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Regions and Countdown 2010

> 17 March 08

Biologically diverse habitats do not stop at the administrative boundaries of local government. While regional authorities may have very different political mandates, they are very often acting as facilitators and initiators of processes. They support city-to-city cooperation in biodiversity management, they are key in promoting innovative initiatives, they provide support to municipalities and set regional targets. More and more regions are getting mobilized to halt the loss of biodiversity and they are showing that they can be great drivers of the process. Here you can read more about what some regions are doing.

Noord-Brabant

Noord-Brabant is a region in the Netherlands which has a high population density in combination with intense levels of economic activity. These factors put enormous strains on biodiversity, which is seen as an underlying factor in determining the quality of home and working life, a favourable business climate, the health of individuals and an attractive environment for tourists and visitors.

Noord-Brabant was the very first region to join Countdown 2010. In order to work out an effective policy and pragmatic programme on biodiversity the region has committed to:

  1. Build a network of regions in Europe and together raise European Funding for projects
  2. Make biodiversity visible and understandable for common people
  3. Initiate, develop and implement a pragmatic programme in order to stop the loss of Biodiversity in Brabant

In 2006 the region was the initiator of a process which is gradually leading to more and more involvement of European regions in the process of halting the loss of biodiversity. The region of Noord Brabant hosted a conference in 2007 in cooperation with ECNC during which more than 200 participants concluded that regions should provide active leadership in combating the negative impact of climate change and in reducing the ecological footprint of regions and local communities. To this end, they launched the Brabant-Oisterwijk Appeal and the message is now spreading fast.

Province of Limburg

The Province of Limburg is one of the most biologically diverse regions in Belgium and it hosts a number of species which are not found anywhere else in the Flanders. After the Region of Noord Brabant, the Province of Limburg was quick to follow the same path and join Countdown 2010 in 2006 and commit to adopt their local species.

The province of Limburg and the other regional authorities have worked towards a comprehensive action plan to protect the local species. From badgers to owls and butterflies, each municipality has now approved a detailed action plan for the preservation of their animal or plant and its surroundings. By adopting one specific endangered species, the municipality takes action to protect this species and raise public awareness about biodiversity and endangered species in the province. Most municipalities have already allocated the budget to their chosen action and many are moving fast towards the implementation for the plan. Some examples of practical actions: municipalities will dig pools and plant hedges, organize educational walks, name streets after their species or commission art projects.

Basque Country

The Basque country in the North of Spain has already protected 23% of its land while the average in Europe is 15%, but the region is determined to contribute even more substantially to halting the loss of biodiversity.

The region – and its capital, Vitoria Gasteiz, have been working to strengthen their nature conservation work. They will extend by 2010 the area of autochthonous forestry by 10,000 hectares and restore 50 hectares of wetland. Organic agriculture is projected to grow to 1200 hectares, and invasive alien species will be removed. To complement this work, Vitoria Gasteiz will focus on specific species protection measures. The city aims to reintroduce the European mink into the capital area, and increase native freshwater turtle populations. These measures will be accompanied by an awareness raising campaign for biodiversity.

Vitoria Gasteiz and the Basque government understand themselves as multipliers, and are actively working to engage other stakeholders and, above all, municipalities in the region as they are aware of the important role of municipalities in nature conservation.

Region of Southern Denmark

In the framework of the Countdown 2010 initiative, seventeen municipalities from Kolding to Aabenraa to Sønderborg from the Region of Southern Denmark are now working together to implement a nature-network to enhance the connections between ecosystems and its species, improve the quality of nature in urban surroundings and increase public access to nature for recreational purposes. They are also working closely with school children and putting an emphasis on the need to preserve biodiversity for the future generations. They have, for example, produced child friendly educational material which is being used in schools in the whole region.

The Region of Southern Denmark played a crucial role in bringing the municipalities together by:

  • facilitating and coordinating the process
  • explaining the meaning of the project to the municipalities
  • supporting them in their decision making process
  • providing a platform for exchanges
  • organizing a party to celebrate the initiative and give it public visibility.