REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT THE 2010 ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTING THE EU BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
Date: 2010-10-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, biodiversity, climate change, deforestation, degradation of the environment, ecosystem, environmental impact, environmental protection, forest conservation, sustainable development

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 8.10.2010 
COM(2010) 548 final 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

THE 2010 ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTING THE EU BIODIVERSITY ACTION 
PLAN 

SEC(2010) 1163 
 SEC(2010) 1164 
 SEC(2010) 1165 

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REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

THE 2010 ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTING THE EU BIODIVERSITY ACTION 
PLAN 

INTRODUCTION 

The  2006  Communication  Halting  Biodiversity  Loss  by  2010  –  and  Beyond:  Sustaining 
ecosystem  services  for  human  well-being1  underlined  the  importance  of  biodiversity 
protection as a pre-requisite for sustainable development, and set out a detailed Biodiversity 
Action  Plan  (BAP)  to  achieve  this.  It  also  included  a  commitment  from  the  Commission  to 
periodically  report  to  the  Council  and  the  Parliament  on  the  progress  achieved  in 
implementation. 

The 2008 mid-term assessment of the BAP2 outlined the most important activities undertaken 
by  the  Commission  and  the  Member  States  since  2006.  It  revealed  that  the  EU  was  highly 
unlikely to meet its 2010 target of halting biodiversity decline. 

Since  2008,  biodiversity  has  remained  high  on  the political  agenda,  at  EU  and  global  level. 
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. Biodiversity will be debated for the first time 
ever  at  Head  of  State  and  Government  level  in  the  United  Nations  General  Assembly  in 
September, prior to the 10th Conference of the  Parties  of the  United  Nations  Convention  on 
Biological Diversity (UN CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, in October.  

In January 2010, the European Commission adopted a Communication on Options for an EU 
vision and target for biodiversity beyond 20103. This provided an assessment of achievements 
and  shortcomings  of  the  current  policy.  In  its  March  2010  conclusions,  the  Environment 
Council  agreed  a  new  long-term  vision  and  mid-term  headline  target  for  biodiversity  in  the 
EU  for  the  period  beyond  2010.  The  new  target  commits  the  EU  to  "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".  

EU  heads  of  state  and  government  subsequently  committed  to  the  EU  post-2010  vision  and 
target for biodiversity at the 2010 Spring European Council4. Finally, the EU2020 Strategy5 
endorsed by the European Council in June 2010 underscored the importance of achieving the 
biodiversity targets, in particular through the development of a resource efficiency initiative.  

This 2010 BAP assessment highlights key actions taken since the mid-term assessment. The 
assessment summarises the current state of progress for each of the four main policy areas, the 
10 objectives and the four supporting measures set out in the 2006 BAP. While the focus of 

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the  present  report  is  mainly  on  progress  at  EU  level,  accompanying  documents  and  the  27 
country profiles6 provide a detailed account of developments including national level. 

Building  on  the  progress  reflected  in  this  report,  the  Commission  is  currently  developing  a 
post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy, aimed at reaching the 2020 EU biodiversity target.  

STATUS AND TRENDS IN BIODIVERSITY 

The EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) 
in June 20107 highlights that EU biodiversity is under serious pressure and faces grave risks. 
The focus of the Baseline is on the status of biodiversity as compared to measures undertaken, 
as inventoried in this Report.  

It is clear from the Baseline that the target of halting the biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010 
has been missed. In addition, Europe's ecosystem services are judged to be of mixed status or 
degraded — i.e. no longer able to deliver the optimal quality and  quantity  of basic services 
such as crop pollination, clean air and water8. 

The global situation is even more alarming as pressures on biodiversity continue to intensify, 
as shown by the 3rd Global Biodiversity Outlook published in May 20109. The international 
community  has  failed  to  achieve  the  target  under  the  UN  CBD  of  significantly  reducing 
biodiversity  loss  worldwide  by  2010.  Europe  holds  a  share  of  responsibility  for  this  failure. 
Over the last 40 years, Europe's Ecological Footprint,  which  compares  human  demand  with 
the planet's ecological capacity, increased by 33%10. 

SUMMARY OF PROGRESS SINCE THE MID-TERM ASSESSMENT 

A. 

POLICY AREA 1: BIODIVERSITY IN THE EU 

Objectives 

1. 

To safeguard the EU's most important habitats and species. 

