stresses that a denser network is essential in order to
ensure sustainable ecosystems, also in the marine environment,
and is pleased with the emphasis placed on network density in
the light of the consequences of climate change for habitats and
species; also suggests to implement conservation measures for
buffer zones and ecological corridors which guarantee the viabi-
lity of sites included in the network;

2.4
points out that while the policy framework established
by the EU provides for a high level of biodiversity protection,
inadequate in many
implementation and monitoring are still
Member States, and that when new biodiversity protection areas
are being set up, insufficient thought is given to the conditions
needed for harmonious development of the ecosystem;

recommends that biodiversity plans at EU, national,

2.5
regional and local level be coordinated;

2.6
stresses that as many measures provided for in the
Action Plan for the Member States cannot be implemented
effectively without
the
regional and local authorities, representatives from the regional
and local level must be actively involved with all new biodiver-
sity policy developments and be provided with the necessary
resources;

the assistance and participation of

2.8
calls on the Commission and the Member States to
assess the impact of current subsidies on biodiversity, to abolish
incentives that are detrimental to biodiversity and ecosystem
services and to encourage the greater use of economic instru-
ments for the protection of biodiversity;

2.9
considers it advisable to deal with biodiversity concerns
not only in the field of environment policy, but also to main-
stream them into other policy areas at EU and Member State
level, especially transport, energy, industry, agriculture, fisheries,
regional policy, tourism and research policy;

fully recognises the importance of sea and coastal
2.10
waters as the basis of almost half of Europe's biodiversity and
calls for a greater awareness of marine biodiversity policy on
the part of governments and other stakeholders; points out the
importance of an accelerated implementation of the Habitats
Directive for the marine environment, the stopping of over-
fishing in both European and non-European waters and the
complete integration of biodiversity into the future European
maritime policy;

2.11
notes the limited scope for spatial planning action at
EU level, since this policy area — of key importance for biodi-
versity preservation and restoration — falls within the responsi-
bility of the Member States; urges that biodiversity issues be
given a prominent place in spatial planning decisions at
national, regional and local level, in particular by means of the
Strategic Environmental Assessment;

2.12
is convinced that, in the development and implemen-
tation of the policy of combating invasive alien species, the
present rules should be more effectively used and implemented
and calls for greater involvement of the regions in this matter;

2.13 welcomes the plans to develop a comprehensive EU
strategy for the prevention and control of invasive alien species
including the setting up of an early warning system; however
points out that, bearing in mind the scarce financial and
human resources, new administrative burdens must not be
created;

2.7
is conscious of the considerable impact of agriculture
on biodiversity in the EU: depending on the way land is farmed,
agriculture can either be of great benefit to biodiversity and
create safe havens for a large variety of species, or it can cause
serious harm by destroying habitats and by polluting the envir-
onment; notes that agriculture is still a major beneficiary of the

recommends that basic legislation and lists of alien
2.14
species be drawn up, laying down rules for importing, trading
in and keeping such species, to ensure that European action is
coordinated and concerted; also underlines the necessity to
examine,
impact assess-
ments, the impact of projects which introduce or work with
potentially invasive alien species;

in the framework of environmental

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points out that conserving biodiversity, and especially
2.15
flora and fauna species, should not prevent their use and exploi-
tation, provided that this is duly regulated, monitored and done
in a sustainable way;

2.16
recommends strict application of
principle for the admission and introduction of GMOs;

the precautionary

3. The EU and global biodiversity

5. The knowledge basis

5.1
points out the need for greater knowledge of the conser-
vation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Europe and
throughout the world, and the accessibility of such knowledge.
This also includes the exchange of best practice between the
Member States and regions (see appendix); the interoperability
of biodiversity data at different levels must consequently be
improved, taking account in particular of regional and local data
and making use of GIS (Geographical Information System) tools
and Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI);

3.1
notes that the decisions taken at the 8th Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diver-
sity (CBD) held in Curitiba, Brazil, in March 2006 constitute an
important step forward; and aware that the 9th Conference of
Parties will be held in Bonn in early 2008 under German chair-
manship, urges the EU and its Member States to use this event
to present an assessment of
the Commission Biodiversity
Communication and also to prepare for an event with stronger
inter alia via the
regional and local authority involvement,
respective national associations;

