The European Commission adopted an action plan on Thursday 27 April “to rapidly improve” the implementation of the nature and biodiversity directives: 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds (see EUROPE 11684). A major goal of the action plan is to complete the Natura 2000 network.
The Commission hopes, through this action plan “for nature, people and the economy”, to speed up progress towards the European objective of stemming biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services by 2023.
The evaluation of the nature directives (the “fitness check”) revealed that “achievement of their objectives and realisation of their full potential will depend upon substantial improvement in their implementation”, the action plan states. Only around half of the birds and a smaller proportion of the other protected species and habitats in the EU have good conservation status today. The Natura 2000 network is now largely in place on land but important gaps remain in the marine environment. Only 50% of all Natura 2000 sites have management plans with conservation objectives and measures. The Commission has presented this action plan consisting of fifteen actions focusing on four priority areas to remedy these shortcomings. Most will be launched in 2017 so that the Commission can report on their delivery before 2019, when its term ends.
Improving guidance and knowledge. The Commission intends to update, develop and actively promote: - guidance on site permit procedures, species protection and management; - sector-specific guidance on important topics such as wind energy, hydropower and aquaculture; - guidance on integrating ecosystem services into decision-making. The Commission will establish a support mechanism to help member state authorities address key challenges in applying the permitting requirements of the birds and habitats directives for Natura 2000 and species protection rules. The Commission will ensure public online access to data necessary for implementing the directives (for example, satellite imagery from the Copernicus programme).
Building political ownership and strengthening compliance. The goal will be to “complete” the Natura 2000 network, filling gaps for the marine environment, and putting in place the necessary conservation measures for all sites. It will also be necessary to further develop species and habitats action plans for the most threatened species and natural habitats as well as stakeholder platforms on coexistence with conflict species (such as large carnivores).
Strengthening investment in Natura 2000 and improving use of EU funding. The Commission is proposing a 10% increase in the LIFE budget dedicated to projects supporting the conservation of nature and biodiversity, within the overall budgetary envelope of the LIFE programme. It hopes to stimulate private sector investment in nature projects through the Natural Capital Financing Facility, a financing partnership between the Commission and the European Investment Bank. Other initiatives include promoting synergies with funding from the common agricultural policy and providing guidance to support the deployment of green infrastructure for better connectivity of Natura 2000 areas.
Communication and outreach. A joint platform with the Committee of the Regions will be set up. Young people will be involved by giving them the opportunity to support the conservation of Natura 2000 sites through the European Solidarity Corps. 21 May will be the European Natura 2000 Day.
NGOs not satisfied. WWF has called for an increase in Community funding to implement the action plan. Friends of the Earth Europe would have liked the plan to have been extended to protecting bees and to have addressed the harmful effects of industrial farming. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) says the action plan will not be enough to meet EU biodiversity goals. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)