The  Birds  and  Habitats  Directives  provide  the  legal  basis  for  the  Natura  2000  network  of 
protected  areas.  There  has  been  a  significant  improvement  towards  the  completion  of  the 
Natura 2000 network, in particular in the marine environment. However, the establishment of 
marine sites is still insufficient, although in the Baltic Sea it has more than doubled. 

The Natura 2000 network is now comprised of about 26 000 sites and covers nearly 18% of 
the  EU  terrestrial  environment.  However,  most  of  the  sites  of  community  importance  have 
still to be formally designated as special areas of conservation by the Member States. 

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Web: http://biodiversity.europa.eu/countries_and_networks 
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eu-2010-biodiversity-baseline/ 
http://www.rubicode.net 
http://gbo3.cbd.int/ 
Global Footprint Network 2010 

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Areas designated under Natura 2000

729429

754.710

119.984

167.561

2008

2009

800000

700000

600000

500000

400000

300000

200000

100000

0

Natura 2000 Terrestrial area
(km²)     

Natura 2000  Marine area (km²)

The  focus  is  increasingly  shifting  towards  the  effective  management  and  restoration  of  the 
Natura  2000  network  to  achieve  a  measurable  improvement  in  the  conservation  status  of 
species and habitats of EU conservation concern.  

Other highlights  

•  Environmental  Assessment.  Adoption  of  two  Commission  reports  in  2009  on  the 
application and effectiveness of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive and 
the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive. 

•  Biodiversity  in Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). 
Development  by  the  Commission  and  certain  Member  States  of  a  voluntary  nature 
protection  scheme  (BEST)  for  Outermost  Regions  and  OCTs,  among  the  richest 
biodiversity hot-spots on the planet, where EU nature legislation does not apply. 

2. 

To  conserve  and  restore  biodiversity  and  ecosystem  services  in  the  wider 
EU countryside. 

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the policy tool having the most significant impacts 
on biodiversity in rural areas. It went through a policy "Health Check" in 2009. As part of this 
exercise, the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) of Cross-Compliance 
were amended.  

One  of  the  setbacks  as  regards  biodiversity  was  the  abolition  of  compulsory  set-aside. 
Introduced  in  the  CAP  in  1988  and  made  compulsory  in  1992,  set-aside  had  provided 
significant benefits for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. 

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However,  other  important,  positive  changes  for  biodiversity  were  introduced  in  the  "Health 
Check", such as: 

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– 

– 

– 

The identification of biodiversity as one of the five new challenges of the CAP  

The  introduction  of  a  new  optional  GAEC  standard  on  the  establishment  and/or 
retention of habitats 

The introduction of a new compulsory standard on the establishment of buffer strips 
along watercourses 

An  increased  transfer  of  money  from  the  first  to  the  second  Pillar  of  the  CAP  (via 
"modulation"), thus making additional funding available for biodiversity 

New directives on vegetable landraces and varieties which are threatened by genetic erosion 
and that are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions11 were adopted. 

Other highlights  

•  Energy. Progress towards the adoption of sustainability criteria for liquid biofuels and for 
the  implementation  of  the  Renewable  Energy  Directive12,  with  a  view  to  preventing 
negative impacts on EU and global biodiversity. 

•  Water.  Between  December  2009  and  March  2010,  adoption  and  submission  to  the 
Commission by Member States of the River Basin Management plans pursuant to Article 
13 of the Water Framework Directive13. The Commission is in the process of carrying out 
the  full  assessment  of  the  Plans.  These  should  aim  at  complying  with  the  obligation  to 
achieve good ecological status of waters by 2015. 

•  Forest.  Adoption  of  a  Commission  Forest  Green  Paper  in  2010,  launching  a  debate  on 
options  for  an  EU  approach  to  forest  protection  and  information  under  a  changing 
climate14. 

•  Soils.  The  EU  has  not  yet  been  able  to  agree  and  adopt  a  Framework  Directive  on  the 
protection of soil, which would address the main threats to soil and would have a crucial 
impact on protecting soil biodiversity, thus contributing to halting biodiversity loss. 

3. 

To  conserve  and  restore  biodiversity  and  ecosystem  services  in  the  wider 
EU marine environment. 

