Dear Countdown 2010 partners, dear readers,

30 July 2010. Did you know that there are more than 350 tropical, temperate and polar islands in the European Union? And did you know that in the last 400 years, 75% of all species extinctions have been on islands?

The EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which are linked to 6 EU member states: France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, UK and Denmark, are home to exceptional and globally significant biodiversity and to more endemic species than are found on the whole of continental Europe. Though geographically separate from mainland Europe, these countries and territories are either administered by EU law (ORs) or associated to the EU (OCTs). How to protect their biodiversity is the subject of an increasing dialogue between the EU, ORs and OCTs. The IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme contributes to this dialogue. Find out more by reading this newsletter.

Another topical issue is the engagement of the private sector in biodiversity conservation. The 1st Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium took place in London on 13 July. The conference saw the launch of the TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) for Business report which offers great insight into how business and enterprise have a huge role to play in how we manage, safeguard and invest in our natural capital. The EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform (B@B) offers concrete opportunities for businesses engagement in biodiversity conservation. IUCN, in partnership with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, ECNC, ELO and Blue4You is implementing this European Commission initiative. Visit the B@B website.

More than 400 people have already sent us their personal message for biodiversity. Have you? Do it here. The Biodiversity Photo Mosaic will be presented at the Biodiversity post-2010 – biodiversity in a changing world conference organized by the EU Belgian Presidency on 8-9 September.

I would like also to remind you that you can always search for IYB events on the Biodiversity Year Schedule of Events 2010. Promote your initiatives on BYSE!

In this newsletter you will learn about the outcomes of the event co-organized by Countdown 2010 at the European Parliament and the latest report by the European Environment Agency on the state of biodiversity in Europe. Don’t miss the latest from Countdown 2010 partners: AEGEE and Bem-me-quer Restaurant. Read the newsletter.

Enjoy your summer break!

Hans Friederich
IUCN Regional Director for Pan-Europe