Final Evaluation of the implementation of the IUCN ... · the IUCN European programme itself, and...

Draft – June 2019 1

Final Evaluation of the implementation of the IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020

IUCN European Regional Office

June 2019


Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3

A Work Programme for the Union ........................................................................................................... 3

Overall Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Programme Area 1: Valuing and Conserving Nature ................................................................................... 7

1- IUCN European Red List of Threatened Species ............................................................................. 7

2- IUCN Red List of Ecosystems ......................................................................................................... 10

3- Key Biodiversity Areas .................................................................................................................. 12

4- Protected areas in Europe ............................................................................................................ 13

5- European Union Biodiversity Strategy 2020 implementation ...................................................... 15

6- Supporting the achievement of international commitments ....................................................... 18

7- Invasive Alien Species ................................................................................................................... 20

Programme Area 2: promoting and supporting the effective and equitable governance of natural resources ................................................................................................................................................... 22

8- Sustainable Agriculture ................................................................................................................. 22

9- The Plastics Challenge .................................................................................................................. 24

10- The Arctic region ...................................................................................................................... 27

11- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the EU Overseas ......................................................... 28

Programme Area 3: Deploying nature based solutions to address societal challenges including climate change, food security and economic and social development .................................................................. 30

12- Mainstreaming nature based solutions into EU Policies .......................................................... 30

13- Nature based solutions for sustainable development ............................................................. 34

14- Ecosystem based adaptation .................................................................................................... 37

General conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 39


Introduction The IUCN European Work Programme 2017 – 2020 is the regional means of implementation of the global IUCN Programme 2017 – 2020. It applies to all parts of IUCN: the IUCN Secretariat has not been the sole implementer of the programme. IUCN strengthens its capacity in Europe by its engagement with constituency, partners and EU institutions, to achieve results in the three programme areas: Valuing and Conserving Nature, Promoting and supporting the effective and equitable governance of natural resources, and Deploying nature based solutions to address societal challenges including climate change, food security and economic and social development. This final report aims to strengthen monitoring of the Programme’s results. It is the first step towards the evaluation of the success of the European Work Programme. It will serve as a basis for the discussions among IUCN members, Commissions and the Secretariat during the Regional Conservation Forum in 2019. This document will remain active until the end of 2019, so its conclusions, lessons learned and recommendations can feed into the preparations towards the next IUCN European Work Programme after 2020. The final version will be ready in time for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020 in Marseille.

A Work Programme for the Union Although an important part of the activities reported refer to the action of IUCN’s Secretariat –especially the European Regional Office in Brussels–, it is important to keep in mind at all times that the Secretariat is not the sole implementer of the programme: the IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 applies to all parts of the Union. Therefore, during the elaboration process of this report, the IUCN Commissions and Members were consulted. This included the development of a survey to collect information from IUCN European members and National Committees; Government Focal Points and National Focal Points were also addressed individually. This open consultation followed the same philosophy as with the elaboration of the IUCN European programme itself, and was also in line with the One Programme approach of IUCN. 39 answers to this survey were received from 191 countries around Europe, including 5 from IUCN State Members and 6 from IUCN National Committees. 14 highlighted examples of the implementation of the Programme by some of our members were also received. The following chapters include the information received through this survey2, namely the involvement of members in the different areas of work (although in some cases such information was added by the IUCN Secretariat3), and the case studies / examples received through the survey, included in their corresponding Areas of Work.

1 Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Swtizerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom. 2 Over three quarters of respondents answered their organisations were involved directly or indirectly in the implementation of the IUCN European Work Programme. 3 For example, where direct collaboration between the IUCN Secretariat and IUCN Members is happening.


Overall Summary

The following is an overall summary of what has been achieved – and first ideas about the next steps –, by Areas of Work:

1. IUCN European Red List of Threatened Species: The number of species present on the Red List has continued to increase. With the help of financing from the European Commission, efforts continue to promote the use of red listing in European countries. This work should continue in future in Europe, especially in support of the implementation (monitoring) of the future EU Biodiversity Policy framework post 2020.

2. IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: IUCN contributed to the European Red List of Habitats which is now complete and continues to work towards implementing the Red List of Ecosystems at the national level. Similarly to the Species’ Lists, this work should continue in future in Europe, especially in support of the implementation (monitoring) of the future EU Biodiversity Policy framework post 2020.

3. Key Biodiversity Areas: Discussions about how best to use Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Europe is ongoing and several KBA partners in Europe (IUCN, WWF and BirdLife) are leading the discussion about the best use of these areas in Europe. In principle, as the work on protected areas in the EU is very advanced (eg Natura 2000), the identification of KBAs might not be the key priority in our continent at the moment.

4. Protected Areas in Europe: As the designation of sites is very advanced in the continent (especially in the EU), the focus has been on the implementation of the protection measures, in particular on the management of protected areas. In this sense, progress was made on the ‘LIFE Green List for N2K’ project, funded by the European Commission. This project aims to adapt the IUCN Green List Sustainability Standard to Natura 2000 sites. This work should continue during the next years.

