Amsterdam: a European leader for 2010 biodiversity action
4 June 2007, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. While policy makers negotiate regulations for trade in endangered species in The Hague, the city of Amsterdam is taking steps to reduce the threat for its species and ecosystems at home. Signing the Countdown 2010 declaration today, the Dutch capital pledges to invest 12 million Euro for biodiversity conservation and implement a 2010 plan of action that will augment the efforts already undertaken by the City of Amsterdam.
As a harbour city, Amsterdam is connected to the rest of the world. This has allowed for a rich collection of ex-situ species in the botanical garden, the venue for the signing ceremony. But a harbour, also brings with it the challenges of illegal wildlife trade and the potential introduction of invasive species from around the world. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) currently discusses these issues in the Dutch city The Hague.
To ensure that these introduced species do not encroach on the endemic biodiversity and to improve and safeguard the city’s biodiversity, Amsterdam has committed itself to implementing an ecological programme. Sebastian Winkler, Head of Countdown 2010, welcomed the commitments of the city, but he also challenged it to become a European champion for local biodiversity, similar to what London is for climate change. The city employs ecologists that work closely with the spatial planning department to ensure that locally living species can survive. Within the city perimeter it protects 143 plant species of which some are on the IUCN Red List.
To integrate the city ecology in the surrounding green city perimeter, Amsterdam will work with Natuurmonumenten – another new Countdown 2010 partner. This NGO maintains several important natural reserves near the city and expects that working in partnership with the city government more can be done to protect the fragile ecosystems in those reserves around the city which provide important recreational areas.
With the signing of the Capital and such a large NGO as Natuurmonumenten, the support from the Netherlands to the Countdown 2010 initiative has been further solidified.
