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Save Biodiversity 01/07 - Update from Countdown 2010

In this Issue

^Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, dear Readers,

Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, dear Readers,

2007 is already shaping up to be a busy, adventurous, and decisive year in our journey towards 2010. Some things you can look forward from our side are an increased focus on the marine agenda and a stronger engagement of business around the 2010 biodiversity challenge, while continuing to service a growing Countdown 2010 network through our three pillars of partnership, communications and assessment.

Looking back at 2006 by reviewing your Countdown 2010 commitments and judging from the increased hits on our new website, I believe we are on the right track in mobilizing action and awareness around the 2010 target. It is my view that we can end the year on a note of optimism. For instance 2006 has seen more than 150 concrete and practical Countdown 2010 commitments, it also saw the launch of the EC Biodiversity Communication and the UN declare 2010 as the year of biodiversity.

A lot of rustling and shuffling can be heard in Brussels and the European capitals these days. Six months after the publication of the EU’s Communication on ‘Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond’, all European institutions are eager to react. This newsletter will give an overview of what to expect from the European Union’s institutions in relation to the 2010 biodiversity target.

At the same time, the momentum of Countdown 2010 has spread far beyond the European Union: We are happy to welcome sister initiatives in South America, Southern Africa and the Lower Mekong Region in Asia.

There is still time to reverse the trend and it is in our hands to make the difference. 

Enjoy the reading!

Sebastian Winkler

Sebastian Winkler
Head of Countdown 2010
January 10, 2007

^European Council welcomes Biodiversity Communication

On December 18, the Environment Council explicitly reaffirmed the 2010 biodiversity target and urged Commission and Member States to accelerate their efforts to meet it. Earlier, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council stressed its support of the targets and actions proposed by the communication and explained how the new policies on agriculture and fisheries contribute to meeting the target. The General Affairs Council welcomed the Message from Paris on Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation and invited the Commission to report on its implementation.

“Very positive was the discussion of the Biodiversity Communication in several Council formations, including the Agriculture and Fisheries, the General Affairs and the Environment one, and the support that was given to it there.”
EEB Assessment of the Finnish Presidency

Now it is up to the Member States to deliver their share of the action plan contained in the biodiversity communication. The three upcoming European Presidencies (Germany, Portugal and Slovenia) have already agreed on their joint work programme on these issues and will continue to work closely with the Countdown 2010 initiative.

^European Parliament Report on 2010 target by April

The European Parliament is currently working on an own initiative report on the biodiversity communication under the lead of Adamos Adamou MEP . It is scheduled to be discussed in the Environment Committee on 30th January, the plenary discussion will take place early in spring 2007.

^Regions and Civil Society

The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on the EU Biodiversity Communication in early December, stressing that biodiversity determines the identity of a region and is thus an important basis for quality of life, health, recreation, tourism, and the creation of regional products and services. The Committee of the Regions offers the regions’ involvement in facilitating partnerships on biodiversity and recommends the development of a European Communications Strategy in cooperation with Countdown 2010.

Further expected is an opinion of the Economic and Social Committee which in an earlier report on biodiversity lamented the big gap between the ideal and reality. Lutz Ribbe of the Committee said at a recent Countdown 2010 conference that – though being a laudable document – the Communication would largely fail to address systemic issues.

^European Commission implements Action Plan

DG Environment’s Nature and Biodiversity Unit is set to coordinate the implementation of the Biodiversity Communication. A special task force is evaluating timelines and developing a workplan in order to implement all 157 actions of the biodiversity communication in a timely and effective manner.

^State of biodiversity: Likely Decline of European Biodiversity between now and 2030

Will the 2010 biodiversity target be met? Dutch researchers say the European Union is unlikely to meet it. Combining socio-economic projections with models on the relationship between environmental factors and biodiversity, they compared the total area of natural ecosystems and the species richness for four scenarios in 2030. The forecast: Biodiversity will decline in almost all countries and in all scenarios, with alpine environments under particular pressure. The main causes identified are urbanisation and increased nitrogen deposition.