5. European Union Biodiversity Strategy 2020 implementation: IUCN contributed notably in relation with the targets established in the Work Programme. Work on species, habitats and ecosystem restoration can be seen through the Red Lists of species and habitats, the Green List of Protected Areas, the ongoing project with DG Environment on green infrastructure and our activity on Invasive Alien Species. IUCN is also actively engaged in the discussion for the future post 2020 biodiversity framework, including facilitating the debates between NGOs, socioeconomic actors and the EU Institutions. IUCN should surely play an important role in the implementation of the future post 2020 EU Biodiversity Policy framework.


6. Supporting the achievement of international commitments: IUCN EURO collaborated with the EU to support IUCN international priorities, including those related with the CBD and illegal wildlife trafficking. The secretariat is also monitoring the future budget post 2020, in order to support the full implementation of the SDGs. In future, it will be very important to support the related work, especially on CBD and SDGs.

7. Invasive Alien Species: IUCN is supporting the efforts towards the implementation of the EU regulation. Through a devoted project, IUCN provides scientific support and advice to the European Commission on the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS). IUCN is expected to continue to be active in the EU on IAS after 2020.

8. Agriculture: As foreseen in its European Work Programme 2017-2020, IUCN has entered and has been very active in the debate on sustainable agriculture duringbthe past years. In 2017 IUCN released of a paper summarizing the key issues on the future of agriculture in Europe, as well as started and established good collaboration with the key European actors. IUCN was also involved in the CAP debate, sustaining a dialogue with both the farming community and environmental organisations (round-tables) together with DG AGRI. This work will continue during the next years, as a key priority of IUCN both in Europe and globally.

9. The Plastics challenge: The EU holds the centre stage in today’s fight against marine pollution, following the release of its plastics strategy in 2017 and a historic ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) in 2019. Ongoing IUCN projects have supported this debate, and will continue supporting the implementation of this strategy and the dialogue with key actors such as the private sector.

10. The Arctic region: Although IUCN has been participating actively in the context of the Arctic Council, this Area of Work has been less active in this period. Probably a stronger commitment of IUCN Members will be crucial to ensure any potential planned actions in the future.

11. Biodiversity and ecosystem services in EU Overseas: Further work was done on the

implementation of the BEST Initiative. A continuation of the project has been renewed and secured for the future.

12. Mainstreaming nature based solutions into EU policies: IUCN Europe is involved in a range of projects that focus on creating awareness of the values of nature based solutions in planning, decision making and action in cities and a variety of European ecosystems. This work will continue after 2020.

13. Nature based solutions for sustainable development: Projects such as GrowGreen and Enable have witnessed IUCN’s strong involvement in developing climate and water resilience, as well as


green and blue infrastructure, through a facilitation of exchange between partner cities. Green finance has appeared as a new challenge, allowing for new opportunities in sustainable investment, which is currently lacking. This activity is expected to continue after 2020.

14. Ecosystem based adaptation: IUCN raised awareness for the potential of nature-based solutions in climate adaptation and mitigation by participating in debates at EU level, promoting the potential for landscape restoration in achieving the EU climate change commitments and to provide multiple benefits to the economy and society. This activity is expected to continue after 2020.


Programme Area 1: Valuing and Conserving Nature

1- IUCN European Red List of Threatened Species The IUCN European Red List (ERL) of Threatened Species provides a comprehensive overview of the imminent extinction risk of European species, and is a powerful tool to inform policy related to biodiversity conservation. The number of species on the ERL continues to increase, allowing for progress towards the target of adding 5,000 species by 2020 to be made. Work has continued on the LIFE funded project, contributing to the assessment of underrepresented groups such as invertebrates and plants in Europe.

In 2017 the European Red List of Lycopods and Ferns was published, which assessed all 194 native or naturalised species found in Europe. A fifth of these species are considered threatened, making ferns and lycopods the most threatened group of plants assessed so far in Europe.

In 2018 the new European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles added an additional 257 beetle species to the ERL, bringing the total number of native or naturalised Saproxylic Beetles assessed to 693 species. The results revealed that 17.9% of the species assessed in Europe are threatened. However, for almost one quarter of the species in Europe (168 species – 24.4%), there was not enough scientific information to evaluate their risk of extinction, and so it is possible that the number of threatened species is even higher.

In 2018, good progress was also made towards completing the ERLs of Bryophytes, Terrestrial Molluscs and Vascular Plants, covering, respectively, 1,817, 1,262 and 576 (376 trees and 200 shrubs) species. The assessment of European bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) has continued in 2018 with the completion of the assessment review phase. The project was extended until September 2019 and the European Red List of Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts is expected to be ready by the summer of 2019. In addition, the process of compiling and reviewing Red List assessments for the European molluscs, trees and shrubs was completed throughout 2018 and will be published in 2019. These assessments bring the total number of species assessed until now under the IUCN European Red List to over 11,500 species.