5.2
stresses that knowledge of biodiversity in the marine
environment is particularly inadequate and recommends that
this be developed;

adds that,

5.3
in addition to the scientific knowledge
mentioned by the Commission, more attention should be paid
to the knowledge and experience of local residents and recom-
mends that the volunteers' knowledge be pooled with that of
scientists; urges that children be involved;

3.2 welcomes the good example set by regions which, in
the context of development aid, share their experience of biodi-
their
versity issues with their partner regions and support
partner
(see
to promote biodiversity
appendix);

regions' measures

recommends defining communication strategies,

5.4
in
order to raise awareness and to develop the sense of responsi-
bility at all
levels and in all spheres that society as a whole
should feel for protecting and conserving biodiversity and also
to enhance exchanges of
information between the scientific
community and administrations;

3.3
notes the responsibility of the European Union for biodi-
versity preservation worldwide; is aware of this fact and recom-
mends that greater account be taken of this in trade and devel-
opment policy;

4. Biodiversity and climate change

4.1
realises that biodiversity preservation policy can only be
successful if ambitious policies are put in place on a global scale
to halt climate change; considers it essential that Member States
which are not yet meeting their obligations under the Kyoto
protocol should catch up; calls for the conclusion of an ambi-
tious global climate change convention including all major
industrial countries and sectors;

recommends that regional research be carried out on

4.2
the effects of climate change;

4.3
adds that, although the development of policies on bio-
fuel can be important in combating climate change, this will
only be effective if it goes hand in hand with measures for
substantial reductions in total fuel use, and provided that only
raw materials, technologies and crops are used which do not
have a negative impact on biodiversity both nationally and inter-
nationally, and that does not result in farming expanding into
biologically valuable ecosystems;

6. The four key supporting measures

Ensur ing adequate finan cing

6.1
notes that little money is likely to be available for biodi-
versity via LIFE+ and the research budget and that, furthermore,
there is a danger that the Member States will not give sufficient
consideration to the importance of biodiversity in the current
Structural Funds;

notes a divergence between the considerable ambitions
the Communication and the resources made available to

6.2
of
achieve these goals;

Strengthening EU policy-making

endorses the ideas being put

6.3
forward to strengthen
biodiversity in European decision-making; recommends the
obligatory integration of biodiversity into other fields of policy;
supports the idea put forward in the Action Plan of involving
the regions as well as the Member States;

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Building par tnerships

7. Monitoring, evaluation and review

6.4
trusts that the formation of partnerships will be encour-
aged in the EU. The regions are extremely well equipped to take
on a facilitating role; points to successful cooperation in the
context of EU programmes and its results (appendix);

6.5
underlines the need to involve private land-owners, in
order to ensure that biodiversity is preserved, by means of
instruments such as cooperation agreements;

Foster ing greater public awareness and par ticipation

6.6
emphasises the importance of greater public involve-
ment. If ordinary people do not appreciate the importance of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, projects will have less
chance of success; recommends that European and national
money be made available for Community projects;

recommends the development,

in close cooperation
6.7
with the Countdown 2010 initiative and the Beautiful Europe
initiative, of a communications strategy involving Member
States, NGOs, and regional and local authorities with the aim of
promoting the 2010 goals;

Brussels, 6 December 2006.

7.1
supports the cooperation between the Member States
and the private sector and emphasises that citizens and volun-
teers are heavily involved throughout Europe in monitoring
biodiversity;

7.2
calls for Member States to be encouraged to present the
results of their policies in a way that ordinary people can recog-
nise and relate to, and which highlights the regional dimension;

points out that regional monitoring must form a basis
7.3
for national and international monitoring and evaluation. To
this end, effective monitoring systems based on indicators and
periodical reports have to be put in place.

8. Vision

8.1 welcomes the proposal for an EU-wide vision of the
future of European biodiversity and underlines the great impor-
tance of involving the regions;

8.2
calls for a renewed vision for the approach to biodiver-
sity going beyond 2010, with the emphasis on the positive
contribution of ecosystem services related to the environment
(landscape).

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE