Environment for Europeans. 44, August 2011.
Date: 2012-01-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: EU environmental policy, environmental protection, serial publication

AUGUST 2011  | No 44

Magazine of the Directorate-General for the Environment

Natura 2000 – 
for nature 
and people

EN_brochure.pdf   1

17/08/11   15:24

Environment for Europeans 
ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm

EDITORIAL INFORMATION
Environment for Europeans is a quarterly magazine 
published by the Directorate-General for Environment  
of the European Commission. It is available in Bulgarian, 
Spanish, Czech, German, Estonian, Greek, English, French, 
Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Romanian. 
Subscription is free. 
You can subscribe using the form inside the magazine or 
online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ 
mailingregistration/main/mailing_reg.cfm
Editor-in-chief: Róbert Konrád
Co-ordinator: Jonathan Murphy
For more information, please contact 
the Communication Unit:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/env-informa/
Information and documents:  
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/env-informa/
Environment for Europeans website:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm

Contents

03   Natura 2000: future financing challenges

07   Moving towards a water-efficient economy

08   European Green Capital Award enters new phase

09   Demonstrating the benefits of eco-innovation

10   Fresh global push to tackle desertification

12   Europe’s bathing waters pass standards test

14   Improving flyways for endangered geese

15   New publications / Agenda

16  In brief

2 

Editorial
Greening European Union expenditure

This autumn, negotiations will open on the European Union’s 
spending priorities between 2014 and 2020. Given the fragile 
economic situation and the pressure to cut national expenditure, 
the talks will be far from easy. Hard choices will have to be made. 

But the negotiations offer a unique opportunity to mainstream 
environmental considerations into the EU’s central areas of 
expenditure: agriculture, regional cohesion, research, and 
development aid. Funding from these sources could be used to 
encourage and reward good environmental behaviour, such as 
greater resource efficiency, as part of the mix of activities being 
financially supported.

This would be entirely consistent with the Union’s overall 2020 
priorities of focusing on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 
EU financial support towards public and private expenditure 
would also reflect the cross-border benefits of healthy ecosys-
tems, river basins and air quality.

 A sustainable environment requires investment. Member States 
estimate that managing the existing network of Natura 2000 pro-
tected sites in the EU requires EUR 5.8 billion a year. Other costs 
are involved in rural land management, waste and water policies 
and meeting the EU’s various international commitments. 

Any failure to maintain or raise the standards we have already set 
could result in even higher costs through irreplaceable loss of bio-
diversity and damage to the environment, ultimately threatening 
the livelihood of many local communities both here and in devel-
oping countries.  

Alongside a determined move to integrate environmental 
expenditure into the EU’s other policy areas, the Environment 
Directorate-General is making the case for a specific successor 
to the successful LIFE + funding programme from 2014. 
Thought is also being given to innovative financing instruments 
such as public-private partnerships which are already used in 
water and waste programmes.

ENVIRONMENT ONLINE
Do you want to know what the European Union is doing to protect the environment, 
what an integrated policy product is or how to qualify for an ‘Ecolabel’?
Find out all this and more at DG Environment’s website:
ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm

NOTICE
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on its behalf may be 
held responsible for the use to which information in this publication may be put,  
or for any errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear.

Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded 
the EU Ecolabel for graphic paper
(ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel)

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2011
ISSN 1563-4183
ISBN 978-92-79-18519-9
doi:10.2779/85067
© European Union, 2011
© Illustrations: Laurent Durieux
Reproduction of the text is permitted provided the source is acknowledged. 
Reproduction of the photographs is prohibited.
Printed in Belgium

EN_brochure.pdf   2

17/08/11   15:24

E NN VV I RR OOO NNN MMM E N T AAA LLL   LL I AA BBB I LLL I TT YY

3 

(cid:2)

Natura 2000: 
future financing 
challenges

Natura 2000 is undoubtedly one of the 
European Union’s most successful envi-
ronmental policies. It has spawned the 
largest coordinated network of pro-
tected areas in the world and is a key 
element in ensuring the health of biodi-
versity and our ecosystem services. 
These vital contributions, which in 
many cases are literally priceless, do not 
come free. As the European Union plans 
its post-2013 budgetary priorities, it is 
essential sufficient financing is available 
to safeguard and extend the progress 
already made. EU governments esti-
mate this at EUR 5.8 billion per year.

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   3

17/08/11   15:24

 
4 

NNN AAAA TTT UUU RRR AA   2222 000 000 000

The Union is committed to halting and 
reversing the loss of biodiversity by 2020. 
Earlier this year, the Commission presented 
its strategy for reaching this ambitious goal. 
Full implementation of existing nature pro-
tection legislation is one of the six targets 
that respond to the objectives. 

guarantee they would be replaced. The envi-
ronmental damage would inevitably lead to 
economic and social hardship for the many 
communities, including farmers, foresters 
and fishers, whose livelihoods depend on 
the health and bounty of the resources 
around them. 

Safeguarding the areas of high biodiversity 
value, the Natura 2000 network is the cor-
nerstone of the EU’s biodiversity policy and 
is a very practical demonstration of efforts to 
conserve Europe’s wild heritage of habitats 
and species.

The network has a strong track record. It 
now contains 26 000 protected sites across 
Europe, representing almost 18 % of the EU’s 
land mass, and is gradually extending that 
protected status to marine areas. 

The programme is also a tangible demonstra-
tion of the contribution the Union is making 
towards international biodiversity goals. 
Agreed in Nagoya (Japan) last year, these fore-
see that by 2020 17 % of land and 10 % of seas 
and coastal areas should enjoy protected sta-
tus. Thanks to Natura 2000, the EU meets the 
first goal, but, with just 4 %, has some way to 
go to meet the marine target. 

Talking hard cash

In addition to protecting nature's intrinsic 
value, the Natura 2000 network helps to main-
tain vital ecosystems. Healthy fresh water, intact 
wetlands, peat bogs and forests all make 
largely unseen contributions to our wellbeing 
which many take for granted. If these are 
destroyed by overuse or neglect, there is no 

Natura 2000’s achievements rely on the 
vision and hard work of thousands of peo-
ple. Nor would they have been possible 
without significant European and national 
funding. Often, particularly in a project’s 
early days, EU financing has been critical in 
turning an idea into reality.

But in today’s world, no policy area, however 
successful, is spared careful budgetary scru-
tiny, both at national and European levels. 
The Commission is evaluating the effective-
ness of the way it currently finances the net-
work. Funding comes from different sectoral 
EU funds such as those used to promote 
rural and regional development as well as 
the small but strategically important LIFE+ 
financial instrument.

For their part, Member States have done their 
own calculations. They estimate that a mini-
mum of EUR 5.8 billion per year is needed to 
effectively maintain and manage what has 
already been achieved (see box page 5). 

The budgetary debate coincides with a step 
change in the Natura 2000 network. Until now, 
emphasis has been placed on creating the 
network. Now that has been largely estab-
lished, the focus is on ensuring it operates 
smoothly and successfully. ‘The questions now’ 
says the Environment Commissioner Janez 
Potočnik, ‘are how to manage the network and 
how to deal with the funding.’

Preserving the Burren for future generations

The Burren in the mid-west of Ireland 
is a glaciated karst landscape, boasting 
extensive areas of Natura 2000 priority 
habitats with limestone pavements and 
orchid-rich grasslands. These have always 
been in demand by farmers for grazing 
and were central to the rich biodiversity 
of the area. However, recent decades 
witnessed a distortion in the balance 
between farming and nature.

Dr Brendan Dunford, the Programme 
Manager, emphasises the project’s natural 
and human importance. ‘This is a living 
landscape. The Burren is part of Ireland’s 
soul, part of who we are. Farmers were very 
positive and we developed a new model for 
farming the area. A lot of stakeholders are 
involved, so we had an inclusive approach, 
concentrated on practical research and had 
a firm focus on results,’ he says.

Six years ago, an EU LIFE Nature funded 
project brought farmers, scientists, conserva-
tionists and agriculturalists together to tackle 
these problems and develop a blueprint for 
sustainable farming in the Burren. This saw 
the development of new grazing and 
feeding systems to improve habitat health 
without compromising farmers’ incomes.

The Burren Farming for Conservation 
Programme works with 120 farmers, who 
are paid for improving biodiversity on the 
12 887 ha they manage within Natura 2000.

EN_brochure.pdf   4

17/08/11   15:24

 
One message that will feature prominently 
in the months ahead is that protected areas 
bring tangible financial, as well as environ-
mental benefits, to local communities,  
yielding significant returns on the original 
investment. Dr Stig Johansson, the Regional 
Director for southern Finland in the Met-
sähallitus Natural Heritage Services, recently 
shared his personal experience at a round-
table event in Brussels on the financing of 
Natura 2000.

‘At the end of 2010, the government cut 
funds to protected areas in Finland. But 
national and regional politicians put the 
money back after we had presented to 
them the benefits in terms of jobs and local 
income. This can create broader support for 
finances to protected areas,’ he explained.

Ignace Schops, the Director of the Hoge 
Kempen National Park in Belgium, which has 
transformed an old coal mining area into its 
present verdant status, had a similar story to 
tell. Through the collective involvement of 
the local community and Flemish and 
European funds, Belgium’s first and only 
national park attracted 725 000 visitors last 

year, netting EUR 24 million for the six local 
municipalities.

Commissioner Potočnik would like to see 
Member States and regions identify and tar-
get EU funding more effectively. He is also 
urging the use of more innovative forms of 
finance such as public-private partnerships 
and European Investment Bank loans, in 
addition to traditional EU grants.

He rejects the idea, floated in some quarters, 
of a specific Natura 2000 fund. Instead, he 
argues that the principles and aims on which 
the network is founded should be fully inte-
grated into the Union’s regional, agricultural 
and other policies, enjoying guaranteed 
access to their funding.

‘I am a believer in the integrated delivery of 
the public good which should be properly 
rewarded. We have to integrate our con-
cerns and policy into other policies so that 
the farmer is paid to protect the environ-
ment. Rather than having an environment 
fund, it is better we ask them to help us and 
we pay them for performing a public service,’ 
he explains. 

NNN AAA TTT UUU RRR AA   222 0000 000 00

5 

required for Natura 2000 

‘Securing the investment 
is a significant challenge’

Commissioner Janez Potočnik

Cost of managing Natura 2000 network

million EUR per year
256
417
817
183
1 673

One-off costs annualised  
Management 
Land purchase 
Infrastructure 
Unallocated 
Sub total 
Annual recurrent costs
Management planning 
Habitat management/monitoring 
Unallocated 
Sub total 
Total (EU-25) 
Total (EU-27 Extrapolated) 

703
2 707
18
3 428
5 101
5 800

k
c
o
t
s
r
e
t
t
u
h
S
©

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   5

17/08/11   15:24

 
6 

NNNN AAAA TTT UUUU RR AAA   222 0000 0000 00

Sources of EU funding

The main responsibility for financing Natura 
2000 lies with Member States, but different 
EU funds also make their contributions 
towards the management requirements. 
This integrated approach ensures the sites 
are part of wide land management policies, 
enables Member States to set their own pri-
orities and avoids overlap and duplication.

The Union’s rural development programmes 
make it possible to compensate landowners 
who have to adapt farming or forestry  
practices to make these compatible with 
Natura 2000 conservation requirements. 
Regional (ERDF), social (ESF) and cohesion 

funding can also be used to finance man-
agement plans, habitat restoration, tourism 
and recreational infrastructure, although 
take up has so far been low. Nor has  
much use been made of the European 
Fisheries Fund.

In contrast, the LIFE + programme plays 
a strategically important role, since it is the 
only source of EU finance entirely dedicated 
to supporting environmental and nature 
conservation projects. Since 1992, LIFE 
Nature has co-financed over 1 100 projects 
to the tune of almost EUR 1.5 billion. 
Although a relatively small fund with just 
EUR 120 million per year, its contribution to 
the Natura 2000 network is considerable. 

Outlook

As the post-2013 budgetary negotiations 
gather pace, Environment Commissioner 
Janez Potočnik is under no illusion about 
the difficulties involved, but also emphasises 
the stakes. ‘Securing the investment required 
for Natura 2000 is a significant challenge in 
the current financial climate. But there is an 
urgent need to rise to the occasion: we need 
to safeguard this lifeline for present and future 
generations,’ he says. (cid:2) 

Find out more
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
natura2000/financing/index_en.htm# 
guidancehandbook

Protecting loggerhead 
turtles in Greece

In 2000, Greece established its first manage-
ment agency when it created the Zakynthos 
Marine Park to protect one of the most 
important breeding grounds of the logger-
head turtle in the Mediterranean. Until then, 
no protection was in place and the nesting 
beaches were being destroyed.

The marine park now includes three Natura 
2000 sites covering about 55 % of the total 

protected area. But as Laurent Sourbes, 
the park’s Director, acknowledges the start 
was extremely difficult and was only made 
possible through EU funding from LIFE, 
the ERDF, INTERREG and the 7th RTD 
framework programme.

‘The result has been positive, although it 
is still problematic. We try to share the use 
of the beaches between tourists and the 

turtles and develop cooperation between 
stakeholders with exchange of best prac-
tice and measures such as certification of 
activities,’ he explains. 

The Marine Park has acted as a laboratory 
in the country and led to the creation of 
almost 30 environmental management 
agencies in Greece.

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

EN_brochure.pdf   6

17/08/11   15:24

 
 
 
WW AAA TTT E RR   S CC AAA R CCC I T YYYY   AAA NNN D   DDD RR OO UU GGG HH T

7 

(cid:2)

Moving towards  
a water-efficient economy

Water scarcity and drought cause very real hardship in many parts of the European 
Union, as a new Commission report confirms. This report also examines the 
national measures being put in place to improve water efficiency, ensure better 
planning and guarantee effective implementation of selected policies. 

In the introduction to the Commission’s third 
report* on water shortage and drought, the 
European Environment Agency underlines 
the scale of the problem. It notes: ‘Except in 
some northern and sparsely-populated coun-
tries that possess abundant resources, water 
scarcity occurs in many areas of Europe, par-
ticularly in the south, confronted with a cru-
cial combination of a severe lack of and high 
demand for water.’

Information from Member States covering 
the period May 2009 to May 2010 paints 
a more detailed picture. Three – the Czech 
Republic, Cyprus and Malta – confirm that 
they faced continuous water scarcity. Five – 
France, Portugal, Hungary, Spain and the UK 
– experienced droughts or rainfall levels 
lower than the long-term average. Four – 
France, the Netherlands, Romania and 
Sweden – suffered local water scarcity.

Better planning can see water considerations 
built into different economic policies and 
more emphasis given to river basin manage-
ment plans which EU legislation has required 
since December 2009. Financial incentives, 
water tariffs and encouraging greater public 
awareness can all help in ensuring policies 
are implemented effectively.

New water blueprint

The Commission is currently reviewing the 
water scarcity and drought strategy which 
was introduced in 2007 and will present 
a blueprint for safeguarding Europe’s waters 
before the end of 2012, which has been des-
ignated the Year of Water. This will assess the 
impact of existing measures and the vulnera-
bility of water resources to climate change 
and man-made pressures.

Policies to tackle drought (essentially a natural 
phenomenon) and water scarcity (mainly 
man-made) basically aim to improve effi-
ciency of use, planning of resources and 
implementation of policies. 

It will contain policy recommendations, some 
possibly requiring legislation. The blueprint will 
also identify areas where additional funding, 
data collection and scientific research may be 
necessary to plug knowledge gaps. (cid:2)

Water efficiency can be achieved in many 
ways. Reducing leakages in distribution sys-
tems, making buildings more sophisticated 
and reviewing agricultural practices (it takes 
some 16 000 litres to produce one kilo of 
beef ) can all make a contribution. 

