Biodiversity

Our Work

Our work supports the EU's objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2020, currently focusing on key issues such as the socio-economic benefits of ecosystems services, the implementation and financing of EU biodiversity conservation measures, the development of policies on invasive alien species, and measures to support the adaptation of biodiversity to climate change. We primarily work on policy analysis and development projects commissioned by the European Commission, but also contribute to the biodiversity conservation work of national governments and NGOs.

Our work supports the EU’s objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2020, currently focusing on key issues such as the socio-economic benefits of ecosystems services, the implementation and financing of EU biodiversity conservation measures, the development of policies on invasive alien species, and measures to support the adaptation of biodiversity to climate change.

We primarily work on policy analysis and development projects commissioned by the European Commission, but also contribute to the biodiversity conservation work of national governments and NGOs.

The EU has a relatively strong and comprehensive biodiversity conservation policy framework, with key instruments including the Birds and Habitats Directives, as well as other relevant regulations (e.g. those of controlling pollution) and sources of funding for environmentally beneficial land management (e.g. under the Common Agricultural Policy).

In 2001, EU Heads of State and Government committed to halting the decline of biodiversity in the EU by 2010 and to restoring habitats and natural systems. This ambitious target was further supported in 2006 by a European Commission Communication and detailed EU Biodiversity Action Plan, which aimed to provide a comprehensive plan of actions to achieve the 2010 target.

The EU’s existing commitments and the stimulus of the Action Plan have contributed to substantial progress in the implementation of policies and practical measures for biodiversity conservation – for example, the Natura network is now the largest network of protected areas in the world. Despite this the EU failed in meeting its 2010 biodiversity target.

There is evidence, however, that biodiversity losses are now being taken more seriously and being addressed in core policy making. This is largely as a result of growing evidence from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the G8 initiated study of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) that clearly shows that biodiversity is worthy of protection, not just for its own sake but also for its contribution to human well-being.

Consequently, EU Heads of State have signed up to a new post-2010 EU biodiversity target, which reflects the economic and welfare agenda by aiming to halt biodiversity and ecosystem services loss by 2020, restoring them where feasible and ‘stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.’

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