EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Bringing nature back into our lives

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 20 May 2020, which sets out s Strategy aimed at protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems.

Further information:

The plan's main objective is to put Europe's biodiversity to recovery by 2030, and it sets out ways to implement existing legislation more effectively, as well as new commitments, measures, targets and governance mechanisms. The include:

• Transforming at least 30% of Europe's lands and seas into effectively managed protected areas;
• Restoring degraded ecosystems across the European Union (EU) that are in a poor state;
• Enabling transformational change.

This Biodiversity Strategy aims to tackle key drivers of biodiversity loss. It proposes to, among others, establish binding targets to restore damaged ecosystems and rivers, improve the health of EU protected habitats and species, bring back pollinators to agricultural land, reduce pollution, green our cities, enhance organic farming and other biodiversity-friendly farming practices, and improve the health of European forests. Funding of around €20 billion/year is to be unlocked for biodiversity through various sources, including EU funds, national and private funding.

The Strategy is closely linked with Farm to Form (2F2) Strategy (launched on the same day) and the overall European Green Deal, of which it is a core element.

The Council of the European Union adopted a set of conclusions concerning this Strategy on 23 October.

Official

European Commission: DG Environment: EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm

European Commission: Public Consultation on Safeguarding nature – EU 2030 biodiversity strategy (December 2019 to January 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12096-EU-2030-Biodiversity-Strategy

European Commission: Press Release, 20/05/2020: Reinforcing Europe's resilience: halting biodiversity loss and building a healthy and sustainable food system https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_884

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Farm to Fork Strategy - building a healthy and fully sustainable food system (20 May 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_885

European Commission: Questions and Answers: EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives (20 May 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_20_886

European Commission: Opening Remarks by Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans at the Press Conference on the Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy (20 May 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_923

European Commission: Remarks delivered by Commissioner Kyriakides at the Press Conference on the adoption of the Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy (20 May 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_920

European Commission: Remarks delivered by Commissioner Sinkevičius at the Press Conference on the adoption of the Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy (20 May 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_924

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 23/10/2020: Council adopts conclusions on the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/23/council-adopts-conclusions-on-the-eu-biodiversity-strategy-for-2030/

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News

EUObserver, 20/01/2020: MEPs urge binding targets to protect biodiversity https://euobserver.com/environment/147187

The Guardian, 19/05/2020: EU plan for 3bn trees in 10 years to tackle biodiversity crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/eu-plan-for-3bn-trees-in-10-years-to-tackle-biodiversity-crisis

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Commentary and Analysis

Europarc Federation: News, 04/02/2020: The role of Protected Areas in the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy https://www.europarc.org/news/2020/02/protected-areas-in-the-eu-2030-biodiversity-strategy/

Slow Food Europe, 13/02/2020: Slow Food Europe: The New EU Biodiversity Strategy Must Protect Bees and Pollinators https://www.slowfood.com/slow-food-europe-the-new-eu-biodiversity-strategy-must-protect-bees-and-pollinators/

EEB: Joint Publication, 29/04/2020: The importance and urgency of adopting an ambitious EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and Farm to Fork Strategy to guide the post-Covid 19 recovery process – NGO letter https://eeb.org/library/the-importance-and-urgency-of-adopting-an-ambitious-eu-2030-biodiversity-strategy-and-farm-to-fork-strategy-to-guide-the-post-covid-19-recovery-process-ngo-letter/

EPRS: Briefing, May 2020: The EU 2030 Biodeversity Strategy https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL_BRI(2020)652207

EurActiv: Opinions, 22/06/2020: Let’s not forget biodiversity https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/opinion/lets-not-forget-biodiversity/

Social Europe, 21/10/2020: Europe’s hidden biodiversity crisis https://www.socialeurope.eu/europes-hidden-biodiversity-crisis

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