WPC outcomes for EU nature policies

Angelika Pullen IUCN European Regional Office

International Union for Conservation of Nature The IUCN Brussels Office

• Representing the interests of IUCN to the European institutions

• Provide IUCN Secretariat and constituency with information and guidance on European nature policy developments (and EU funding opportunities)

• Contribute to EU policy development: knowledge, multi-stakeholder dialogues, advice, connection between EU and international processes

• Integrate in sectoral policies: trade, development cooperation, agriculture, energy, climate

• EU Representative Office -> European Regional Office Ø Manage membership issues for IUCN West European Statutory region

International Union for Conservation of Nature EU Policy Activities

• Work with European Parliament, European Commission, Permanent Representations, NGOs, other members • Objective: Inserting IUCN knowledge into EU policy making • Biodiversity • Fitness check of Nature Legislation • Mid-term review of EU Biodiversity Strategy • Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions across different policy sectors (environment, research, climate etc) • Climate change: • Ecosystem-based adaptation (EU Adaptation Strategy) • Land use based climate mitigation (LULUCF) • Sub-national governments, urban biodiversity & green infrastructure • Invasive Alien Species • Sustainable Development Goals • EU Large Carnivores Platform • Biodiversity in EU Overseas (BEST programme)

International Union for Conservation of Nature EU Policy Activities

IUCN priorities linked to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020

EU Biodiversity Strategy Targets IUCN Priority

Target 1: Fully implement the and Natura 2000 and link with IUCN Red list Habitats Directives of Species and Green List of PAs Review of EU Nature Legislation

Target 2: Maintain and restore Green Infrastructure ecosystems and their services Nature Based Solutions Forest Landscape Restoration No Net Loss/Net Positive Impact Ecosystem Services Link with IUCN Nature Based Solutions Target 5: Combat Invasive Alien Species Invasive Alien Species working groups; collaboration with ISSG Target 6: Step-up action to tackle the CBD global biodiversity crisis CITES & Wildlife Crime Sustainable Development Goals

International Union for Conservation of Nature Example: IUCN European Red List

• A review of the conservation status of species in Europe, identifying species threatened with extinction at European level

• 9,700 species have been assessed to date

• The European Red List is a powerful tool to: – Inform policy decisions on biodiversity conservation and the protection of Europe’s natural resources – Support priority setting for conservation actions and research – Measure progress towards achieving the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity

International Union for Conservation of Nature Example: Review of EU Nature Legislation

• European Commission undertaking ‘fitness check’ of EU Birds and Habitats Directives to verify their efficiency (REFIT)

• Cornerstone of EU conservation action; effective and popular legislation Ø 27,300 sites now protected across the EU Ø Many iconic species have made comebacks Ø Oustanding cost-benefit-ratio

IUCN Brussels Office:

• Collaboration with key stakeholder groups; provide expertise and knowledge on the status of biodiversity in Europe and the success of the nature legislation • Active participation in REFIT public consultation, deadline end of July • http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/nature_fitness_check_en.htm

International Union for Conservation of Nature Relevance of WPC outcomes to EU policies

1. Promise of Sydney Ø Commitments from EU Member States, regions, organisations

2. Green List of Protected Areas

3. Key Biodiversity Areas

4. Communications on Protected Areas

International Union for Conservation of Nature Promise of Sydney: EU Member States

France • Strengthen the normative framework for the protection of natural areas; • Continue the growth of PA network, beyond Aichi Target (coverage & level of protection); • 20% of national seas under protection by 2020 (x2 Aichi target) • NEW: Protect 35,000 ha of by 2015 in overseas territories; • NEW: French development agency budget commitment for biodiversity conservation: 160 millions €/year. French Polynesia • Create a new large-scale marine PA initiative in Austral Islands

Andalusia • Promote integration of PAs into IUCN Green List of Protected Areas • Development of legal framework to allow for the inclusion of land stewardship processes in the management of Andalusian PAs

International Union for Conservation of Nature Promise of Sydney: Other organisations

Federparchi (Italy) committed to:

Propose at least five new protected areas for listing on the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas. The protected areas will be chosen among National, Regional Parks, private areas and Natura 2000 sites.