The European Commission has greatly contributed to financing these assessments and securing the continuation of this vital red-listing work. Efforts also continue to be made to improve the use of European Red Lists by the European Commission and European countries. The recently published EU Pollinators Initiative called for a European Red List of Hoverflies, which at the end of 2018, the European Commission decided to fund along with an update of the European Red List of Birds. The IUCN Secretariat is involved in both initiatives, which are expected to be released in 2021.

The IUCN European Regional Office continues to look for opportunities to expand the ERL by adding new species groups, and is also starting to look into how to fund re-assessments of some of the groups that were assessed more than 10 years ago (for example, mammals, amphibians and reptiles).


IUCN Members active in this Area of Work

IUCN members who have reported involvement in the implementation of this area of work include:

Natur&emwelt (LI), Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), IUCN Spanish Committee (SP), BirdLife Europe (BE), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Ministry of Environment (FI), EAZA (NL), Swiss IUCN Comittee (CH), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Ministry of Environment (HU), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), FACE (BE), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Copenhagen Zoo (DK), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE).

Foundation RAVON (NL), World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (SP), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland (CH), INCDS Marin Dracea/Carpathian Wildlife Foundation (RO).

Contribution from IUCN members: Increasing knowledge about eels in the Netherlands

IUCN Member: RAVON Foundation

Country: The Netherlands

Link: https://www.naturetoday.com/intl/en/nature-reports/message/?msg=24268

Through a collaboration of Waterboards (Regional Government Bodies), RAVON foundation and World Fish Migration Foundation, this project aims to increase knowledge which will be used for management optimization and prioritizing of sluices, pumping stations and fish passages. Moreover, the project contributes to public awareness and participation in fish migration. Catches are, except for four locations, extremely low with zero or very few glass eels.

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4 https://www.naturetoday.com/intl/en/nature-reports/message/?msg=24268


Contribution from IUCN members: Prioritisation of the species (groups) for development of species protection programme

IUCN Member: Agency for Nature & Forests

Country: Belgium

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is being used as the basis for screening the vulnerability of the species and urgency for action, compared with the Belgian and/or Flemish red lists to compile extensive arguments for prioritisation of the species (groups) for the development of species protection programmes. These programmes require an important investment to develop a scientific chapter (compiling existing information on distribution and populations at the Flanders, Belgium and EU levels) on threats, measures to be taken, indicators and monitoring. The programmes are discussed with the relevant stakeholders and must be approved by a regional consultation committee.


2- IUCN Red List of Ecosystems IUCN contributed to the European Red List of Habitats which is now complete and continues to work towards implementing the Red List of Ecosystems at the national level.

At the national level, Andorra has shown some interest in applying the RLE methodology, and Hungary produced a document explaining how one of the RLE Criteria has been applied in an analysis.

In Germany, the third version of the national Red List of Ecosystems has been developed, but the IUCN criteria have been adapted; in Switzerland a National Red List of Natural Habitats was developed, where they have also adapted the IUCN criteria.

In Norway and Finland, the second versions of the RLE have been prepared and in France a Thematic Assessment for French Mediterranean Forests was carried out. The Global Ecosystem Management Programme continues its work to promote the application of the RLE in Europe.


IUCN members involved in the implementation of this area of work include:

Natur&umwelt (LI), Ministry of Agriculture Nature & Food Quality (NL), Deutscher Naturschutzring (DE) Ministry of Environment (FI), IUCN Committee (CH), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, IUCN French Committee (FR), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE).

CEM, Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland (CH)


Contribution from IUCN members: Development of the Finnish Red List of Biotopes

IUCN Member: Ministry of Environment, Finland

Link: https://www.ymparisto.fi/en-US/Nature/Natural_habitats/Assessment_of_threatened_habitat_types_in_Finland/Assessment_of_threatened_habitat_types_in_Finland_2018

The results of the extensive assessment of the Red List of all of Finland’s terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were published in December 2018. The threat status of ecosystem or habitat types in Finland was now evaluated for the second time, this time using the new assessment methodology called IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria. Work was coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE).

Almost half (48%) of the nearly 400 habitat types across the country was assessed to be threatened. In southern Finland, the proportion of threatened habitats is clearly higher (59%) than in northern Finland (32%). The status of habitat types has not improved in the past decade; instead, the trend among many habitat types was assessed as in decline. Altogether 57 habitat types were classified as Critically Endangered (CR). Out of these, as many as 40 were semi-natural biotopes, i.e., grasslands, meadows, pastures and grazed woodlands. Other habitats classified as Critically Endangered include river habitats in clay soil areas in southern Finland, rich fens, and snowbeds in fell areas threatened by climate change. The highest numbers of Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) habitat types were found in groups of mires, forests and coastal habitat types by the Baltic Sea.

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5https://www.ymparisto.fi/en-US/Nature/Natural_habitats/Assessment_of_threatened_habitat_types_in_Finland/Assessment_of_threatened_habitat_types_in_Finland_2018


3- Key Biodiversity Areas Discussions about how best to use Key Biodiversity Areas in Europe is ongoing and some of the KBA partners in Europe (IUCN, WWF and BirdLife) had a short meeting in July 2017 to discuss the issue of identifying KBAs in Europe and the EU and assess the policy impact this may have in relation to the Natura 2000 network of protected areas (and the Emerald Network).

