European Commission

Biodiversity and Nature ConservationBiodiversity and Nature Conservation in the EU today – in the EU today –

Business & BiodiversityBusiness & Biodiversity

Alexandra Vakrou,Alexandra Vakrou,EC, DG EnvironmentEC, DG Environment

IEF European Roundtable ‘Addressing Industry’s Impacts on IEF European Roundtable ‘Addressing Industry’s Impacts on Biodiversity”Biodiversity”8 June 20068 June 2006

European Commission

Overview of presentationOverview of presentation

EU policy context for Biodiversity and EU policy context for Biodiversity and nature protectionnature protection

The NATURA 2000 networkThe NATURA 2000 network

Business and BiodiversityBusiness and Biodiversity

Future prioritiesFuture priorities

European Commission

Nature Protection & Nature Protection & ConservationConservation

European Commission

What is happening to What is happening to biodiversity in Europe ?biodiversity in Europe ?

Major habitats under threatMajor habitats under threat wetlands in north & west Europe have been reduced

by 60% in recent decades

Species also in declineSpecies also in decline 64 % endemic plants extinct in Europe

45 % of Europe’s butterflies threatened

38% of Europe’s birds threatened

European Commission

Key Nature & Biodiversity Key Nature & Biodiversity Aims under the 6Aims under the 6thth EAP EAP

Halt biodiversity declineHalt biodiversity decline by 2010 by 2010 Protect / restore nature & biodiversity from Protect / restore nature & biodiversity from damaging pollution and activitiesdamaging pollution and activities Conservation of Conservation of marinemarine, coasts & wetlands, coasts & wetlands Species & Habitat conservationSpecies & Habitat conservation including the including the avoidance of habitat fragmentationavoidance of habitat fragmentation Promote sustainable use of Promote sustainable use of SoilsSoils

European Commission

Main provisions of the Main provisions of the Birds and Habitats Birds and Habitats

DirectivesDirectivesBIRDS DIR.

All bird species protected

No priority bird species (cf. indicative list for Life-Nature)

EU territory treated as a whole

Habitat conservation measures (incl. SPAs in NATURA 2000)

Regulated hunting and trade limited to a few species

1979

HABITATS DIR.

Species/habitats of EU interest

protected

Priority habitats/species

Biogeographical regions

Site protection measures (SACs) in NATURA 2000

Species protection and management

1992

European Commission

BIRDS AND HABITATS BIRDS AND HABITATS DIRECTIVESDIRECTIVES

A COMBINATION OF SPECIES ANDA COMBINATION OF SPECIES ANDOF HABITATS PROTECTIONOF HABITATS PROTECTION

The NATURA 2000 network of sitesThe NATURA 2000 network of sites

Very large overall surface area has been proposed

For Habitats Directive ~ 17 % of EU-15 territoryFor Habitats Directive ~ 17 % of EU-15 territory

For Birds Directive ~ 9 % of EU-15 territoryFor Birds Directive ~ 9 % of EU-15 territory

European Commission

Natura 2000 SitesNatura 2000 Sites

European Commission

BAROMETERBAROMETER

European Commission

BAROMETERBAROMETER

European Commission

How are the Natura 2000 How are the Natura 2000 sites to be managed ?sites to be managed ?

This remains the This remains the responsibility of the responsibility of the Member States - Member States - SubsidiaritySubsidiarity

Natura 2000 are nNatura 2000 are not ‘strict Nature Reserves’ ot ‘strict Nature Reserves’ where human activities are excludedwhere human activities are excluded

emphasis on Sustainable Management emphasis on Sustainable Management (ecologically, economically and socially)(ecologically, economically and socially)

management plans for the sites or species are a management plans for the sites or species are a useful tooluseful tool

European Commission

ARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS & ARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES ALLOWED INTO ACTIVITIES ALLOWED INTO

NATURA 2000 SITES?NATURA 2000 SITES?

New activities are not ‘New activities are not ‘a prioria priori’ forbidden’ forbidden Development projects are treated on a case-Development projects are treated on a case-by-case basisby-case basis Evaluation and decision procedureEvaluation and decision procedure Supplementary protection measures for Supplementary protection measures for priority habitats sometimes is neededpriority habitats sometimes is needed Documents/guidelines on Article 6 provisionsDocuments/guidelines on Article 6 provisions Encouragement of MS to create similar Encouragement of MS to create similar guidelines adapted to national conditions/lawsguidelines adapted to national conditions/laws

European Commission

Dealing with plans and projectsDealing with plans and projects(Art. 6.3/4 Habitats Directive, simplified)(Art. 6.3/4 Habitats Directive, simplified)

Possible negative impact on Natura 2000 site?