*  ‘Third Follow-up Report to the Communication on water 
scarcity and droughts in the European Union COM(2007) 
414 final’ COM(2011) 133 final.

Find out more
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/
quantity/scarcity_en.htm

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

Growing problem

Water scarcity affects 11 % of the EU  
population and 17 % of its territory.
Droughts in Europe have cost some 
EUR 100 billion over the past 30 years.
Between 20 and 40 % of Europe’s  
available water is being wasted. 

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   7

17/08/11   15:24

 
8 

GG RRRR EEE EE NNNN   CCC AAAA PPP I TTT AAA L SSS

(cid:2)

European Green Capital Award 
enters new phase

Cities wishing to compete for the prestigious title of Green Capital of 
Europe in 2014 have until mid-October to submit their applications. 
As the competition for the fifth holder gets underway, certain 
modifications are being introduced to raise standards even higher.

To become a European Green Capital, a city 
must have a proven track record of high 
environmental standards, plans to extend 
these even further and the capacity to act as 
a role model by sharing its experience and 
knowledge with others.

winners 18 months to make the necessary 
preparations. The new timetable will also 
ensure greater visibility for the awards with 
the winner being announced in the summer 
and the baton handover from one European 
Green Capital to another in December. 

Those three key criteria have been – and 
remain – at the heart of the award since 
Stockholm was selected as the first winner 
in February 2009. Now, building on the suc-
cess that has already been achieved, the 
Commission has fine tuned the selection 
process. The changes update the way appli-
cants are evaluated and will ensure that 
the eventual winner has the right amount 
of time to prepare for its high-profile role.

From now on, the announcement of the 
European Green Capital winner will be made 
annually. This breaks with the practice of the 
first two award cycles, each of which selected 
the holders for two consecutive years. The 
switch to a June announcement will give 

Modifications have also been made to the 
environmental indicators used to evaluate 
each application. These are designed to 
assess the contributions which Europe’s  
cities are making to the European Union’s 
2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and 
inclusive growth. As a result, two of the 
twelve indicators now cover eco-innova-
tion and sustainable employment and 
energy performance. The latter includes ini-
tiatives such as making existing buildings 
more energy efficient and the integration 
of renewable energy technology into non-
residential premises.

selects the eventual winner after a panel of 
experts presents it with a shortlist of three to 
four cities based on the overall scores they 
achieve from the different indicators. The 
Jury will hear presentations from the short-
listed cities and make its decision based 
on the eventual winner’s vision, proposed 
action programme, communication strategy 
and ability to be a role model. (cid:2)

European Green Capitals

2010: Stockholm
2011: Hamburg
2012: Vitoria-Gasteiz
2013: Nantes

The final innovation in this year’s competi-
tion enhances the role of the Jury which 

Find out more
http://www.europeangreencapital.eu

Hamburg 

• 
• 

 4 700 hectares of woodland 
 Public parks, recreation areas and woodlands make up 
16.8 % of the municipal region 

•  11 657 km of bus routes
• 
• 

 656 million public transport passengers per year in 2009
 99 % of residents have access to public transport within  
300 m of their homes
 CO2 emissions cut by 15 % (1990-2006)
 200 000 low-energy lamps in 400 public buildings save 
EUR 3.4 million per year
 89 % of the population lives within 300 m of a park

• 
• 

• 

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

EN_brochure.pdf   8

17/08/11   15:24

 
EEEEEEEE TTTTTTT AAAAAAAAA PPPP

9 

(cid:2)

Demonstrating the benefits  
of eco-innovation

Since 2006, the European Forum on Eco-Innovation has been spreading the word across 
the European Union about the benefits of environmental technologies and eco-innovation, 
building links inside the eco-innovation community and ensuring Member State ownership 
of the ETAP process. 

about the opportunities available and on 
active involvement by participants, who 
after considering case studies, make con-
crete recommendations for the way ahead. 
These are relayed back to the Commission 
and Member States and help to shape 
future policies.

Many different themes have been addressed 
over the past five years including a declara-
tion on eco-innovation in SMEs, adapting 
to climate change through eco-innovation, 
technology transfer, emerging technologies, 
unlocking global market opportunities, sus-
tainable construction markets and financing 
eco-innovation.

discussed, participants agreed that eco-
innovation, whether technological or non-
technological, can be one of the main 
contributors towards a more efficient use 
of limited resources. They called on the 
forthcoming Eco-Innovation Action Plan 
to include ambitious objectives to set this 
in motion. ETAP was set up in 2004 to further 
environmental technologies within the EU 
and globally, to boost growth and create 
environmentally friendly jobs.

The next Forum will be held in Helsinki (FI) 
on 11 October. Participants will then be able 
to visit the Cleantech exhibition in nearby 
Lahti the following day. (cid:2)

The most recent event was held in Birming-
ham (UK) in March 2011 under the theme of 
resource efficiency. Among the many issues 

Find out more
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap

k
c
o
t
s
r
e
t
t
u
h
S
©

Eco-innovation and extensive use of environ-
mental technologies can help businesses be 
more successful, create jobs and reduce the 
pressure on our limited natural resources. The 
triple goals underlie the activities of the Envi-
ronmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP), 
adopted by the Commission in 2004.