Some work has already been carried out, and Freshwater KBAs have been identified in the Mediterranean region. Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas in the north-western Mediterranean sub-region have been identified, which cove Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Malta.

Additionally, Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas have been identified in the Mediterranean Basin Hotspot, including KBAs in the Balkans and Turkey, and also Middle East and North Africa.



Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), BirdLife Europe (BE), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), EUROPARC Federation (DE), IUCN Comittee (CH), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Rewilding Europe (NL).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), RAVON (NL), Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland (CH), Rewilding Europe (NL).


4- Protected areas in Europe The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas (the ‘IUCN Green List Programme’) aims to encourage, achieve and promote effective, equitable and successful protected areas. In 2017, the IUCN Council – the principal governing body for the Union – formally approved the IUCN Green List Sustainability Standard. In Europe, IUCN has begun leading the ‘LIFE Green List for N2K’ project, funded by the European Commission. This project aims to adapt the IUCN Green List Sustainability Standard to Natura 2000 sites, developing tailored Indicators in line with the requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. An Assessment Workshop was organised in Malaga, Spain on 21-23 March 2018, in which participants developed preliminary Specific Indicators in line with the requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. A public consultation was held on these Specific Indicators and the comments gathered were taken up at the Final Validation Workshop which was held online on 28th May 2018. The resulting Indicators are now currently being tested in more than 60 Natura 2000 sites during the testing phase of the project which started in June 2018 and will be completed by mid-2019. A high-level final event to promote the results of the project will be held in September 2019. There are currently three European countries engaging directly with the IUCN Green List Programme (Spain, Italy and France), but through the project mentioned above, an additional 17 EU countries (at least one Natura 2000 site per country) are involved in the testing phase and have direct experience with the IUCN Green List. One of the main goals of this project is to determine the feasibility and added value of a tailored Green List approach to the Natura 2000 network. This will hopefully encourage more EU countries to officially engage with the IUCN Green List Programme by 2020. ENVISION is a project funded through the 2017-2018 Belmont Forum and BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals, under the BiodivScen ERA-Net COFUND programme. It started in January 2019, and provides a platform and set of methodologies to connect people to the development of protected area policies and practices, focusing on inclusive conservation. It aims to explore mixed-method approaches for engaging diverse interest groups and for understanding the social and ecological consequences of multiple community visions for protected areas and their management. Its products will also be tailored to inform policy makers and relevant stakeholders specific post-2020 dialogues on biodiversity, ecosystem services and protected areas management. In the framework of this project, on the 13 May, in the context of the European Green Week 2019, an event was organised at the IUCN Brussels Office to discuss with relevant stakeholders about the concept of inclusive conservation to improve the management of protected areas. IUCN Members active in this Area of Work



Krkonose National Park Administration (CZ), Natur&umwelt (LI), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), IUCN Spanish Committee (SP), BirdLife Europe, (BE), UK National Committee (UK), Deutscher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), EUROPARC Federation (DE), Swiss IUCN Committee (CH), Ministry of Environment (HU), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), FACE (BE), IUCN French Committee (FR), Ministry of Environment (FI), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (NL).

IUCN WCPA Europe, Foundation RAVON (NL), INCDS Marin Dracea/Carpathian Wildlife Foundation (RO), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland (CH), SGE (Sociedad Geológica de España) (SP), Rewilding Europe (NL), Margaret Pyke Trust (UK).


5- European Union Biodiversity Strategy 2020 implementation IUCN is actively supporting the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, as foreseen in the IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020.

Target 1, which concerns the protection of species and habitats, as well as maintaining and restoring ecosystems, was developed through our work on the IUCN European Red List and the IUCN Green List Sustainability Standard – tailoring the standard for application in the Natura 2000 network, helping to improve the performance of the network. Ultimately this is a contribution to the Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy that the EC launched following the Fitness Check of the EU Nature Directives.

IUCN was also involved in a project to support Target 2. In this project for the European Commission DG Environment, a consortium of organizations, IEEP, UNEP-WCMC, Trinomics and IUCN Europe, provided technical support. In 2017, the first year of the project, IUCN contributed to developing a set of factsheets outlining the implementation status of green infrastructure in each of the 28 EU Member States. Each factsheet discussed the Member State’s policy framework for green infrastructure and its integration into other policy areas, the funding instruments available in the country, and examples of recent or ongoing projects. A collection of case studies was also produced to illustrate how existing EU funding instruments can be used to support strategic development of green infrastructure in and between Member States.

In 2018, part of the actions for this project that IUCN was involved in include: facilitation of sessions during an EU consultation workshop in relation to the EU Pollinators Initiative, focus on collecting inputs from various stakeholders on status and trends of pollinators and causes and consequences of pollinator decline, and development of 10 case studies to demonstrate how ecosystem services have been taken into account in decision making processes at various government levels as well as by the private sector. These case studies will be integrated in the EU guide to integrating ecosystems and their services into planning and decision-making.