Nature impact assessment

yes

If negative

Overriding public interest? If yes

Compensation measures - Commission opinion (if priority interest)

Alternatives? If no

European Commission

Studies on the effects of Studies on the effects of plan/projectplan/project

If there are negative impacts (for ex. if the impact causes If there are negative impacts (for ex. if the impact causes damages) the Member States accept the project only if:damages) the Member States accept the project only if:

No other alternativeNo other alternative

reasons of major overriding public interest (including social/economic)reasons of major overriding public interest (including social/economic) compensatory measurescompensatory measures are taken are taken

When the site hosts priority habitats and/or species, only following reasons can When the site hosts priority habitats and/or species, only following reasons can apply:apply:

reasons of public health or security orreasons of public health or security or major benefits for environment, ormajor benefits for environment, or following an opinion of the Commission, other reasons of major overriding following an opinion of the Commission, other reasons of major overriding public interestpublic interest

European Commission

Dealing with plans and projectsDealing with plans and projects

New Member States: Art.6.(2/3/4) apply from accession onwards

Specific problems remain

Problems:– no or inappropriate nature impact assessments– negative results of assessments not respected– no alternatives considered– no or inadequate mitigation / compensation measures– no designation or nomination of a qualifying site:

provisions apply nevertheless (SPAs: even stricter rules!)

European Commission

Managing NATURA 2000 sites:The provisions of Article 6 of the ‘Habitats’ Directive

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/nature_conservation/eu_nature_legislation/specific_articles/art6/pdf/art6_en.pdf

European Commission

The new Biodiversity The new Biodiversity CommunicationCommunication

HALTING THE LOSS OF HALTING THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY BY 2010 – AND BIODIVERSITY BY 2010 – AND

BEYONDBEYONDSustaining ecosystem services for human Sustaining ecosystem services for human

well-beingwell-being

COM(2006) 216 finalCOM(2006) 216 finalAdopted by Commission on 22.05.2006Adopted by Commission on 22.05.2006

European Commission

Business and BiodiversityBusiness and Biodiversity

Impacts exist (direct or indirect)Impacts exist (direct or indirect)

Sometimes no possibility to avoid impactsSometimes no possibility to avoid impacts

Cumulative effectsCumulative effects

Increased Risks by operationsIncreased Risks by operations

But also LIABILITYBut also LIABILITY

European Commission

How industry’s impacts can How industry’s impacts can be addressed?be addressed?

Proactive measuresProactive measuresBetter planning, design of projects/operationsBetter planning, design of projects/operationsNew technological solutions /innovationsNew technological solutions /innovationsMitigationMitigationStrengthening implementation of environmental Strengthening implementation of environmental policies by all stakeholderspolicies by all stakeholders

But also a need to change mentality of companiesBut also a need to change mentality of companiesBuilding partnerships, transferring best practicesBuilding partnerships, transferring best practices

European Commission

The role of the European The role of the European CommissionCommission

Tight cooperation with Member States and stakeholdersTight cooperation with Member States and stakeholders

Building partnerships with stakeholders and strengthening Building partnerships with stakeholders and strengthening communication (one of the 4 key priorities in the new communication (one of the 4 key priorities in the new Biodiversity Communication) Biodiversity Communication)

Building on a strong public education, awareness by Building on a strong public education, awareness by information & communication on Natura 200 (for ex. information & communication on Natura 200 (for ex. Newsletter, promotion of exchanges of good practices between Newsletter, promotion of exchanges of good practices between Member States and operators in the fields of biodiversity Member States and operators in the fields of biodiversity protection and nature managementprotection and nature management

Ensuring compliance of proposed actions and operations Ensuring compliance of proposed actions and operations with Community environmental legislation with Community environmental legislation

European Commission

Priorities for the Future on Priorities for the Future on Business and BiodiversityBusiness and Biodiversity

Follow-up of the Green Week 2006 on BiodiversityFollow-up of the Green Week 2006 on Biodiversity Development of further dialogue between stakeholders and Development of further dialogue between stakeholders and

building partnershipsbuilding partnerships Working for the development of best practices documents Working for the development of best practices documents

for sharing experiencesfor sharing experiences Increasing Communication efforts and provide explanations Increasing Communication efforts and provide explanations

of the objectives of the Biodiversity Communication and the of the objectives of the Biodiversity Communication and the Nature Directives and guidanceNature Directives and guidance

‘‘Supporting Business and Biodiversity’ contract to promote Supporting Business and Biodiversity’ contract to promote in a pilot phase pro-biodiversity projects in co-operation in a pilot phase pro-biodiversity projects in co-operation with major Bankswith major Banks

European Commission

HOMEPAGEHOMEPAGE