The  Commission  is  to  adopt  a  Decision  on  criteria  and  methodological  standards  on  good 
environmental  status  of  marine  waters,  which  constitutes  a  key  step  in  the  process  of 
implementation  of  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive,  of  which  one  of  its  ultimate 

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Directives 2008/62/EC and 2009/145/EC 
Directive 2009/28/EC 
Directive 2000/60/EC 
COM(2010) 66 final 

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aims  is  to  maintain  marine  biodiversity.  To  ensure  delivery,  the  implementation  of  this 
directive is being ensured through a common strategy of Member States and the Commission, 
addressing inter alia data handling and monitoring activities. 

On  fisheries,  the  Commission  adopted  in  2009  a  Green  Paper  on  the  Common  Fisheries 
Policy  (CFP)  reform15  recognising  the  failures  of  implementation  that  have  led  to  88%  of 
Community stocks being fished beyond Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and 46% outside 
safe  biological  limits,  meaning  that  stocks  may  not  recover.  This  conclusion  was  drawn 
despite  the  previous  reform  of  the  CFP  in  2002  which  had  introduced  a  number  of  positive 
innovations  –  in  particular  the  ecosystem-based,  long-term  approach  to  the  management  of 
stocks. The Green Paper was the first step towards the full reform of the CFP to be finalised 
by  2012.  The  achievement  of  the  EU  commitment  at  the  World  Summit  on  Sustainable 
Development in Johannesburg in 2002 to achieving MSY for depleted stocks by 2015 will be 
an important consideration in this respect. 

Other highlights 

•  Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP). The Commission Progress Report on the EU's IMP16 
consolidated  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  as  its  environmental  pillar.  The 
Directive  designs  a  platform  for  the  successful  development  of  all  maritime  activities, 
paying due attention to their cumulative impacts.  

4. 

To  reinforce  the  compatibility  of  regional  and  territorial  development  with 
biodiversity in the EU. 

The  2007-2013  programming  period  of  the  Cohesion  Policy  addresses  both  directly  and 
indirectly  the  preservation  of  biodiversity.  Member  States  have  allocated  a  total  of  about 
EUR 2.7  billion  to  the  “Promotion  of  biodiversity  and  nature  protection  (including  Natura 
2000)”.  In  the  framework  of  tourism  a  further  EUR  1.1  billion  has  been  allocated  to  the 
"promotion  of  natural  assets"  and  EUR  1.4  billion  for  the  "protection  and  development  of 
natural heritage", both including projects for nature and biodiversity. Altogether, this indicates 
that  approximately  1.5%  of  the  total  2007-2013  Cohesion  Policy  funding  is  directly 
contributing to biodiversity policy. 

In addition other significant investments into the environment have the potential to contribute 
to nature and biodiversity, for instance waste water treatment and natural risk prevention, as 
well  as  within  the  framework  of  cross-border  and  interregional  cooperation17  including  in 
Outermost Regions.  

All but two Member States have allocated some funding for nature and biodiversity, although 
as a proportion of the overall allocations this varies between countries. Seven Member States 
intend to use more than 2% of their allocated funds for biodiversity-related categories. 

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Additionally, the 2010 Strategic Report18 revealed that several Member State face difficulties 
in using the funds allocated to nature and biodiversity protection. 

Other highlight 

•  Green Infrastructure. The development of and investment in ‘Green Infrastructure’19 has 
been  highlighted  by  the  Commission  and  the  Council.  The  Commission  is  supporting 
exchanges  of  best  practice  as  a  basis  for  an  EU  strategy  on  green  infrastructure  to  be 
developed after 201020.  

5. 

To substantially reduce the impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien species 
and alien genotypes. 

The  2008  Communication  Towards  an  EU  Strategy  on  Invasive  Species21  has  triggered  a 
debate among stakeholders and European institutions. In June 2009, the Environment Council 
called for an effective Strategy which should fill the existing gaps at EU level, considering all 
policy  options.  The  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the 
Regions called specifically for legislation. The Commission is working on an EU Strategy on 
Invasive Species.  

B. 

POLICY AREA 2: THE EU AND GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY 

Objectives 

6. 

