Brussels, 21/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Unless something substantial is done to invigorate the European strategy, it is unlikely to halt biodiversity decline in Europe by 2020, says the European Parliament (EP) environment committee, which in Brussels on 20 March agreed to the wide range of measures advocated by its rapporteur Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, Netherlands) to offer better protection for this common good which so far the EU has failed to look after.
Among other measures, MEPs call for the restoration of 15% of degraded ecosystems, increased protection species and natural habitats, and improving the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures in the common agricultural policy. The sustainability of fishing, forestry, agriculture and industry and transport policies are essential, not optional, say the MEPs, urging the European Commission to build biodiversity concerns into all EU policies which have a possible impact on these endangered riches.
They also recommend making available the financial resources necessary, including structural and cohesion funding, encouraging investment by innovative sources of financing in both the public and private sectors, and providing more support for biodiversity targets in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2014-2020).
“By adopting my report, the Environment Committee clearly embraces the European Strategy to stop the loss of biodiversity in 2020. The European Parliament is even more ambitious in willing to restore more than 15% of degraded ecosystems. An important step has been set with the adoption of the so called 'no net loss' principle at project level. This will have a huge influence on industry to take biodiversity concerns into account”, Gerbrandy said.
In adopting this report, “Our life insurance, our natural capital: a Biodiversity Strategy to 2020”, the EP environment committee delivered its response to the European Commission communication which laid the foundations for a new European strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and, as far as is possible, restore ecosystems by 2020. (AN/transl.rt)