Limited progress on EU’s Biodiversity Action Plan
5 February 2008, Brussels, Belgium. In its assessment of European progress on the 2010 biodiversity target, the European Commission shows limited optimism that its ambitious biodiversity action plan can be implemented:
“Much of the observed progress relates to existing commitments, especially in the implementation of nature and other environmental legislation. [...] it is at present difficult to demonstrate significant progress in the integration of biodiversity into other sectoral policies [...]”
By the end of 2007, the size of the Natura 2000 network had grown to almost 20% of the EU’s terrestrial territory, and the Commission has pursued cases of bad application of the relevant directives. In 2008, a major ‘health check’ of European species and habitats will be coming up. In addition, the EU has been instrumental in promoting the implementation of the 2010 biodiversity target on the international level.
Sectoral policies relating to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services include the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, its maritime policy and regional development programmes. Here, progress is slow, and patchy. The progress evaluation report on implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan covers the period up to the end of 2007 and focuses on action at Community level.
- European Commission: Biodiversity Action Plan reporting
