Brussels, 21/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - An overwhelming majority of Europeans believe that the loss of biological diversity is a serious problem, and biodiversity loss globally is seen as particularly worrying. This is the finding of a Eurobarometer survey, ordered by the European Commission to survey European citizens' knowledge of the problem, and the level of their concern at the constant decline and disappearance of animal and plant species, natural habitats and ecosystems.
With the results of the survey, published on 18 January, the Commission will launch a broad three-year awareness raising campaign in 2008, to encourage Europeans to act to protect biodiversity and thus help to achieve the objective, subscribed to by the EU, of halting biodiversity loss by 2010.
“Biodiversity loss is irreversible. Since the 1970s, the European Union has been committed to protecting nature, and we are working hard to realise our target of halting biodiversity loss on our continent by 2010. Achieving this target requires everyone across the Union to work together to ensure that our ecosystems are sustainable and healthy,” said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas
in a press release.
The survey on the attitude of Europeans to the issue of biodiversity was carried out between 20 and 24 November 2007 by the Gallup Institute Hungary at the request of DG Environment in the Commission. It gathered the responses of 25,000 citizens aged 15 or more, selected at random, in 23 member states (all except Estonia, Cyprus, Luxemburg and Malta) surveyed by telephone, and some
500 interviews.
Most respondents said they had heard of biodiversity (only 35% were able to say what the term actually meant), but only a minority felt well informed on biodiversity loss.
Once the phenomenon of biodiversity loss had been explained, 43% felt that this was a serious problem for their own country. Global biodiversity loss, however, was felt to be more worrying: seven out of ten thought that the decline or extinction of animal species, natural habitats and ecosystems w<ere serious problems for the planet.
While most respondents did not personally see the immediate impact of the decline in biodiversity on their lives (19% only felt personally affected by the decline and possible extinction of flora and fauna), 70% thought that the loss of biodiversity could have an impact in the future. 35% expected to see this impact in the near future. Many also believed that they would not be personally affected, but that their children would see the consequences.
EU citizens are aware of the many reasons why the preservation of biodiversity is important. 93% of respondents said that preserving biodiversity was a moral obligation affecting current generations as stewards of nature. Slightly fewer subscribed to the idea that biodiversity was essential for the production of foodstuffs, fuel and medicines and that the loss of biodiversity would probably have economic consequences for Europe. 27% believed that oil spills and industrial accidents were the most serious threats to biodiversity. Thereafter came climate change (19%), more intensive farming, deforestation and over-fishing (13%), and the construction of roads, housing and industrial estates (8%).
More than 2 out of three respondents said they had made efforts to protect biodiversity, and half said they were ready to do more to halt the loss of diversity. 21%, however, said they had done nothing, because they did not know what to do.
The survey also revealed the lack of knowledge among European citizens of the Natura 2000 Network of protected natural habitats. 80% pf respondents said they had never heard of this key instrument for the preservation of biodiversity in the EU.
A study undertaken on behalf of the Commission by the World Conservation Union, which was published in May 2007, sounded alarm bells by revealing that, in Europe, almost one mammal in six is threatened with extinction (see EUROPE 9430). The results of the Eurobarometer survey were made public on the eve on the comments by French President Sarkozy to fishermen in Boulogne-sur-mer on 19 January which questioned fishing quotas imposed by the EU, precisely to prevent the loss of some marine species threatened by over-fishing. (A.N.)