To  substantially  strengthen  the  effectiveness  of  international  governance  for 
biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

Since  the  Ninth  Conference  of  the  Parties  (CoP)  of  the  UN  CBD  (COP9)  in  2008,  the 
Commission  has  focused  efforts  on  ensuring  delivery  on  commitments  made  –  from  forest 
biodiversity  and  protected  areas  to  marine  protected  areas  -  as  well  as  on  preparing  for  the 
Tenth CoP (CoP10) in October 2010 to ensure a successful outcome. The three key issues on 
the agenda of CoP10 – reaching agreement on an updated and revised Strategic Plan of the 
Convention  for  2011-2020,  on  a  Protocol  on  access  to  genetic  resources  and  the  fair  and 
equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their utilization (ABS), and a financing target for 
global  biodiversity  –  will  have  a  crucial  bearing  on  the  international  community's  ability  to 
address the biodiversity challenge.  

In spite of continued intensive efforts from the EU to strengthen international commitments to 
biodiversity, the global target to significantly reduce rate of biodiversity loss globally by 2010 
has not been reached22, as evidenced by the new Millennium Development Goals Report and 

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COM(2010) 110 and SEC(2010) 360 final 
‘Green  infrastructure’  is  an  interconnected  network  of  natural  areas,  including  agricultural  land, 
greenways,  wetlands,  parks,  forest  reserves,  native  plant  communities  and  marine  areas  that  naturally 
regulate storm flows, temperatures, flood risk and water, air and ecosystem quality. 
COM(2010) 4 final 
COM(2008) 789 final 
GBO3 

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Third  Global  Biodiversity  Outlook  (GBO3),  released  in  2010,  and  published  with  the 
contribution of the global Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) supported by the EC.  

Other highlights  

•  G8. In April 2009, under the Italian Presidency of the G8 and strong leadership from EU 
Members of the G8 and the Commission, the ambitious “Siracusa Carta” on Biodiversity, 
which  sets  out  priority  actions  at  global  level,  was  adopted.  The  G8  l'Aquila  Summit 
statement also commits G8 members to, inter alia, "strengthen and broaden international, 
regional, national and local activities to conserve biodiversity". 

•  EU Council conclusions on global biodiversity. In December 2009, Council Conclusions 
on  international  biodiversity  beyond  2010  were  adopted,  highlighting  –  inter  alia  –  the 
climate  change-biodiversity  link  and  "recommending  the  development  and  use  of 
ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation".  

•  Environment  and  Natural  Resources  Thematic  Programme  (ENRTP).  The  2010  EC 
Annual  Action  Programme  foresees  EUR  1  million  to  support  the  Secretariat  of  the  UN 
CBD in implementing CBD COP 10 decisions and a further EUR 1 million to support the 
implementation of the CBD Work Programme on Protected Areas with a focus on marine 
protected areas.  

•  The  Intra  ACP  10th  EDF:  The  2010  EC  Annual  Action  Programme  foresees  EUR  20 
million  to  improve  the  long-term  conservation  and  sustainable  use  of  biodiversity  in 
Africa, Caribbean and Pacific regions and reduce the poverty of populations surrounding 
Protected Areas (PAs). 

7. 

To  substantially  strengthen  support  for  biodiversity  and  ecosystem  services  in 
EU external assistance. 

The 2008 BAP assessment indicated that average annual external assistance of EU Member 
States  for  biodiversity  amounted  to  about  EUR  740  million  in  the  period  2003-2006, 
representing  48%  of  all  biodiversity-related  development  assistance.  This  figure  is  being 
updated for the 2007-2009 period. The Commission will update its own contribution ahead of 
CoP10.  

In the portfolio of external actions managed by the European Commission, for 2007-2009 the 
total commitments for biodiversity related activities were approximately EUR 325 million. 

Other highlights 

•  Global  Environment  Facility  (GEF).  There  has  been  a  34%  increase  of  the  overall 
envelope  for  the  4th  replenishment  of  the  GEF  in  spring  2010.  This  has  translated  into  a 
28%  increase  of  the  biodiversity  envelope.  This  owes  much  to  additional  efforts  from  a 
number of EU Member States. 

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•  Environmental  Impact  Assessment.  A  recent  review  of  environmental  assessment 
regimes  of  bilateral  and  multilateral  development  agencies,23  showed  that  while  all  the 
development  agencies  of  the  EU  Member  States  that  were  analysed  considered 
environmental assessment in their procedures to a certain extent, their application methods 
and stringency differed from country to country. 

•  ENRTP.  The  mid-term  review  of  ENRTP  concluded  that  the  programme  was  highly 
relevant  to  its  objectives,  which  include  the  protection  of  biodiversity.  The  review  also 
called for better integration of the work achieved under the ENRTP in the main geographic 
programmes. The second phase of the ENRTP will run from 2011 to 2013 and an increase 
in funding for biodiversity is proposed. 