At one level, these objectives involve close 
collaboration with Member States. At another, 
the Commission is keen to provide informa-
tion to, and discuss initiatives with, practi-
tioners on the ground who will benefit 
from the new developments. These include 
the worlds of technology, finance and busi-
ness, especially small and medium-sized 
firms, academia and non-governmental 
organisations.

Eco-innovation has never been more timely, 
as a growing scarcity of resources is affecting 
the competitiveness of European businesses. 
A recent Eurobarometer survey reveals that 
75 % of EU companies experienced an increase 
in the cost of materials over the past five years, 
while 90 % expect price rises in the future. 
Wider use of eco-innovation is one way of 
turning this challenge into an opportunity. 

Forum at work

Twice a year – for one and a half days in the 
spring and the autumn – the Forum brings 
together some 200 different stakeholders to 
mainstream eco-innovation into policy and 
business. A consultative body, it places 
emphasis on communicating information 

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   9

17/08/11   15:24

 
10 

CCCCC OOOOOO PPPP    1111 00000

(cid:2)

Fresh global push to tackle desertification

Degradation and desertification are increasingly destroying fertile land all over the world, 
including in the European Union. International efforts to turn back the tide began almost 
20 years ago. This autumn, they are set to be given a much needed boost.

Nor is the European Union immune. Some 
15 % of EU land suffers from erosion, while 
about 45 % of European soil, especially in 
southern Europe, contains low-levels of 
organic matter. A dozen EU Member States 
are particularly affected: Bulgaria, Hungary, 
Slovakia, Spain, Romania, Greece, Portugal, 
Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia and Italy. 

It was precisely to address the problem that 
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 
adopted the United Nations Convention 
to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). With 
193 signatories, it is the most widely signed 
UN convention and the only international 
agreement focusing on soil protection.

Think of deserts and images of Africa automa-
tically come to mind. But the phenomenon 
of land degradation is far more widespread. 
Large parts of Asia are also suffering. Land deg-
radation now takes place in all agro-ecological 
zones, threatening some 1.5 billion people, 
including 42 % of the world’s poor. Globally 
75 billion tonnes of soil are lost every year at 
an estimated cost of USD 400 billion.

Despite that unique role and extensive 
endorsement, it has not managed to gener-
ate the momentum achieved by the two 
other conventions – on climate change and 
biodiversity – agreed at that historic meet-
ing, even though all three are so closely 
interlinked.

Two years after they last met in Argentina, 
the UNCCD’s Conference of the Parties  
(COP 10) will gather in the Korean city of 
Changwon between 11 and 21 October. 
The meeting is designed to raise wider aware-
ness of the consequences of land degrada-
tion and desertification and to ensure more 
synergy between the Global Mechanism, 
the convention’s funding arm, and the 
UNCCD secretariat. 

A boost to the higher profile being sought 
will also come in New York on 20 September 
– the day before the UN General Assembly. 
A top-level meeting will be devoted to the 
issue, following in the footsteps of the simi-
lar exercise organised for biodiversity last 
year before the Nagoya international 
conference. 

Tackling land degradation

Healthy land can face different threats. Some 
are natural such as changes in climate and 
erosion from wind and water. Others are 
man-made: deforestation, poor farming 
practices, pollution and creeping urbanisa-
tion. Climate change is adding to the pres-
sures. As temperatures rise, evaporation 
from the soil increases and rainfall decreases 
in many parts of the world.

The European Union has been addressing 
the problem both within its borders and  

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

EN_brochure.pdf   10

17/08/11   15:24

 
CCCCCC OOOOOOO PPP   1111 000

11 

further afield for many years. Tackling land 
degradation and desertification is now an 
integral part of other policy areas such as 
soil protection, water management, forestry, 
agriculture, research and climate change 
adaptation and mitigation.

The Commission funds many development 
projects that encourage sustainable land 
management – frequently with the joint aim 
of protecting biodiversity and promoting 
climate adaptation. The EU also finances  
several projects by its Joint Research Centre. 
One of these, DESERT, is developing a Euro-
pean Drought Observatory, evaluating and 
developing benchmarks and indicators and 
developing a global early warning system 
for desertification.

Measuring value of land

Sometimes just one authoritative and influ-
ential piece of environmental research can 
strike a chord with professionals and public 
alike, prompting wider awareness of the 
issues at stake. 

This was the case with climate change after 
the British economist Nicholas Stern pub-
lished his report in 2006 arguing that the  
benefits of strong early action easily out-
weigh the costs. Similar stimulus has come 
from the pioneering work by The Economics 
of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB). 
Launched in 2008, it draws attention to the 
global economic benefits of biodiversity 
and highlights the growing cost of its loss 
and ecosystem degradation. Both are exam-
ples of cooperative, cross-sectoral environ-
mental research.

Drawing a leaf from TEEB’s book, a similar 
initiative is now under way to determine 
the Economics of Desertification, Land 
Degradation and Drought. Launched in 
Bonn (DE) in December 2010, it is strongly  
supported by the German government, 
the European Commission and other 
national and international bodies, including 
the UNCCD. 

awareness of the importance of productive 
land systems. That groundwork is designed to 
help inject the economic consequences of 
desertification, land degradation and drought 
into future policy strategies and decisions. 

