Commission departments have made progress in the preparation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, which is still scheduled to be presented on 25 March. According to a new version of the text, little has changed from the version seen by EUROPE in February (see EUROPE 12422/1), except for greater demands with regard to agriculture and a dramatisation of the stakes.
This strategy, provided for in the framework of the European Green Deal, is intended to be ambitious in order to provide as urgent response to the biodiversity crisis as to the climate crisis. “We are facing an urgent existential, ecological and climatic crisis of an unprecedented scale in the history of humanity”, says the communication project.
But while the EU intends to set an example at the COP15 conference on biodiversity (Kunming, October 2020), the Commission intends to align its objectives with those from this international UN conference.
Thus, the draft text aims to restore at least 30% of the EU’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems (both are in the text, without brackets) and “in accordance with the proposals made at COP15”.
This will be achieved in particular through the pan-European Natura 2000 network and through effective conservation measures in the network of protected areas, which will be extended on the basis of a mapping of ecosystems and the services they provide, the project says.
To accelerate nature restoration activities, the Commission is developing a specific plan whereby the EU would commit to restoring a significant share of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems, not only in terrestrial and marine areas, but also in urban environments. That’s something new. In total, at least one third of the network will cover habitats that are very rich in biodiversity or of high potential biodiversity value.
With regard to forest ecosystems, the Commission is committed to using forests as carbon sinks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is considering a forestation plan with millions of trees to be planted (the number is still to be determined). It will also be necessary to define, map and strictly protect all existing primary forests.
A 50% reduction in pesticide use? In agriculture, the Commission is reportedly considering an EU commitment to ensure that at least 30% of agricultural land is dedicated to organic farming, although this percentage has yet to be arbitrated, and that 10% of agricultural land is converted into non-productive areas and landscapes.
The Commission plans to adopt an action plan for organic farming that will include measures to stimulate demand for organic products, including through public procurement.
The draft states that the ‘farm to fork’ strategy, which is also due to be presented on 25 March (see EUROPE 12436/6), will address the reduction of pesticide use and risks, including through legislative measures under the CAP reform. The Commission envisages a reduction of 50% (instead of 30%), but the figure is still in brackets.
The WWF criticises the lack of transparency. The WWF, which had submitted a request to the Commission for access to the documents in order to consult its assessment of the impact of the CAP on nature, was still waiting on Friday 13 March to have its request granted, even though the deadline for doing so was the same day. It sees this study as crucial in the context of the farm-to-fork strategy.
“By withholding this document from an assessment that was completed several months ago, the Commission is once again turning a technical assessment into a political game”, the NGO deplored. At press time, WWF had still not been satisfied. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)