•  Biodiversity  training  of  EU  staff.  Training  for  EU  delegation  staff  and  headquarters 
country  desks  has  been  initiated  to  contribute  to  intensifying  outreach  activities  on 
biodiversity with third countries. 

8. 

To substantially reduce the impact of international trade on global biodiversity 
and ecosystem services. 

Illegal  trade  of  endangered  species  is  a  major  pressure  on  biodiversity.  The  EU  plays  a 
leading  role  within  the  Convention  on  International  Trade  in  Endangered  Species  (CITES) 
and supported the adoption of important decisions at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the 
Convention  in  Doha  in  March  2010.  However,  the  Parties  failed  in  relation  to  the 
conservation of marine species – including on the emblematic case of blue fin tuna.  

The  EU  has  remained  fully  engaged  in  the  process  of  the  negotiations  on  the  international 
regime on Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources (ABS) with a view to its adoption 
by CBD CoP10 in October 2010. 

Other highlights  

•  Forest  Law  Enforcement,  Governance  and  Trade  (FLEGT).  The  first  Voluntary 
Partnership Agreement (VPA) was ratified with Ghana in November 2009. Negotiations on 
FLEGT  VPAs  are  ongoing  with  Malaysia,  Indonesia,  Liberia  and  the  Central  African 
Republic. Agreements are being finalised with Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville.  

•  Illegal logging. The Regulation laying down the obligations of operators who place timber 
and timber product on the Market, aiming at eliminating illegal timber in the EU market, 
was endorsed by the European Parliament in July 2010 and is expected to be adopted by 
the end of 2010. 

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Environmental Assessment Summary Sheets: Bilateral and Multilateral Development Agencies, 
Canadian International Development Agency on behalf of the DAC Working Party on Environmental 
and Development Assistance http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/acdi-cida.nsf/en/REN-218131217-
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•  Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs). Ensuring that recommendations made in SIAs 

of trade agreements are acted upon has remained a priority. 

C. 

POLICY AREA 3: BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 

Objective 

9. 

To support biodiversity adaptation to climate change. 

The  EU  has  continued  to  highlight  the  important  inter-linkages  between  biodiversity  and 
climate  change,  and  this  is  increasingly  being  reflected  in  policy  development.  Council 
Conclusions from December 2009 and March 2010 explicitly recognised the fact that, when it 
comes to helping countries adapt to climate change, biodiversity provides many of the same 
services as man-made technological solutions, often at significantly lower cost. Protecting and 
restoring biodiversity therefore provide some cost-effective opportunities for climate change 
mitigation  or  adaptation.  The  December  2009  Conclusions  include  a  recommendation  that 
ecosystem-based  approaches  for  the  mitigation  of  and  adaptation  to  climate  change  be 
developed and used. 

Other highlights 

•  White  Paper  on  Adaptation  to  Climate  Change24.  Adopted  in  2009,  the  White  Paper 
emphasises  the  importance  of  maintaining  and  restoring  ecosystem  integrity  and  the 
development of a "green infrastructure". 

•  Copenhagen  Accord.  Further  to  the  Copenhagen  Accord  under  the  UN  Framework 
Convention  on  Climate  Change  (UNFCCC)  in  December  2009,  and  in  particular 
provisions  on  financial  assistance  from  industrialised  countries,  the  Commission  is 
exploring options to enhance biodiversity co-benefits. 

•  Reducing  Emissions  from  Deforestation  and  Forest  Degradation  (REDD).  Based  on 
the  Communication  on  deforestation  from  2008,  the  EU  calls  for  halting  global  forest 
cover loss by 2030 at the latest and reducing gross tropical deforestation by at least 50% by 
2020  from  current  levels.  The  key  tool  to  deliver  on  this  objective,  which  would  entail 
major  climate/biodiversity  co-benefits,  is  REDD.  Achieving  an  agreement  on  REDD  by 
the UNFCCC CoP in December 2010 in Cancún is a core EU objective. 

•  The  European  Commission's  Global  Climate  Change  Alliance  (GCCA)  is  providing 
support inter alia for adaptation measures in Least Developed Countries and Small Island 
Developing  States.  Several  projects  are  focused  on  ecosystem-based  approaches  such  as 
wetland and coastal ecosystem restoration. 

D. 

