Countdown 2010: Take action to save biodiversity!Save Biodiversity! Europe: Countdown 2010 •...

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Countdown 2010:Take action to save biodiversity!

András KroloppDeputy HeadCountdown 2010 Secretariat

[email protected]


Biodiversity is in decline


The European Council agrees...

… that biodiversity decline should be halted with the aim of reaching this objective by 2010 as set out in the 6th Environmental Action Programme

(2001, Göteburg)


The Launch – 25th May 2004

Biodiversity Stakeholders MeetingIrish Presidency of the European Union

Deciding how the European Union will meet the 2010 biodiversity targets


The Outcomes

Countdown 2010 launched among key European stakeholders;

Part of the EU Presidencies;

Identified as a key instrument in the EU strategy to meet the 2010 targets;

Endorsed by the European Council of Environment Ministers;

“Welcomes the Countdown 2010 initiative, […….] as an important sensitizing initiative to the significance of biodiversity loss across the globe and as a

means to act as an independent monitor of progress towards the 2010 targets…”


The 2010 biodiversity target:

Gothenburg

KievJohannesburg

MalahideThe Hague

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20102009

NairobiLaunch of th

e Biodiversity Communication

Green Week on Biodiversity

BonnEnvironment fo

r Europe - Belgrade

http://www.cms.int/index.html

http://www.cms.int/index.html

http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/

http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/


The 2010 Biodiversity Target

“that biodiversity decline should be halted with the aim of reaching this objective by 2010“

Presidency Conclusions of the EU Summit in Göteborg, 2001

“to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national levels as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth”

Decision VI/26 CBD Strategic Plan 2002


“Focusing all our efforts on the achievement of the 2010 target of significantly reducing the loss of biodiversity in the coming years, we acknowledge the urgent need to halt human induced extinction of biodiversity as soon as possible. In this context we welcome the Countdown 2010 Initiative…”

- Environment Ministers of G8 + China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa,

March 2007 Potsdam, Germany


CBD - Programme of work on Protected Areas

“to support the establishment and maintenance by 2010 for terrestrial and by 2012 for marine areas of comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas that collectively, inter alia through a global network contribute to achieving the three objectives of the Convention and the 2010 target”


… mind the implementation gap!


Europe’s Environment –The fourth Assessment

• More than 700 species in Europe threatened• Habitat loss from urban development, road

construction, agricultural intensification, land abandonment

• Invasive alien species are posing a real threat• Climate change will increase pressures on

biodiversity in coastal, arctic and alpine areas

• Target of halting biodiversity loss in 2010 will not be met.


How are we doing?There is some good news: Positive progress to establish or expand PAs –

targets & indicators set in many countries;

Key threats are known or have been assessed;

Environmental impact assessment processes in place in most countries;

Some good examples of participatory approaches to establishment & management.


But there are bad news:

Variable progress reported under the PoWPA;

Lack of benchmarks prevents us from understanding trends.

Generic problems of capacity and finance are hampering implementation.

Poor progress on evaluating management effectiveness; gap analysis; marine protection; integration into the broader land/seascape; climate change and participatory mechanisms.

How are we doing?


The reality...Assumptions:



Least developed countries have higher biodiversity values




GDP growth goes ”hand in hand“ with biodiversity decline





For us EU Environmental (Nature Conservation) legislation is there to help





For us EU Environmental (Nature Conservation) legislation is there to help

Will it really do so?


The reality...

• Habitat fragmentation

• Land abandonment

• Loss of regional varieties

• Invasive, alien species

• The „Biofuel“ Directive

• And.....?


Accession and Environment

• The EU sets different contradicting objectives in the various sectors

TEN, TINA

Natura 2000

• Hungray: 228 car/1000 person

• EU: 412 car/1000 person

• 4 x higher highway density

• 1%GDP increase comes with 1.2% in traffic

Costs of accession?!


Another example: Energy

• “The energy efficiency is slowly but continuously increasing in the EU”

• Energy efficiency does not mean decreased use of energy

• The overall energy consumption is further increasing

• „Semi-Closed system“!

• Biofuels????


Dilemma of protected areas• How much is enough?• Changing environment / changing

conditions Evolution‘s reply

• Protecting inside / protecting outside We can regulate what is happening

inside, but not outside!

• “Conflict of interest” protecting the actual pattern

change of environment hindering the “optional response”

Natural resoures

State of environment

Space(structure)

Quality of Environment


Dilemma of protected areas• How much is enough?• Changing environment / changing

conditions Evolution‘s reply

• Protecting inside / protecting outside We can regulate what is happening

inside, but not outside!

• “Conflict of interest” protecting the actual pattern

change of environment hindering the “optional response”

Natural resoures

State of environment

Space(structure)

Quality of Environment

Eliminate the pressure on protected areas!


What is Countdown 2010?A powerful network of active partners working together to reach the 2010 biodiversity target


• Sign a declaration & commit to additional action towards 2010

• National and local governments, institutions, civil society and business

• 700+ in total, including 23 governments, 20+ businesses, 50+ local authorities

Partners of Countdown 2010


Countdown adding value

1. Communicates 2010 target

2. Mobilises funding for conservation

3. Calls for concerted action

4. Implements global targets at regional and local levels


Countdown 2010 Hubs worldwide

South America

Canada Europe Russia

SouthernAfrica

LowerMekong

China

MDG, CBD, CMS, CITES, ICLEI, UNFCCC, UNITAR, FAO, PEBLDS, MA, SEBI2010, BIP


Europe: Countdown 2010• Presidencies focus on specific issues

– Climate Change– Development Cooperation– Marine Conservation– Business and Biodiversity– Forests– Green Economy– “Wild Europe”

• Countdown 2010 Declaration signed by– governments– partners from civil society, local authorities and business

• Main pillars– Communication– B&B– Local and Regional Authorities– Readiness Assessment


“”

Reporting back in 2010

Yes, we did achieve the 2010 biodiversity target – in certain areas and sectors.

In others, we started progresses and are confident that we’ll achieve the target soon.

Yet, in some areas we did not make headway. Here we need new targets.


www.countdown2010.net

If it is not now – when? If it is not us – who?

and if not together – how?

Countdown 2010: Take action to save biodiversity!Save Biodiversity! Europe: Countdown 2010 •...

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