| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2015) 219 final (20.5.15) |
| Publication Date | 20/05/2015 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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Europeans live in one of the most densely populated regions of the world that has a long history of land use. This has had a profound impact on nature, resulting in the creation of diverse cultural landscapes that are home to a rich fauna and flora. However, developments, particularly during the 20th century, have also resulted in the large-scale destruction of nature. Between 1900 and the mid-1980s Europe had already lost two thirds of its wetlands, and almost three-quarters of its sand dunes and heaths, through a combination of land-use change, infrastructure developments, pollution and urban expansion. This loss of natural capital is a major concern. We depend on nature for the food, energy, raw materials, air and water that make life possible. In addition, nature is a central economic driver, contributing to our economy in ways that we are only just starting to fully comprehend and providing services that are crucial for sustaining and creating jobs and growth. It is also a source of inspiration, knowledge and recreation, and an integral part of our cultural heritage. The Birds and the Habitats Directives are the main legislative instruments for ensuring conservation and the sustainable use of nature in the EU, particularly through the Natura 2000 network of areas of high biodiversity value. The directives are key elements of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to achieve the EU headline target of ‘halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restoring them in so far as feasible’. They are also central to delivering EU global commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, concluded in Nagoya in October 2010. Good quality knowledge on the status of and trends for habitats and species protected by the directives underpins the effective implementation of the directives. This report fulfils a legal requirement for the Commission to periodically assess progress in implementing the directives on the basis of monitoring and reporting by Member States. This report describes the key results for the 2007-12 reporting period, and represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between the Member States and European institutions. A unique database on EU nature, which includes over 17,000 data-sets and assessments of individual species and habitats, forms the basis for this report. It contains information on the status of about 450 wild bird species, 231 habitat types and more than 1200 other species of Community interest. While this is only one component of the extent of biodiversity in the EU, it is a very important sample, reflecting the threats and pressures facing biodiversity across the Member States. Thanks to more streamlined reporting, it is possible for the first time to present and assess results under both directives together, as well as taking a closer look at the contribution of Natura 2000 to the status of, and trends for, nature. This report is a short summary of comprehensive and detailed information, and builds on the extensive analyses carried out by the European Environmental Agency (EEA), which also provides further methodological details. The results of this assessment will provide vital insight and knowledge to underpin any further actions needed to achieve the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives and optimise their contribution to realising the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2015:219:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Geography |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