POLICY AREA 4: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE 

Objective 

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10. 

To  substantially  strengthen  the  knowledge  base  for  conservation  and 
sustainable use of biodiversity, in the EU and globally. 

Considerable progress has been achieved over the past two years in enhancing the knowledge 
base  on  biodiversity  and  ecosystem  services,  both  in  the  EU  and,  more  recently,  at  global 
level. 

Other highlights  

•  EU  Biodiversity  Baseline.  In  June  2010,  the  EEA  presented  the  EU  2010  Biodiversity 
Baseline and related indicators (SEBI) on the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services 
within the EU and at global level.  

•  Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE). In June 2010, the Commission and 
the EEA launched BISE. This constitutes the first web portal as a single entry point for all 
data and information on biodiversity in the EU. 

•  Framework  Programmes  and  the  European  Research  Area:  new  knowledge, 
understanding  and  capacity  to  inform  policy  and  management  have  been  developed  in 
innovative research work on soil, marine, terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity.  

•  IPBES. At global level, the international community came to an agreement in June 2010 to 
establish  an  Intergovernmental  Science-Policy  Platform  on  Biodiversity  and  Ecosystem 
Services  (IPBES)  to  replicate  the  success  of  the  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate 
Change (IPCC). The EU had been the initiator and main proponent of the establishment of 
IPBES. 

•  TEEB.  As  part  of  the  Potsdam  initiative  agreed  by  the  G8  in  2007,  the  study  on  The 
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) was launched with a view to making 
the  economic  case  for  biodiversity  protection.  The  Commission  has  been  a  core  TEEB 
funder from the outset. Many further TEEB deliverables have been published since 2008 – 
including in particular TEEB for Decision Makers and TEEB for Businesses respectively 
in 2009 and 2010. The finalisation of all TEEB reports is planned for October 201025. 

E. 

1. 

THE FOUR KEY SUPPORTING MEASURES 

Ensuring adequate financing. 

The  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (especially  under  Axis  2)  remains 
the most important Community funding source for  Natura 2000  and biodiversity  in the EU. 
Additionally, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Fisheries Fund are 
significant source of Community funding. Establishing an agreed methodology to determine 
how  much  Community  funding  has  been  used  by  the  Member  States  for  nature  and 
biodiversity remains a problem, making it difficult to obtain fully reliable figures, and needs 
to be addressed.  

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Only  20%  of  the  total  financing  needs  for  managing  protected  areas  including  the  Natura 
2000  network  in  Europe  are  being  met26.  In  2004,  it  was  estimated  that  the  management  of 
Natura  2000  would  require  an  investment  of  €  6.1  billion  annually  for  the  EU-25 27.  An 
updated  assessment  based  on  information  provided  by  Member  States  broadly  supports  this 
earlier estimate. The EC has therefore engaged in an exercise with Member States to assess 
the  economic  and  social  benefits,  as  well  as  the  current  spending  and  the  actual  need  to 
finance Natura 2000. For that purpose, an Information Technology Tool has been developed. 

Estimates for broader biodiversity needs – beyond Natura 2000 – are being developed as part 
of the 2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy.  

Other highlights  

•  Natura  2000  –  Site  Management  Plans.  The  insufficient  development  of  such  tools 
continues to be a limitation to ensuring adequate financing of the Natura 2000 network.  

•  LIFE+. The dedicated funding to nature and biodiversity from LIFE+ is of a smaller scale 
than  other  EU  funding  streams,  but  the  approximately  €  836  million  that  is  to  be  spent 
between 2007-2013 are directly aimed at benefiting nature and biodiversity. 

2. 

Strengthening EU decision–making and implementation. 

Implementation  gaps  were  previously  identified  by  the  Commission  as  one  of  the  likely 
causes of the failure of the EU to reach its 2010 biodiversity target. The Commission has been 
actively addressing key implementation gaps.  

Other highlights  

•  Environmental  law.  In  2008,  a  Communication  on  implementing  European  Community 
Environmental  Law28  was  adopted  with  the  aim  of  showing  how  EU  environmental  law 
could be better implemented through a diverse combination of innovative tools. 

•  European Network of Environmental Authorities (ENEA). In 2009, ENEA (set up by 
the Commission and consisting of Members States’ experts dealing with Structural Funds 
programmes) established a dedicated working group for biodiversity. 

