The New European Green Deal
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nature and biodiversity newsletter | February 2020 1 Nature and Biodiversity Newsletter Number 47 | February 2020 NATURA 2000 ISSN2443-7727 The new European Green Deal Environment 2 nature and biodiversity newsletter | February 2020 Natura 2000 Aurore © Martignoni/European Commission nature and biodiversity newsletter February 2020 Contents 3–5 The Nature Action Plan – taking stock of progress 6–7 Natura 2000 in cities 8–9 Natura2000 barometer – update December 2019 Dati © Bendo European / Commission 10–13 The new European Green Deal 14–16 Natura News © PatTucson naturepl.com © / Editorial It is my great honour and privilege to take up the reigns as the new Commissioner for the environment, oceans and fisheries at this defining moment in Europe’s history. As a Lithuanian born after the re-establishment of the Independence of Lithuania, the European ideal is in my DNA. For me, Europe is synonymous with freedom and © SolStock © opportunity, with hope and solidarity. The new Commission starts its mandate with high ambitions thanks to the new European Green Deal. Our first objective is to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. But, this must be accompanied by much wider environmental initiatives, starting with a new EU Biodiversity Strategy. Our ambitions are high, but so are the stakes. Scientists have been warning us for years that we have only a short window of opportunity left in which to address the climate and biodiversity crises and transition towards a much more sustainable lifestyle that is within the earth’s capacity. © imageBROKER Photo© AlamyStock / Ambitious climate and environment policies should also bring greater social justice since they improve health, quality of life and wellbeing for all. But I want to go a step further to ensure that the green transition works for all. We need targeted measures that leave no one behind, especially vulnerable people and communities. Therefore, it will be essential to better integrate the Green Deal into the EU budget and also mobilise national and private funding. The combined opportunities of different EU funds under the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework – including the Common Agriculture Policy, Regional and Cohesion Funds, Horizon Europe, the European Marine and Fisheries Fund, LIFE and external action funds, need to be fully availed of. © Bruno © D’Amicie naturepl.com / To deliver on our climate and environmental ambitions, we also need to ensure our policies support each other. I will therefore strive for effective mainstreaming of environmental and biodiversity priorities across all policy areas to ensure effective systemic change. This includes improving the sustainability of our farming and fisheries practices and addressing the environmental impacts of the way we produce and consume food in Europe. We will also need to give higher priority to nature-based solutions, such as the protection and restoration of biodiverse and carbon-rich ecosystems, in the EU climate mitigation and adaptation policy. The next years will be crucial. I will do all I can to make them count for nature and biodiversity, not only for our benefit but also for that of future generations. Cover: Sunrise over bog, Endla Nature Reserve, Jogevamaa, Central Estonia. Virginijus Sinkevičius © Sven Zacek / naturepl.com European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries nature and biodiversity newsletter | February 2020 3 © Rudmer © Zwerver Alamy / Stock Photo Conservation measures are now in place for around 70% of all Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) under the Habitats Directive. The Nature Action Plan – taking stock of progress Adopted in April 2017, the Priority A: Improving authorities and stakeholders including interactions with EU Action Plan for nature, guidance and ensuring apply their provisions more different key sectors, while people and the economy better coherence with effectively. also explaining the flexibility broader socio-economic A total of six guidance embedded in the Directives. aimed to address the principal objectives documents have been published They highlight the benefits of shortcomings identified during Under this priority, the so far, following extensive early strategic planning and the fitness check of the two Commission, in close cooperation consultations with interested smart participatory approaches EU Nature Directives published with Member States and parties. Four more are being that encourage the full stakeholders, committed to finalised for adoption. Some, involvement of landowners the previous year. The Plan develop and update several such as the Article 6 general and other interest groups from put forward 15 concrete guidance documents in order to interpretation guide or the the outset. actions, structured around four promote a greater species protection guide under In addition, the Commission priorities, designed to speed understanding of the two the Habitats Directive, have been has translated and summarised Directives and help public updated to take account of other existing guidance up the implementation of experience and recent EU Court documents to ensure greater the Directives on the ground of Justice Rulings. Others are outreach, and is actively and improve their coherence entirely new and respond to promoting them with the help of with broader socio-economic identified needs for clarification Member States and the in particular areas of activity, Committee of the Regions. objectives. Nearly three years An Action Plan such as hydropower and energy Also, under this priority, the for nature, on, as the Action Plan reaches people and transmission infrastructure. Commission, in close the economy The EU Habitats and Each document provides collaboration with the European the end of its mandate, the Birds Directives time has come to look back at comprehensive information on Environmental Agency (EEA), has how Natura 2000 sites should improved the functionality and all that has been achieved. Environment be protected and managed, accessibility of the Natura 2000 4 nature and biodiversity newsletter | February 2020 Viewer (https://bit.ly/2H8bygK). the designation of their Natura as those responsible for Rural Directive (https://bit.ly/37jBkch) This online tool enables users to 2000 sites as well as establish Development Programmes as well as EU species action locate Natura 2000 sites and implement the necessary under the CAP or Operational plans for 16 bird species anywhere in the EU or search conservation objectives and Programmes under other EU protected under the Birds for any protected species or measures for all sites. funds. This encouraged Directive (https://bit. habitats within these sites. The marine Natura 2000 face-to-face discussions on key ly/2uxWUfS). For the first time, The Joint Research Centre network has since almost problems and a joint exploration an EU-wide Habitat Action Plan (JRC), meanwhile, has created a doubled in size. The number of of how Natura 2000 can be has also been developed for smartphone application on sites with conservation better integrated into other semi-natural dry grasslands Invasive Alien Species in Europe measures in place has also policy and funding priorities for (habitat type “6210”), (https:// to enable the general public to increased to almost 70% of all that country. In addition, bit.ly/2uqRXFX). A second plan receive and share information Sites of Community Importance back-to-back meetings have for European dry heaths on 48 of the EU’s (SCIs) under the Habitats been held with stakeholders to (habitat type ‘4030’) will be worst offenders. The user can Directive. However, progress is give them an opportunity to set published later this year. record the GPS coordinates of still too slow across the board, out their views and indicate Meanwhile, the Commission any invasive species they spot which is why the Commission is areas where greater efforts are continues to actively support in the wild and send in increasing its infringement needed to improve the EU Platform on the additional documentary actions against Member States implementation. Coexistence between People evidence, such as photos, on in order to force those who are Additionally, the Commission and Large Carnivores, a key their whereabouts (https://bit. lagging behind to redouble has continued to support the stakeholder forum that aims to ly/2Hcg51O). their efforts. Natura 2000 Biogeographical find practical ways to encourage The work on satellite-based The Commission has also Process, which brings Member the coexistence between remote sensing as a support to organised a series of tailor- State authorities and economic activities, such as better implementation of the made discussions with each stakeholders together to share farming, and large carnivores nature directives has also been Member State to discuss the experience and expertise on key (https://bit.ly/38mwBZ2). intensified and work is currently challenges of implementing the management, monitoring and Finally, to further improve underway to develop a Nature Directives. These financing challenges for Natura synergies between the nature prototype for monitoring Natura so-called bilateral “nature 2000 within each directives and other key EU 2000 habitats through satellite dialogues” have taken place in biogeographical region (https:// environmental laws, the images under Copernicus, the 22 countries so far and have bit.ly/38f9cZb). Commission has published a European Union’s Earth enabled parties to agree on Also under this priority, a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ Observation Programme.