^Do it yourself: Reduce your own impact on biodiversity

In Countdown 2010, more than 150 organisations work together to save biodiversity by 2010. Taken together, these organisations represent millions of individuals all over Europe. If each of them takes action on biodiversity, we can make a huge difference. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to reducing your own impact on nature:

  1. Chose what you take from nature. Avoid endangered species as souvenirs and fish species in crisis for dinner. Locally sourced food, or labelled products (eg. MSC for fish, FSC for wood) can be a good alternative.
  2. Europeans consume too much for the planet to be able to cope with it. So make sure that your consumption isn't wasteful: Reduce it, buy only what you really need, re-use it and recycle whatever and whenever you can. Bring your own bag to the supermarket, and refuse unnecessary packaging for your food.
  3. Find ways to reduce your emissions and energy consumption. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and human well-being. You can start with shortening your daily commute to a distance you can cover by foot, bike or public transport, insulating your house better and choosing energy efficient appliances (don’t forget to switch them off when you don’t use them). If you choose to use a car, look for low-emission models and consider an ‘eco-driving’ course. Air travel can often be replaced by other means of transport or a different destination. Where it cannot, you might want to buy carbon offsets. 
  4. Last, but not least: Cherish nature. Visit protected areas when you’re on holiday, and locate beautiful spots in your daily surroundings. If you have a garden, why not let parts of it grow freely and see what wild flowers appear? If you plant trees and shrubs, go for local species. Try to be gentle with chemical pesticides and fertilisers. Biodiversity will thank you for it.

Don’t forget to take a deep breath, and tell others what you are doing to conserve biodiversity. They might even want to join you.

Further reading:

^Internal: New Countdown 2010 Website and International Material

If you were one of the ten thousand people visiting the Countdown 2010 website since mid-December, you might have been pleasantly surprised. After two years with a fairly static website, we have now shifted to a more accessible and interactive online platform to better serve your needs. Have a look around, and give us your feedback on the site: What is good, what could be better?

It is particularly recommended to have a look at the Resources section. Since the last newsletter asked for help with translations of the core Countdown 2010 materials, we are happy to have added Italian and German versions of the Declaration and the Factsheet. You can also download the logo in a number of languages from the same section. Your language is missing, and you’d like to help us change it? Get in touch with Wiebke Herding via wiebke.herding@countdown2010.net .

^Focus on... Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena

What to do with invasive wild boars? The National Park of the Maddalena Archipelago north of Sardinia could no longer watch the decline of plants and animals due to the spread of wild boars on its islands. Increasingly, visitors felt threatened by the animals who in their hunt for food had taken on the garbage bins.

With nearly 500 hybrid boars (Sus scrofa meridionalis) present, the complete eradication seemed a necessity – but it was met by criticism from local citizens and environmentalists. Park staff thus decided to hold a referendum on the future of the boars to raise awareness and to stimulate an open discussion. Nearly 700 responses were received, of which half agreed with the proposed eradication. Others suggested different means while only fifteen participants campaigned to keep the boars.

Commenting on the outcome of the referendum, Cinzia Villanucci of the National Park said: “The most striking reason the voters expressed against the presence of the boars was the conservation of local biodiversity. This was really encouraging for our work. We will use this as an example for the management of invasive alien species in Italy”.

Upcoming Events

18-20 January
Forum International pour le Développement Durable (Courchevel, France)
15-16 February
European Conference Biodiversity and Regions (Oisterwijk, The Netherlands)
27 February
Saving Biodiversity: Making Natura 2000 work (Brussels, Belgium)
14-16 March 2007
Second Workshop on All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories and Monitoring (Stuttgart, Germany)
21-24 March 2007
5th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Seville, Spain)
18-20 April
Expert Workshop Countdown 2010 for Marine Biodiversity (Berlin, Germany)

News from Countdown 2010

8 January 2007 Danish Municipalities to share responsibility for endangered species

15 December 2006 Germany commits to reverse the trend on biodiversity

14 December 2006 Helsinki City Public Works Department's Crafts Workshop receives Countdown Certificate of Honour for 2006

7 December 2006 European Institutions join forces for biodiversity

23 November 2006 Success through continuity: 2010 biodiversity target at the center of EU’s triple presidency

2 November 06 Responding to the 2010 biodiversity challenge

More news

New Partners

Countdown 2010 would like to welcome its new partners:

You want to join as well? See here or speak to the Secretariat!

For more information please contact info@countdown2010.net or visit www.countdown2010.net

This newsletter is issued bi-monthly by Countdown 2010. We welcome comments and feedback to Wiebke Herding. Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at www.countdown2010.net/article/newsletter.

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