•  BAP reporting. Despite the non-binding nature of the BAP and the voluntary character of 
the  reporting  requirements  therein,  Member  States  have  made  a  considerable  effort  to 
provide the Commission with comprehensive and updated information.  

26 
27 
28 

TEEB 2009. 
COM(2004) 431 
COM(2008) 2876 

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3. 

Building partnerships. 

Establishing  partnerships  with  Member  States,  other  institutions  and  stakeholders  has  been 
highlighted  recurrently  at  national  and  EU  level  as  one  of  the  requirements  for  successful 
biodiversity policy. 

Other highlights 

•  EU  Business  &  Biodiversity  Platform.  The  Commission  launched  the  Platform  in  June 
2010  to  help  businesses  identify  business  risks  and  opportunities  linked  to  biodiversity. 
The aim is now to build synergies with similar initiatives at national level.  

•  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB)  Group.  In  2010,  the  Commission  has  engaged  in 
establishing  a  partnership  with  the  EIB  Group  towards  the  development  of  innovative 
financial instruments for biodiversity.  

4. 

Building public education, awareness and participation. 

The EU has continued its efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity 
and make the case for biodiversity conservation. 

Other highlights  

•  Eurobarometer.  The  Commission  carried  out  a  Eurobarometer  opinion  poll  on 
biodiversity in 201029. Two thirds of EU citizens were familiar with the term biodiversity. 
However, only 38% said they knew the meaning of the term and 8 out of 10 respondents had 
never heard about Natura 2000.  

•  EU  Biodiversity  Campaign.  A  major  campaign  was  launched  in  January  201030  to 

harness public support for action to halt biodiversity loss.  

•  Green  Week.  Green  Week  2010  was  entirely  devoted  to  biodiversity  with  a  view  to 

further sensitising and involving stakeholders. 

F. 

MONITORING  

In addition to the major developments highlighted above (EU Biodiversity Baseline, BISE), 
research and monitoring efforts have been intensified in order to fill key knowledge gaps and 
unknown parameters on the state of biodiversity. 

29 
30 

Flash Eurobarometer Series No. 290 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_290_en.pdf 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/campaign/index.htm  

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Other highlights  

•  Knowledge gap analysis. The EEA is about to publish such an analysis, in particular as 

regards indicators for ecosystems and ecosystem services. 

•  Biosoil.  In  2009,  the  EU  completed  this  demonstration  project  to  monitor  forest  soil 

biodiversity, co-funded under the Forest Focus Regulation31.  

•  Natura  2000  viewer.  In  2010,  the  EC  launched  an  interactive  tool  enabling  people  to 

locate Natura 2000 sites and access related information: the Natura 2000 viewer. 

•  Global  Monitoring  for  Environment  and  Security  (GMES).  The  initiative  with  its 
Initial  Operation  starting  in  2011  will  provide  earth  observation  data  and  derived 
information products to support the monitoring of both marine and terrestrial environment. 

CONCLUSIONS 

Despite important progress in delivery of the BAP, the overall goal of halting biodiversity loss 
in the EU by the end 2010 has not been achieved, nor has the global target. 

While still insufficient, significant progress has been made over the last two years on:  

– 

– 

– 

the further selection and more effective protection of Natura 2000 sites; 

improving the knowledge base; 

establishing  further 
emphasising co-benefits as a result of integrated approaches. 

linkages  between  biodiversity  and  climate  change  and 

The  findings  of  this  report  also  confirm  the  failures  identified  in  the  Commission 
Communication on Options for a post 2010 policy32. More progress needs to be made on:  

– 

– 

– 

the integration of biodiversity considerations into other sectoral policies;  

making available the necessary funding;  

filling existing policy gaps. 

The Commission is working on the future EU biodiversity policy framework. The findings of 
this  2010  BAP  assessment  will  provide  valuable  input  to  this  work.  Action  and 
implementation continue to be needed at multiple levels: international, EU, national and sub-
national.  The  approach  taken  in  the  EU  BAP  to  share  responsibility  for  implementation 
between  all  sectors  and  establish  partnerships  with  Member  States  remains  fully  relevant. 
What is also clear is that the shortcomings of BAP implementation to date and its failure to 

31 

32 

Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 
concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community (Forest Focus).  
COM(2010) 4 

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achieve  the  2010  biodiversity  target  will  need  to  be  reflected  upon,  to  ensure  successful 
delivery of the 2020 target at EU and global levels. 

EN 

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