In relation to Target 3, IUCN, through its work on agriculture, (see chapter on Sustainable Agriculture) is supporting the mainstreaming of biodiversity into this policy. Furthermore, IUCN provides technical and scientific support to the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (Target 5, see chapter on Invasive Alien Species).

IUCN continues to provide the Secretariat function of the European Habitats Forum. Throughout 2018, IUCN facilitated the exchange of knowledge on EU biodiversity policy among the 22 nature organisations that make up its membership, promoted a common view on key policy issues, and provided a coordinated means of communication between EHF members and EU institutions. As foreseen in the IUCN European Work Programme Targets, IUCN is now very active in the discussion for the preparation of the post 2020 biodiversity framework both at global and EU levels. The debate was launched at global level during the 14th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Egypt, and has since begun in the EU. This has included the presentation of IUCN’s views on the post 2020 debate to EU Member States, during a meeting of the Informal EC Expert Group on biodiversity


post 2020, but also discussing with stakeholders such as COPA_COGECA, where IUCN was invited to introduce the issue of the preparations for the post 2020 biodiversity framework at their Working Party for Environment. Furthermore, IUCN has also provided input to the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) in their efforts towards the preparation of their Opinion on Biodiversity, in preparation for the upcoming CBD COP 14.

In 2018 discussions towards the preparation of the future post 2020 biodiversity framework started globally. The 14th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Egypt launched this debate at global level, which is now also starting in the EU. IUCN Europe has supported the dialogue between NGOs in the EU, organised receptions with the ongoing EU Presidencies of the European Council –Malta, Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria- and contributed to the CBD 14th Conference of the Parties in Egypt through various side-events.

IUCN Europe will support the global debate through the Regional CBD discussions and its contribution to our IUCN global positioning. Our main area of work, however, will remain in the European arena, supporting the now begun EU process to evaluate the current Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 as well as the one to develop a post 2020 biodiversity policy framework.



Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Margaret Pyke Trust, with the Population & Sustainability Network (UK), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), BirdLife Europe (BE), Deutscher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), Ministry of Environment (FI), EUROPARC Federation (DE), EAZA (NL), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Ministry of Environment (HU), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), FACE (BE), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Copenhagen Zoo (DK), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), Rewilding Europe (NL).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), The RAVON Foundation (NL), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), INCDS Marin Dracea/Carpathian Wildlife Foundation (RO), Rewilding Europe (NL).

Contribution from IUCN members: safer and environmentally-friendly road and networks in regions of the Danube basin

IUCN Member: State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic

Link: http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/03%20Meetings%20and%20Events/COP/2017_COP5_Lillafuered/presentations_11_october/Carpathian%20Convention%20COP5_TRANSGREEN%20Project.pdf


TRANSGREEN: Integrated Transport and Green Infrastructure Planning in the Danube - Carpathian Region for the Benefit of People and Nature TRANSGREEN aims to contribute to safer and environmentally-friendly road and rail networks in mountainous regions of the Danube Basin with a special focus on the Carpathian Mountains. It will do so by improving planning frameworks and developing concrete environmentally-friendly and safe road and rail transport solutions taking into account elements of Green Infrastructure, in particular ecological corridors. An intersectorial dialogue will be fostered at the policy level that seeks for mutual understanding and implementation of recommendations towards integrated transport infrastructure planning from the local to the transnational level including EU level.

Contribution from IUCN members: commitment of Europe’s hunters to biodiversity conservation IUCN Member: FACE Country: Belgium Link: http://www.biodiversitymanifesto.com/

FACE Biodiversity manifesto The FACE Biodiversity Manifesto demonstrates the commitment of Europe’s hunters to biodiversity conservations through 38 action points divided in 8 specific sections (habitats, species, green infrastructure, ecosystem services, sustainable use, investing in nature and hunters for nature). Since 2015, FACE publishes each year an implementation report of the BDM based on concrete actions undertaken by hunters for biodiversity conservation. Each year the reports have a different topic (the Biodiversity Strategy for 2020: the Fitness Check: the CAP reform) and demonstrate hunters contribution to those topics. 6

6 http://www.biodiversitymanifesto.com/


6- Supporting the achievement of international commitments IUCN collaborates closely with the European Institutions to support IUCN programmes towards project development and implementation in the EU and beyond. In this context, the IUCN Secretariat in Brussels also monitors the development of the future EU budget (the Multiannual Financial Framework) post 2020, to support full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Although a specific EU Strategy for the implementation of the SDGs in the EU has not been agreed yet, some important related processes have been put in place during the past three years in Brussels. In particular, the EU’s Multi-stakeholder Platform on SDGs was launched in May 2017 by the EC, and in 2017, IUCN joined as an observer. The platform brings together stakeholders from civil society, non-governmental organizations, the private and corporate sector in regular meetings to support and advise the European Commission on the implementation of SDGs at EU level. It provides a forum for exchange of experience and best practice on the implementation of the SDGs across sectors and at local, regional, national and EU level. Furthermore, the Brussels office collaborates with the Global Policy Unit (GPU) regarding input into the Platform subgroup and management meetings, and to keep underpinning IUCN’s messages about the critical role of healthy ecosystems for sustainable development. The platform is working on a Reflection Paper to adopt a longer term vision and the focus of sectoral policies after 2020.

The IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 aimed to support the integration of the conservation and sustainable use and trade of wild species in the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking and other relevant EU policy files. IUCN is active in this file, notably participating in an EU seminar on wildlife trafficking, ‘Implementing the EU Action Plan against Wildlife trafficking’, in Brussels on 9 -10 February 2017. The seminar took place during the EU Environment Week where EU Delegation officials gathered together with some key conservation organisations, including IUCN. IUCN’s participation was covered by the IUCN Global Secretariat, the Species Survival Commission and Member representatives. Also in 2017, on 4 December, the European Commission organised a conference on the ivory trade just prior to the closing of an EU public consultation on the ivory trade in the European Union on 8 December. IUCN contributed to the consultation, in close collaboration with the IUCN Global Secretariat, and an IUCN statement was presented at the stakeholder conference on 8 December. A Mid-term Review of the EU Action Plan against wildlife trafficking is foreseen to come out in the second half of 2018. IUCN is looking forward to the results, and to collaborate with relevant partners and Members to successfully implement the ambitious Action Plan.

BIOPAMA is being deleted from the final report Organised by the European Commission, the European Development Days bring the development community together to share ideas that help tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. IUCN had a role in the development days, co-organising the ‘Putting Women and Girls at the heart of conservation and climate action’ event. At this event Lorena Aguilar, IUCN’s Global Senior Gender Advisor, reminded us that we must empower women through development and that ‘women should be seen as the agents of change’.


On the 22 May 2018, the European Commission’s DG International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) launched the ‘Larger than Tigers’ report, a major report that analyses Asia’s natural capital and outlines a strategic approach to halting environmental degradation and biodiversity decline in Asia. The report follows on from ‘Larger than elephants’ will look into Africa and now attention will turn to the ‘Larger than..’ report for South America.

The ‘Larger than Tigers’ report was presented by DG DEVCO on the 22 May, and IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme Coordinator, was a panel member at the event. This report was also presented at an event in the European Parliament in October 2018.



Krkonose National Park Administration (CZ), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), BirdLife Europe (BE), UK National Committee (UK), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), Ministry of Environment (FI), EUROPARC Federation (DE), Swiss IUCN Comittee (CH), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Ministry of Environment (HU), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), IUCN French Committee (FR), Copenhagen Zoo (DK), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), Rewilding Europe (NL), IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (NL)., WWF European Policy Office (BE), WCS (BE).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), The RAVON Foundation (NL), CEM, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (SP), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland (CH), INCDS Marin Dracea/Carpathian Wildlife Foundation (RO), Margaret Pyke Trust (UK).


7- Invasive Alien Species In 2018, IUCN completed the second year of the Invasive Alien Species project, and initiated the third and last year of the project. Through this initiative, IUCN provides scientific support and advice to the European Commission on the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), which focuses on the prevention, early detection, rapid eradication and management of IAS. This is achieved through the involvement of a large group of experts, including the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Invasive Species Specialist Group.

By involving this Specialist Group, IUCN continues to work with the Panel of Experts and Wilder Expert Network to provide the most relevant and up to date information to the European Commission for continued implementation of the Regulation, including the expansion of the list of species of Union Concern.



Krkonose National Park Administration (CZ), Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), BirdLife Europe (BE), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), Ministry of Environment (FI), EAZA (NL), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Quercus (PT), Ministry of Environment (HU), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), FACE (BE), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), The RAVON Foundation (NL), Polish Society for Nature Conservation "Salamandra" (PO), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT).


Contribution from IUCN members: Tracking Invasive Alien Species: Building a data driven framework to inform policy

IUCN Member: BELSPO Country: Belgium Link: https://www.belspo.be/belspo/brain-be/projects/TrIAS_en.pdf

The project will be built on two components: 1) The establishment of a data mobilization framework for AS data from diverse data sources and 2) the development of data-driven procedures for risk evaluation based on risk modelling, risk mapping and risk assessment.

The combination of the observation data and the checklist will feed indicators for the identification of emerging species; their level of invasion in Belgium; changes in their invasion status and the identification of areas and species of concern that could be impacted upon by bioinvasions.

7

7 https://www.belspo.be/belspo/brain-be/projects/TrIAS_en.pdf


Programme Area 2: promoting and supporting the effective and equitable governance of natural resources

8- Sustainable Agriculture IUCN has been an active actor in the debate about how to achieve more sustainable agriculture in Europe. Our European Work Programme foresaw IUCN’s contribution to enhance the integration of biodiversity in the new CAP by the provision of relevant knowledge and the facilitation of discussions among key stakeholders, as Target 1 of the IUCN European Programme states.