International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Green List of Protected Areas

• New global standard to reward innovation, excellence and endeavour in Protected Areas • Demanding criteria, including: – quality of protection of natural values – governance: fair and transparent, sharing of the costs and benefits of conservation – effective management – long-lasting conservation outcomes

• Benefits for managers and agencies include: – international recognition – increased political and financial support – motivation to meet and maintain high management standards – acknowledgement of benefit sharing for local communities – recognition from the tourism industry and visitors (high quality experience)

International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Green List of Protected Areas

Green Listed PAs in Europe (8 out of 23)

• Italy: – Gran Paradiso National Park

• Spain: – Espacio Natural de Doñana – Espacio Natural de Sierra Nevada

• : – Natural Marine Park of Iroise – Pyrénées National Park – Marine natural reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls – Sensitive Natural Area “Marais d’Episy” – National Park (Overseas territory)

International Union for Conservation of Nature Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

• Globally significant areas for the persistence of biodiversity (species and ecosystems) • 4 sessions on KBAs at WPC, as part of global consultation • New KBA standard now finalised, second round of consultation in summer 2015 – builds on Important and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)

• Relevance for EU policy making: – KBAs can help PA gap analysis; guide the selection of new PAs or expansion of existing site networks (especially in the marine biome) – Reinforcing the value of Natura 2000, support better understanding of the aim of Natura 2000 internationally

International Union for Conservation of Nature Communicating Protected Areas

Eurobarometer: Good general understanding of benefits of PAs

International Union for Conservation of Nature 65% agree that EU should increase PAs

BUT: 73% have not heard of Natura 2000…

International Union for Conservation of Nature Media coverage of World Parks Congress

More than 140 accredited journalists from 25 countries, very positive reporting

European coverage includes:

Le Monde Reuters National Geographic El Pais Deutsche Welle RAI (Italy) The Guardian Independent RTL Financial Times (Ireland) Correio da Manhã Economist ANSA (Italy) (Portugal) AFP (France)

“I could have gone to the Brisbane G-20 summit meeting, but I thought this was more important — and interesting,” Thomas Friedman, NYT

International Union for Conservation of Nature

THANK YOU!!

[email protected] @IUCNBrussels

International Union for Conservation of Nature ADDITIONAL SLIDES

International Union for Conservation of Nature Example: Local and regional governments

• Local and regional governments: major role to play in implementing EU and global biodiversity targets • Brussels office engages with subnational governments to support efforts towards integrating the value of nature in decision making and planning and promoting the uptake of nature-based solutions

Examples:

• URBES (Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) European project to bridge the gap between science and policy on the role of biodiversity and ecosystems in responding to urban challenges • World Environmental Hubs: establishing a global framework for evaluating and certifying cities and regions which place environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and ecosystem services at the heart of urban and regional development strategies.

International Union for Conservation of Nature Example: NBS in the European agenda

EU Research: • Horizon 2020 – € 85 m for large scale demonstration projects on nature- based solutions in 2016-2017 • Biodiversa paper for GAIA – Nature-based solutions: framing an emerging concept that may deeply influence future environmental research in Europe

Events: • EU Presidency conference Nature and Urban Wellbeing - Nature-based solutions to societal challenges, Gent 18-20 May 2015 • Conference (EP, IUCN and EC) Nature-Based Solutions: Innovation potential for smart, sustainable & Inclusive Growth in Europe, Brussels 30 September 2015

Publications: • Towards an EU Research and Innovation policy agenda for Nature-Based Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities (Final Report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on ‘Nature-Based Solutions and Re-Naturing Cities’) International Union for Conservation of Nature Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

• globally significant areas for the persistence of biodiversity • 167 freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas identified, mapped and validated throughout the Mediterranean region (302,557 km2) • found that 75% were outside of PA or other KBAs • Findings can guide selection of new PAs or expansion of existing site networks • Project founded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, MAVA Foundation, Spanish Agency for Interna- tional Development Cooperation (AECID)

International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Green List of Protected Areas

Example: Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy)

• one of first European sites to be ‘green listed’ • one oldest and largest protected areas in the Alps (since 1922) • valuable role in conservation, including saving the native Ibex- Steinbock (Capra ibex) from extinction • exemplary governance system • GLPA has brought acknowledgement (national & international) • broader benefits: plans to share experiences to help other PA and countries, such as the National Institute for Nature Protection of Croatia and other European countries

International Union for Conservation of Nature Biodiversity in EU Overseas

• The EU includes 34 overseas territories linked to 6 Member States (Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the UK)

• These are home to a huge diversity of species of global significance (70% of Europe’s biodiversity)

• Conserving this biodiversity is essential to meeting EU’s 2020 biodiversity goals

• EU funded BEST project run by GMPP

• High political and policy relevance for the EU -> Close collaboration Brussels-GMPP

International Union for Conservation of Nature