Already individual case studies focusing on 
countries such as Peru, Niger, Kenya, India and 
Uzbekistan suggest that the input cost of pre-
venting land degradation by applying sustain-
able land management is measurably lower 
than the consequences of the degradation 
itself or trying to make good the destruction. 
The new study aims to build on the founda-
tions already laid to make a compelling case 
that prevention is better than cure. (cid:2)

Over the next two years, the research aims to 
provide a solid scientific basis for good policy 
on land use, secure food supplies for the 
world’s inhabitants, and to raise general 

Find out more
http://www.unccd.int/

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   11

17/08/11   15:24

12 

B AAAA TTTT HHH II NNNN GGGG   WWWWW AAA TTTT EEE RR

(cid:2)

Europe’s bathing waters pass  
standards test

Clean bathing water is essential for human health. It is also important economically 
since it influences where many people go on holiday and is a vital component of 
healthy ecosystems. The latest annual survey from the European Commission and 
the European Environment Agency shows EU standards remain consistently high.

Overall in 2010, 92.1 % of Europe’s coastal 
bathing waters and 90.2 % of inland swim-
ming sites met the quality standards laid 
down in EU legislation. Perhaps an even more 
graphic illustration of the progress made over 
the past 20 years is that during that period 
the percentage of the former not complying 
with the environmental rules fell from 9.2 % to 
1.2 % and of the latter from 11.9 % to 2.8 %.

Cyprus had a perfect 100 % compliance rate, 
while Croatia (97.3 %), Malta (95.4 %), Greece 
(94.2 %) and Ireland (90.1 %) all had impres-
sive records, followed by Bulgaria, Portugal, 
Finland, the UK and Latvia.

A deterioration in quality from 2009 has nev-
ertheless been observed. This is thought to 
be largely due to sewage overflow after 
heavy rain and reflects the need to take fur-
ther measures to treat urban waste water.

The findings cover 21 000 bathing areas in 
the EU. Two-thirds of these are in coastal 
waters – the majority in Italy, Greece, Spain 
and Denmark – and one third involve lakes 
and rivers, mainly in Germany and France. 

30 years and have set out at least five physi-
cal, chemical and microbiological parameters. 
The new requirements rely on just two – 
intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli – 
but are stricter than their predecessors. They 
must be implemented by all Member States 
by the end of 2014, and 20 had already 
begun doing so by last year. 

Informing the public

The new quality standards, which were 
adopted in 2006, will progressively replace 
those that have operated for the previous 

Europeans now have more information 
about the quality of coastal and inland 
bathing water than ever before. In addition 

Overall bathing water quality by country for the 2010 bathing season –  
ranking by percentage of bathing waters compliant with guide values

100

80

60

40

20

0

s
r
e
t
a
w
g
n
h
t
a
b

i

f

o
%

Y
C

R
H

T
M

L
E

E

I

G
B

I

T F
P

K
U

V
L

K
D

E
D

S
E

I

E S
S

T

I

U
E

E
E

T
A

H
C

R
F

T
L

Z
C

U
L

L
N

U
H

K
S

E
B

L
P

O
R

E
M

(cid:2)(cid:3)Compliance with guide and mandatory values or excellent, good and sufficient quality
(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:3)Compliance with mandatory values and not guide values or good/sufficient quality and 

not excellent quality

(cid:2)(cid:3)Not compliant with mandatory values or poor quality
(cid:2)(cid:3)Banned/closed
(cid:2)(cid:3)Insufficiently sampled or not sampled

EN_brochure.pdf   12

17/08/11   15:24

 
 
 
to the annual EU report, Member States are 
required to make all data publicly available 
and various online tools help complete the 
picture.

For instance, the bathing water data viewer 
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/
status-and-monitoring/bathing-water-data-
viewer) and Eye on Earth – Water Watch 
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/
explore-interactive-maps/eye-on-earth) pro-
vide details and statistics on the quality of 
coastal and freshwater bathing waters across 
the Union.

The Commission recently adopted easily 
understandable signs which national author-
ities will be able to use either to indicate 
whether bathing is unsafe or not advised, 
or to inform the public on the quality of 
the water in which they are considering 
swimming. (cid:2)

Find out more
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/
water-bathing/index_en.html

BB AAAA TTT HHH I NNN GGGG   WWWW AAA TTT EEE RR

13 

State of bathing waters 
Wise – Water information system for Europe
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/interactive/bathing/quality

(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:3)Coastal and transitional bathing waters
(cid:2)(cid:3)River bathing waters
(cid:2)(cid:3)Lake bathing waters

Excellent bathing waters quality

excellent
good
sufficient 
poor

Symbols for informing on 
bathing water classification 

Advice against bathing

Symbols for informing on 
bathing prohibition or advice 
against bathing

o
t
o
h
p
k
c
o
t
S

i

©

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   13

17/08/11   15:24

 
14 

LLLLLLL II FFFFFF EEEEEEE 

(cid:2) Improving flyways for endangered geese

The lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) is one of several migratory bird species 
threatened by the degradation of breeding grounds, the loss of staging and wintering 
sites, and the effects of hunting. The EU's LIFE programme supported a Finnish-led LIFE 
Nature project that restored sites along the extensive migratory route, resulting in an 
International Species Action Plan for the species’ long-term conservation.