On the first issue, IUCN supported the knowledge base through Horizon 2020 projects such as EKLIPSE, to whom the question “Is the CAP delivering on environmental objectives?” was accepted in 2016 and is currently in the process of being answered following a call for scientific input8. Furthermore, IUCN became a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Board of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI), and has been very active in this group since. In October 2018, the paper “Towards sustainable agriculture” from the IUCN’s EU Policy Advisory Group was prepared. This paper includes a compilation of key evidence on the issue, aiming to contribute to and inform the discussion about the future of agriculture – including a chapter a specific chapter to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-20209. We are also working at the moment on a paper on sustainable agriculture, to support the EU debate on preparation of national CAP Strategic Plans, their evaluation and implementation.

On the second issue, during the past years the IUCN Regional European Office has actively promoted discussions between key environmental and socioeconomic actors. IUCN Europe collaborated with DG Agriculture in the European Commission to initiate conversations about agriculture between farmer associations and environmental NGOs at European level. These so-called “Round-tables on the Green Architecture of the CAP” happened in November and December 2018, and were a very positive experience for all participants10. This is happening at a crucial moment for the future of agriculture in the EU, as the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the next seven years is being agreed.

In 2018 the internal IUCN debate towards a strategic framework of IUCN’s involvement in the global agricultural debate began, and IUCN Europe is actively contributing to this process.

The Forum for the Future of Agriculture is an annual high-level event where farmers and environmentalists meet to discuss how best to improve agricultural practice; in its 2018 edition the Global Director of IUCN’s Policy and Programme Group visited Brussels and spoke at the event. We also actively participated in a number of relevant events, including the panel discussion ‘Financing EU agriculture after

8 For more information, see: http://www.eklipse-mechanism.eu/cap_activities 9 This IUCN paper can be found at https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/201810/farming-works-nature-better-all-report 10 More information about these Round-Tables can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/round-tables-green-architecture-cap-2018-nov-12_en


2020: What future for the CAP?’, organized by the EURACTIV news network in Brussels in 2018, and “Round-tables on the Green Architecture of the CAP”, which aimed to initiate dialogue between farmer associations and environmental NGOs.


IUCN members who have reported involvement in the implementation of this area of work include:

Natur&emwelt (LI), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), BirdLife Europe (BE), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), EUROPARC Federation (DE), Quercus (PT), Ministry of Environment (HU), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), FACE (BE), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (NL).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), The RAVON Foundation (NL), Polish Society for Nature Conservation "Salamandra" (PO), Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT).

Contribution from IUCN members: focusing on training for good practices that promote biodiversity in the vine growing ecosystem.

IUCN Member: Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation

Country: Portugal

Link: https://www.business-biodiversity.eu/docs/ebbc_index01.aspx?id=37223&basehrefrequ=true&isalias=true

The project “European partnership for the Protection of Biodiversity in Viticulture” supported by the European Union’s Erasmus + program, focuses on training for good practices that promote biodiversity in the vine growing ecosystem. The aim is to encourage producers to promote and protect biodiversity in their vines and through the several levels of the production cycle.


9- The Plastics Challenge Our IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 aimed to support the process for the elaboration of the EU Plastics Strategy, specifically to ensure action to tackle the marine plastic litter. The Strategy was approved in 201811 and its Annex I includes specific actions to tackle sea-based sources of marine litter and to monitor and curb marine litter more effectively. More importantly, the Strategy is an important and positive step forward to tackle the plastic challenge more generally, an issue that goes beyond the marine environment. This has been followed by the launch of the single-use legislative proposal from the European Commission12, which is again a positive step forward, and reflects IUCN’s ambition to tackle the issue. From 2016, IUCN Europe ran two projects focused both on marine pollution and marine protection. As part of the project, IUCN examined the potential use and application of relevant IUCN knowledge products and tools, such as the Red List of Threatened Species and the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, to support the implementation of key EU policies relevant for the protection of the marine environment for example, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Biodiversity Strategy. However, the main focus of this project –and of IUCN’s Regional European Office activity related with the Circular Economy– has been, is and will be focused on the plastics challenge, during the period 2016-2020. In November 2017, IUCN launched a report13 identifying relevant national legislative instruments and targets in the EU Member States tackling the issue of marine plastic litter.

The hearing on the EU Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy held by the European Economic and Social Committee14. In 2018, IUCN contributed to diverse panels and discussions, including the EU Circular Economy Platform15 (in which we have kept our engagement further on), events organised by the G716 or the European Economic and Social Committee17. Furthermore, IUCN Europe organized together with the Austrian Presidency of the European Council the “2nd Stakeholder Conference on Plastic and Micro Plastic

11 For more information, see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/plastic_waste.htm 12 For more information, see: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3927_en.htm 13 IUCN, 2017. “National marine plastic litter policies in EU Member States: an overview”. https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/201711/good-initiatives-exist-more-action-needed-tackle-marine-plastics 14 For more information, see: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/news/rethink-plastic-eesc-hearing-says-behaviour-change-needs-strong-legislative-framework-and-viable-alternatives 15 More information at: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/about/cg-activities-documents/circular-economy-stakeholder-conference-2021-february-delivering-circular-economy-whats-next 16 More information at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/international_issues/relations_g20_events_en.htm 17 More information at: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/agenda/our-events/events/eu-strategy-plastics-circular-economy


Pollution in November 2018, convening key industry actors to discuss about the next steps for combatting plastics pollution in the EU18.

