Brussels, 22/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament chose the World Bio-Diversity Day, 22 May, to sound the alarm. There is a constant loss of biodiversity in Europe that is a serious problem not only for our own survival but also with regard to climate change. It is therefore urgent for the EU to do everything it can to keep to the target that it set itself in 2001 to stem the decline in biodiversity by 2010 and to restore habitats and natural systems.
Taking a stance on the Commission's communication entitled “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 - and beyond - Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being” (EUROPE 9197), the Parliament adopted by a large majority the warning launched by Adamos Adamou (GUE/NGL, Cyprus), the author of an own-initiative report on this subject.
In Europe today, 52% of river fish species, 45% of reptiles and butterflies, 42% of native mammals, 30% of amphibians, and 800 plant species are threatened with extinction. At sea, stocks of cod, haddock and halibut are declining, the report states. “If we do not move towards sustainable use, there will be no fish left for our grandchildren. (…) There is too little funding and too little political will among the member states”, Mr Adamou said.
Following their rapporteur, MEPs welcome the action plan for biodiversity presented by the Commission in May 2006 but consider “it will be insufficient to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services in the longer term”, that is, services provided by nature which are the basis of sustainable development and of many economic activities (production of food, fuel, fibres, medicines, regulation of water, air and climate, maintenance of soil fertility and cycling of nutrients).
The Parliament expresses its deep concern about the financial restrictions imposed on the Natura 2000 programme and other measures of the action plan in the financial perspectives 2007-2013. It calls for this European-wide network of protected natural habitats to be strengthened as it plays a definite and important role not only for protecting species but also for restoring them.
MEPs stress how important it is to safeguard and restore biodiversity in rural areas in the broadest sense, and in the marine environment. They therefore call for the concern of biodiversity to be more integrated into agricultural and fisheries policy, as well as into spatial planning at local, regional and national levels, in order to strengthen the resistance of natural systems to stand up to climate change - a crucial element for adjusting to global warming. The Parliament recommends, in particular, that measures should be adopted to regulate bottom trawling and to have scientific opinions heeded when fixing catch quotas, the reduction of imports of tropical woods into the EU, and more research in the field of biodiversity. It calls for a Community response to the threat posed by the introduction - whether voluntary or accidental - of “invasive alien species and alien genotypes”. Immuno-contraception against these species could play a decisive role, MEPs say, calling, moreover, for the Commission to ban the introduction of alien species and to assess the potential risks that genetically-modified organisms could pose to biodiversity. Furthermore, the Parliament urges the EU to keep a leading role in the effective application of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas immediately welcomed the Parliamentary vote and called for the action plan for 2010 and beyond to be implemented immediately and effectively in the EU and member states. In a press release, the Commission says it shares MEPs' concerns over financial restrictions, and urges member states to allocate the funds that are needed to preserve biodiversity. (an)