Countdown 2010

News from Countdown 2010 in 2004

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Brabant first province in Europe to become a ‘Countdown 2010 Region’ and thereby declare its support to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010

8 November 2004 ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. On the evening of Monday the 8 November, the Dutch Queen’s Commissioner, Mrs. J.R.H. Maij-Weggen revealed the province of Noord-Brabant to be the first in Europe to fully take on the global 2010 target to halt the loss of Biodiversity by becoming a Countdown 2010 Region. Countdown 2010 launched in May 2004 by The European Commission, the Irish EU Presidency, IUCN-The World Conservation Union and other Countdown 2010 partners, aims “that all European governments, at every level, have taken the necessary actions to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010”. The Queen’s Commissioner, Mrs. J.R.H. Maij-Weggen, released the exclusive news at the EU summit celebrating “25 Years of the Birds Directive” that is currently taking place in Bergen op Zoom in The Netherlands. Brabant identifies with the Countdown 2010 initiative because the initiative resembles the way the Province protects biodiversity. Examples are the pro-active concerted action of the public authorities, trade and industry, agriculture and NGO’s and Brabant’s holistic approach to nature, culture, environment, flora, fauna, soil and water.

Is the forest sector trying hard enough?

17 October 2004 Helsinki, Finland. In a report on "Practical Tools for Forest Conservation", Markus Walsh of the BirdLife European Forest Task Force expresses douts about the determination of the European Commission to reach the 2010 biodiversity target. Dismissing the conclusion of the draft European Forestry Strategy from September 2004 that "Meeting the Gothenburg objective of halting the gradual loss of biodiversity by 2010 can be expected to remain a demanding task for some time in the forest sector” as "civil servant-speak for won’t happen", he calls on all actors to do better.

Dramatic Declines for European Amphibians: Global Amphibian Assessment released today

14 October 2004 Brussels, Belgium. Dramatic declines in amphibian opulations were outlined in the Global Amphibian Assessment released today by IUCN/SSC, Conservation International and NatureServe. The assessment also draws attention to the fact that species are still being described in Europe. “These findings show that Europe may lose species before they are even fully known to us if we do not take action on the 2010 target” said Tamás Marghescu, IUCN Regional Director for Europe.

EU Council supports Countdown 2010

28 June 2004 Brussels, Belgium. The Council (Environment) of the European Union in its decision on "Halting the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010" welcomed

the Countdown 2010 initiative, launched by a partnership of civil organisations, including the Irish Presidency, the Commissioner for the Environment and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and other key actors at the Malahide Conference, as an important sensitising initiative to the significance of biodiversity loss across the globe and as a means to act as an independent monitor of progress towards the 2010 targets and ENCOURAGES Member States, Commission and civil society to support the Countdown 2010 initiative

EUROPEAN LEADERS START COUNTDOWN TO HALT LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL WEALTH IN EUROPE BY 2010

Launching Countdown 201025 May 2004 Malahide, Ireland. “We have six years to make a difference,” with these words Yolanda Kakabadse, former Ecuadorian Minister of Environment and President of IUCN – The World Conservation Union, launched “Countdown 2010” – a pioneering pan-European initiative to help stem the loss of species and ecosystems – in Malahide, Ireland earlier today. The initiative, a joint undertaking of the European biodiversity stakeholders, among them European Institutions, the Irish Presidency of the European Union, IUCN and its over 350 members in the region, aims to draw public attention and catalyze action to help fulfill the numerous commitments made by European Heads of State to halt the loss of biological diversity on the continent by the year 2010.

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