Reading on Biodiversity
To get more ready for the YouPEC conference we recommend that you read the following three papers to get more insight into EU policy on biodiversity, the progress made, where the EU has been unsuccessful and the future targets and work needed for the European Union on biodiversity. Also we have chosen some other documents which you can read if you want to really learn more on biodiversity and EU biodiversity policy.
A) The European Union’s Biodiversity Action Plan - 2008
This brochure outlines key elements of the EU biodiversity Action plan. It is very easy to read and filled with interesting case studies and photos. The brochure also mentions EU legislation on environment and nature which has been incorporated in the process. The action plan is divided into 4 main policy areas. It includes a lot of projects and other studies related to biodiversity to which you can proceed for further reading. One thing is sure, the target of halting biodiversity loss in Europe has not been achieved. The first action plan was published in 2006 but by the time of the publishing of the brochure it was already evident that the 2010 deadline was not met.
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B) Progress Towards the European 2010 Biodiversity target - 2009
This report serves two purposes. It takes an account of the state of biodiversity and its loss in Europe based on the most recent data available. Second, it functions as a bridge to a comprehensive assessment of the 2010 target to be done in 2010. As, such the indicators in this report do not only show what is currently known. They also show where information is missing and what more needs to be measured and examined to enable a comprehensive assessment in 2010.
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C) Communication from the commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions ; Options for an EU vision and target for biodiversity beyond 2010 - April 2010
This communication from the commission focuses on the need of a post 2010 EU vision and target. The report stars with the status and trends of biodiversity in Europe and globally. The discussion than focuses on the implications related to biodiversity loss. The achievements and shortcomings of the current EU policy on biodiversity are outlined followed by a vision for 2050. This vision can take place under four levels of ambition which are also outlined in detail in the report.
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For further reading:
Biodiversity on a global level
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future. The conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of humankind. The Convention on Biological Diversity covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic resources. It also covers biotechnology including through the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In fact, it covers all possible domains that are directly or indirectly related to biodiversity and its role in development, ranging from science, politics and education to agriculture, business, culture and much more. The CBD’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties. This ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and commit to work plans. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is based in Montreal, Canada. Its main function is to assist governments in the implementation of the CBD and its programmes of work, to organize meetings, draft documents, and coordinate with other international organizations and collect and spread information. The Executive Secretary is the head of the Secretariat.
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The Global Biodiversity Outlook
The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) series is a periodic report prepared by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The third edition of the report is one of the main publications released during the 2010 International Year on Biodiversity. While the target audience for the report is policy makers, it is written to be accessible to the general public. The report is available in all six United Nations languages. The third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3) presents the status and trends of biodiversity at global, regional and national levels. It analyses the steps being taken by the international community to implement the Convention and to reach the 2010 Biodiversity Target of significantly reducing the current rate of biodiversity loss as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth. The report examines the direct and indirect causes of biodiversity loss and the implications of current biodiversity trends for human wellbeing in the future. Possible actions, which can be taken to improve the status of biodiversity and to address the obstacles to the implementation of the Convention, are also presented. The GBO-3 is based on multiple sources of information. Drawing on more than 100 national reports provided by Parties to the Convention, as well as information provided by the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) and scientific articles and assessments, the GBO-3 is an important source of information in the development of the future Strategic Plan of the CBD.
i) Summary ii) Detailed
Carta di Siracusa’ on Biodiversity
The Siracusa G8 meeting last year prepared the ground for the UN International Year of Biodiversity in 2010 and started work on the framework for the post 2010 biodiversity target. The key outcomes of this meeting were a chairman summary capturing the discussions on the key environmental challenges and the Carta di Siracusa on Biodiversity. Although the paper is a statement and not policy in itself many important issues and important actions that need to be taken are mentioned. It also ends with a list of objectives toward the post 2010 framework on biodiversity.
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Wildlife in a Changing World; An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The following report is an analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened species. The IUCN red list of threatened species is a comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of the world’s plant and animal species. The report focuses on some specific areas covered by the red list including a chapter on the Mediterranean species. The red list data is used to inform the development of national, regional and sub-national legislation on threatened species protection and also the development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. It has also been used by several conventions of the United Nations including the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is a very important guiding tool.
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TEEB for Policy Makers Summary document
This report demonstrates the value of ecosystems and biodiversity to the economy, to society and to individuals. It underlines the urgency of action, as well as the benefits and opportunities that will arise as a result of taking such action. The report shows that the cost of sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services is lower than the cost of allowing biodiversity and ecosystem services to dwindle. It demonstrates how we can take into account the value of ecosystems and biodiversity in policy decisions and identify and support solutions, new instruments, and wider use of existing tool in order to pioneer a way forward. In so doing, the report addresses the needs of policy-makers and those in the policy-making process.
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EU and Biodiversity
Goteborg European Council - 15 and 16th June 2001
In 2001, EU Heads of State and government agreed to "halt" the decline of biodiversity [in the EU] by 2010. The following document although not only focusing exclusively on Biodiversity is important because of the 2010 deadline agreement.
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6) “Cibeles” Priorities - Halting the loss of biodiversity in Europe - Spanish Presidency of the European Union Conference “Post-2010 Biodiversity Vision and Target - The role of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks in Europe” - 26-27 January 2010
The following document was published by the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs last January (holding the presidency of the EU). The document mentions some of the reasons why Europe has failed to stop biodiversity loss by 2010. The Cibeles priorities also discusses in ten priorities the political action needed in the post 2010 period on biodiversity.
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Council conclusions on biodiversity post-2010 - 16 March 2010
“We have obviously failed to meet the biodiversity objective for 2010, and now we must focus on what we need to do to avoid making the same mistake again”
This statement was made by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik in a press conference on the occasion of the adoption of conclusions on biodiversity for the period beyond 2010 during the meeting of the Environment Council, held in Brussels. The document is the Council of Europe's conclusions on the issue of biodiversity for the period beyond 2010. They will enable the EU to work on Biodiverity with a long-term vision up until 2050, while also setting intermediate targets for 2020.
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2010 Turning or breaking for Europe's Wildlife?
BirdLife International has launched a groundbreaking new report on the state of biodiversity in the EU. Entitled ’2010-Turning or Breaking Point for Europe’s Wildlife?’, it denounces the EU’s failure to reach its target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. The report also maps out the necessary steps needed to stop further declines and to reverse the biodiversity loss.
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The EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline
The EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline provides facts and figures on the state and trends of the different biodiversity and ecosystem components. It thereby supports the EU in developing the post‑2010 sub‑targets and provides factual data for measuring and monitoring progress in the EU from 2011 to 2020.
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Websites for further reading on Biodiversity
EU Biodiversity Policy Development
Friends of the Earth International
Friends of the Earth International is the world's largest grassroots environmental network. FoEI groups campaign on today's most urgent environmental and social issues, including biodiversity.
IUCN
IUCN is the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
Countdown 2010
Countdown 2010 is a network of active partners working together towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target.
The convention on Biological Diversity website
UNEP
This is the website of the United Nations environment program
Green Facts
This is a very good website to learn more facts about biodiversity
Biodiversity Information System for Europe
The presentations from the Green Week 1st to 4th June 2010
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