It is estimated that there are no more than 
20-30 pairs of lesser white-fronted geese 
breeding in the tundra zone that stretches 
from northern Fennoscandia (Norway, 
Sweden, Finland and north-western Russia) 
to eastern Siberia. This rare species typically 
nests on open tundra and during the breed-
ing season feeds in sedge marshes or mires 
around lakes. More than half follow an 
autumn migratory route south, stopping 
over on coastal meadows (Finland and 
Estonia) and natural steppes (Hungary), 
before reaching wintering sites in northern 
Greece and western Turkey. 

International action gets results 

A large part of the LIFE project involved tran-
snational campaigns to make hunters and 
the wider public aware of the species’ threat-
ened status – the lesser white-fronted goose 
closely resembles the white-fronted goose 
(Anser albifrons), an important game species 
in most countries in its range. Although 
impact assessment is difficult, co-operation 
with hunters’ associations in Estonia and 
Hungary was positive. 

Habitat management actions were carried 
out along the migratory route and as a result 
the lesser white-fronted goose began using 
sites restored by the project in the Hortobágy 
National Park, Hungary, and in the Matsalu 
National Park, Estonia. 

A satellite tracking study revealed a previ-
ously unknown 'loop migration' route from 
the Fennoscandian breeding grounds to 
moulting sites of non-breeding birds in 
Siberia and back to the wintering sites in 
Greece via Kazakhstan, southern Russia and 
Ukraine. Several major staging sites were dis-
covered en route – an important finding for 
future conservation efforts. 

Another breakthrough was the adoption 
of National Action Plans by Norway, Finland 
and Estonia. Norway’s Plan, for example, 
included banning hunting of all geese 
in the autumn staging area of the Inner 
Porsangen Fjord and controlling the red 
fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in the core 
goose-breeding area. 

The LIFE project also played a key role in 
drawing up an International Species Action 
Plan for the conservation of the western 
Palearctic population of the lesser white-
fronted goose. The 2008 adoption of this 
Plan by the Agreement on the Conservation 
of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds 
should help safeguard the long-term future 
of the bird species all along its flyway. (cid:2)

Find out more 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction= 
home.showFile&rep=laymanReport&fil= 
LIFE05_NAT_FIN_000105_LAYMAN.pdf

n
e
n
a
v
l
o
T

i
r
e
t
t
e
P
5
0
1
0
0
0
/
N
I
F
/
T
A
N
5
0
E
F
I
L
©

EN_brochure.pdf   14

17/08/11   15:24

 
 
 
 
 
New publications

Agenda

NNNNNNNN EEEEEE WWWWWWWWWWWWW SSSS

15 

LIFE and European Mammals: 
improving their conservation 
status
This brochure highlights many of the measures that the EU 
has supported to protect the wide range of mammals in 
Europe from the smallest shrew to the 920 kg bison. It offers 
a clear overview of what has been achieved and how the 
Union, with the help of many stakeholders can succeed in 
its endeavours.
Available in English only.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/ 

lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/mammals.pdf

Resource efficiency –  
a business imperative
This fact sheet explains the concept of resource efficiency: 
producing more value, using less material and consuming 
differently. It sets out how this can be achieved and what 
the EU is doing in practice.
Available in English, French and German.  
Other languages soon.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/factsheets.htm

Benny’s a champion!
The latest story in the Tom and Lila series. The theme is 
resource efficiency as Tom’s cousin Benny abandons his 
original idea for a brand new bike in favour of a second 
hand one that has been repaired. 
Available in 23 languages.
http://bookshop.europa.eu/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/

EU-Bookshop-Site/en_GB/-/EUR/ViewPublication-

Start?PublicationKey=KH3210583

Imagine and draw a better 
environment with Tom
An activity book for children, this contains lots of enjoyable 
exercises bringing home the importance of the environment 
in an easily understandable way.
Available in 21 languages.
http://bookshop.europa.eu/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/

EU-Bookshop-Site/en_GB/-/EUR/ViewPublication-

Start?PublicationKey=KH3110910

Cities in Europe 2020 –  
Enhance sustainability now!
12-14 September 2011,  
Brussels (Belgium)
Organised by the ICLEI Convention (local govern-
ments for sustainability), the event will act as a forum 
to discuss implementation of Europe-wide sustaina-
bility measures in cities focusing on the EU 2020 Strat-
egy and its seven flagship initiatives. The three-day 
programme, bringing together representatives from 
the business community and local government, will 
consider local achievements and future progress in 
light of the UN Rio+20 Conference in 2012.
http://convention2011.iclei-europe.org/

Science for the Environment – 
Environment for Society
5-6 October 2011, Aarhus (Denmark)
Environmental science is currently addressing com-
plex cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral challenges. This 
requires research scientists, administrators, consult-
ants and other end-users to work closely together 
within an international policy framework. Presenta-
tions will address the inter-disciplinary scientific basis 
for regulation. Workshops will exchange knowledge, 
identify research gaps and discuss best practice.
http://www.dmu.dk/en/news/arrangements/ 
conferences/environmentconference2011/

Tourism and Outdoor Sport  
Network Meeting
5-8 October 2011, Annecy (France)
This is the first Nature and Sports Euro’Meet. It will 
bring together some 1 000 representatives from 
the worlds of sport, tourism, the environment and 
regional development to share their experiences and 
encourage contacts across national and professional 
boundaries. 
http://www.nature-sports.eu

Unless otherwise stated, publications are available free of charge  
from the EU Bookshop at http://bookshop.europa.eu

