The New European Biodiversity Strategy: A Challenge to the Restoration Community!

Last year the European Union (EU) adopted a new strategy to "halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restore them in so far as feasible." The strategy is built around 6 measurable targets with a comprehensive set of actions that focus on the main drivers of biodiversity loss.

The cornerstone of the existing EU nature legislation is formed by the Birds and Habitats Directives. In response to these Directives, the 27 EU member states already designated core areas for approximately 2000 rare and threatened species and habitat types deemed to be of EU importance in view of their vulnerability. This resulted in the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world, consisting of more than 26,000 terrestrial and marine sites covering 751,150 km² of terrestrial habitat (17.5% of Europe) and 199,000 km² of marine habitat. The Directives require that the protected habitats and species are maintained or restored to a "favorable conservation status" across their natural range within the EU (i.e. are thriving and in a healthy condition). According to the recent results of the obligatory monitoring of their conservation status, only 17% of the habitat types and species protected under the Habitats Directive are in a favorable conservation status at the EU-biogeographical level, the majority being in an "unfavorable-inadequate" or "unfavorable-bad" state. For the European bird species protected under the Birds Directive, only 52% are deemed to be in a secure condition at present (EEA 2010). The first target of the new Biodiversity Strategy aims at 34% of the habitats and 26% of the species in a favorable or significantly improved conservation status by 2020 and 80% of the protected bird species populations secured. In the forthcoming years, the EU member states will therefore have to invest in the implementation of adequate conservation and restoration measures within the designated network of protected areas, amounting to an estimated total cost of €6 billion a year.

A second principal target of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy focuses on maintaining and enhancing ecosystem services, and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems across the EU. Many of Europe's ecosystems are heavily degraded which drastically reduces their ability to deliver essential goods and services to society. Moreover, 30% of Europe is moderately to highly fragmented due to changing land uses and increased urbanization and infrastructure developments (EEA 2011). By 2014 the EU member states have to develop a strategic framework to set priorities for ecosystem restoration at the subnational, national, and EU level. Another action is the elaboration of an EU-wide Green Infrastructure Strategy by the end of 2012 to promote reconnection of fragmented natural areas, improve the delivery of ecosystem goods and services (e.g., protection against floods and erosion, clean water supply, pollination), and tackle the adverse effects of climate change. Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services will be necessary throughout the EU, while the monetary value of ecosystem services needs to be better integrated into national and EU accounting and reporting systems. By 2014 a European methodology will be developed for assessing the impact of EU funded projects, plans, and programs on biodiversity. The ultimate goal is a sustainable, more "biodiversity proof" policy at all levels. Furthermore, a European initiative will be launched by 2015 to ensure there is "no net loss" of ecosystems and their services (e.g., through compensation or offsetting schemes).

Farming and forestry concern almost 72% of the land use in Europe and play an important role in Europe's biodiversity. Unfortunately, today only 15-25% of Europe's once extensive high nature value farming (e.g., different types of semi-natural grassland) remain, and most species that depend on traditional agricultural practices are in decline, while no more than 1-3% of Europe's forests are still in an entirely natural and unmanaged state. A third target of the new EU biodiversity strategy, therefore, focuses on an increased contribution of agriculture and forestry...