M A G A Z I N E   O F   T H E   D I R E C T O R A T E - G E N E R A L   F O R   T H E   E N V I R O N M E N T   (cid:2)   N o 4 4

EN_brochure.pdf   15

17/08/11   15:24

(cid:2)

In brief

K
H
-
6
9
-
1
0
-
0
4
4
-
E
N
-
C

New European Atlas of the Seas

EU bans cadmium in jewellery, 
brazing sticks and plastics

Hamburg’s Train of Ideas spreads 
sustainable living message

The Commission launched the initiative for 
a European Atlas of the Seas in 2007, leading 
to a pilot version in May 2010. This new edi-
tion takes account of the feedback which has 
since been received. It includes 24 new maps, 
hundreds of updates and improvements and 
information on Natura 2000 protected mari-
time sites, pollution response vessels and 
coastal GDP. The atlas is available in English, 
French and German.

Find out more 
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeatlas

Cadmium is a carcinogenic substance that 
is harmful to both humans and the environ-
ment. Its use in jewellery, apart from antiques, 
will now be banned throughout the Euro-
pean Union from December 2011. Individuals, 
especially children, were at risk of exposure 
by coming into contact with the substance 
either by skin or mouth. The prohibition also 
covers all plastic and brazing sticks, which 
can release dangerous fumes. Cadmium-free 
plastics will help to reduce pollution, encour-
age the recycling of PVC waste and represent  
significant progress in saving resources.

Find out more
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/
chemicals/reach/restrictions/index_en.htm

Hamburg, this year’s European Green Capital, 
is using the train to spread the message of 
sustainable living beyond its borders to audi-
ences right across the continent. Hamburg’s 
Mayor Olaf Scholz set the wheels in motion 
in mid April as the train began its six-month 
tour of 18 major European cities. The rolling 
exhibition contains over 70 exhibits and 
26 touch screens with examples of best prac-
tice from Hamburg and other cities such as 
Oslo, Vienna and Copenhagen. Topics cov-
ered include urban development and living, 
mobility, energy and climate protection, 
nature and urban green, resource protection 
and business, and consumption in an interac-
tive way.

Find out more 
http://www.europeangreencapital.eu   

.

.

z
t
r
e
p
p
u
H
W
/
e
d
g
r
u
b
m
a
h
.
r
e
v
r
e
s
a
d
e
m
w
w
w
©

i

.

Hamburg’s Train of Ideas

EN_brochure.pdf   16

17/08/11   15:24

 
t
n
s
e
n
m
a
e
n
p
o
o
r
r
u
i
v
E
n
r
o
(cid:2)E
f

n
o
i
t
p
i
r
c
s
b
u
s

Environment DG
Communication Unit
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels 
Belgium

EN_encart.pdf   1

17/08/11   15:31

 
(cid:2) I wish to receive a free quarterly copy of EEnnvvvviirrrooonnnnmmmmeeennt  ffooorr Euuuroopeannns in

(cid:2)(cid:3)Bulgarian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Spanish   (cid:2)(cid:3)Czech   (cid:2)(cid:3)German   (cid:2)(cid:3)Estonian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Greek   (cid:2)(cid:3)English
(cid:2)(cid:3)French   (cid:2)(cid:3)Italian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Lithuanian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Polish   (cid:2)(cid:3)Portuguese   (cid:2)(cid:3)Romanian

For more information: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap 

Environment DG – Communication Unit
Fax: +32 (0)2 29-86327 

Eco-innovation for a Sustainable Future

f
y
p
e
r
n
o
i
t
p
i
r
c
s
b
u
s
(cid:2)

Organisation:

Postcode: 

Country:

P.O. Box:

m
r
o

Street:  

E-mail:

Town: 

Name:

No:  

Fax: 

Tel: 

l

You can also subscribe online at:
ec.europa.eu/environment/mailingregistration/main/mailing_reg.cfm

EN_encart.pdf   2

17/08/11   15:31

 
 
(cid:2) I wish to receive a free quarterly copy of EEnnvvvviirrrooonnnnmmmmeeennt  ffooorr Euuuroopeannns in

(cid:2)(cid:3)Bulgarian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Spanish   (cid:2)(cid:3)Czech   (cid:2)(cid:3)German   (cid:2)(cid:3)Estonian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Greek   (cid:2)(cid:3)English
(cid:2)(cid:3)French   (cid:2)(cid:3)Italian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Lithuanian   (cid:2)(cid:3)Polish   (cid:2)(cid:3)Portuguese   (cid:2)(cid:3)Romanian

For more information: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap 

Environment DG – Communication Unit
Fax: +32 (0)2 29-86327 

Eco-innovation for a Sustainable Future

f
y
p
e
r
n
o
i
t
p
i
r
c
s
b
u
s
(cid:2)

Organisation:

Postcode: 

Country:

P.O. Box:

m
r
o

Street:  

E-mail:

Town: 

Name:

No:  

Fax: 

Tel: 

l

You can also subscribe online at:
ec.europa.eu/environment/mailingregistration/main/mailing_reg.cfm

EN_encart.pdf   2

17/08/11   15:31

 
 
t
n
s
e
n
m
a
e
n
p
o
o
r
r
u
i
v
E
n
r
o
(cid:2)E
f

n
o
i
t
p
i
r
c
s
b
u
s

Environment DG
Communication Unit
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels 
Belgium

EN_encart.pdf   1

17/08/11   15:31