IUCN recently became a member of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter, a group to which we will contribute extensively during the upcoming years. Finally, a follow up to the project mentioned above –also financed by the Government of Monaco– was initiated in mid-2018, and has been active ever since. IUCN considers crucial to engage in discussions with the private sector to tackle the plastic challenge. In this context, IUCN Europe is providing the environmental voice to the Tyre and Road Wear Platform launched in 2018 by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA).

The September 2018 meeting in Prague resulted in an agreement to change the name of this Area of Work, on which much advancement has already been noted (see the last chapter on Conclusions).

18 More information at: http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/news_events_reports/events_eaa/microplastics-conference/




Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), IUCN Spanish Committee (SP), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), BirdLife Europe (BE), Quercus (PT), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), Government of Monaco (MC).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), CEM.

Contribution from IUCN members: support in order to tackle the environmental challenges for the marine environment

IUCN Member: Government of Monaco

Country: Monaco

Link: https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/201711/good-initiatives-exist-more-action-needed-tackle-marine-plastics

The IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020, as the implementation tool of the global IUCN programme 2017-2020, includes the area of work “Marine Conservation”, within the Programme Area 2. This area of work tackles many crucial environmental challenges for the marine environment, some of them reflected at different levels in relevant international and EU policies. Such policies include those related with the marine plastic litter issue, in particular the implementation of the recently approved EU Plastics Strategy and the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework. Thanks to the generous support of the Government of Monaco, the IUCN European Regional Office has been engaged in this work during 2016 and 2017. A report reflecting existing policies in all EU Member States tackling the issue of marine plastic litter has been recently completed, and was launched at an event at the European Parliament on 8 November 2017, with the participation of Commissioner Vella and other relevant speakers. Furthermore, an internal desktop study analyzing the use of IUCN tools, products and relevant priorities was finalized in December 2017.


10- The Arctic region This Area of Work was included in the IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 following the request of some IUCN Members. It is important to always keep in mind that IUCN’s Work Programme is a Programme for the whole Union –not only for the Secretariat.

The Work Programme foresaw a more active involvement in the activities concerning the Arctic Council. Following a request from the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group of the Arctic Council, the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme participated in its meeting on 19 September in Finland, presenting IUCN knowledge products. IUCN was invited to further participate to PAME meetings and discussions, and contributed to the recommendations to the Arctic Council. It was also discussed a potential Arctic meeting of the IUCN members to be convened in 2018 in Brussels.



Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Ministry of Agriculture Nature & Food Quality (NL), Ministry of Environment (FI).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW).


11- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the EU Overseas The IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 foresaw the continuation of efforts by IUCN’s EU Overseas programme to advocate for the establishment of a formal partnership with a sustainable financing mechanism to provide predictable and consistent funding to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation as the basis for sustainable development in the EU Overseas19.

IUCN has supported the implementation of the BEST Initiative through three projects funded by the European Commission.

The DG ENV funded BEST III project, which ended at the end of 2017, developed ecosystem profiles for the seven EU Overseas regions, identifying 367 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and other areas that require conservation action, representing a total area of 3.5 million km². These form the basis of investment strategies identifying 400 potential conservation projects, amounting to more than €60 million. As of June 2018 14 of the projects been completed having successfully achieved their intended objectives.

Through the DG DEVCO funded BEST 2.0 grant facility 17 new projects for conserving marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the 25 Overseas Countries and Territories were funded in 2017. This brings the total number of projects to 59 representing an investment of more than €8 million.

In the 6 French Outermost Regions, as part of the DG ENV funded BEST RUP project, IUCN and the French National Museum of Natural History have developed an inventory of species and habitats which includes data on 600,000 species and 260 protected areas, to guide conservation efforts. 12 small grant projects (<€50,000) have also been funded through a call for proposals launched in 2017 representing an investment of €495,000.

As part of its efforts to raise awareness of the EU Overseas IUCN published a report in 2017 providing the first comprehensive overview of coastal and marine conservation efforts in the EU Overseas Countries and Territories and Outermost Regions.

The decision-making process for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 has enabled discussions regarding a sustained financial contribution from the EU to the BEST Initiative20. Declarations of support for the BEST Initiative were made by the OCTs in the Political Declarations from the 15th OCTA Ministerial Conference (Aruba, 23 February 2017) and the 16th OCTA Ministerial Conference (Brussels, 22 February 2018). The initiative is also strongly supported by the Parliament. The European Commission, in response to a written question from the European Parliament, stated that it “is working together with the Outermost Regions (ORs), the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), the Member States and relevant stakeholders to transform the BEST initiative into a sustainable partnership”.

19 The EU Overseas comprise 34 entities: 9 Outermost Regions and 25 Overseas Countries and Territories 20 BEST – Voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas. For more information visit: http://ec.europa.eu//best/


IUCN’s work to 2020 will include the continued management of the BEST 2.0 programme which runs until the end of 2019 and the BEST RUP project which runs to January 2020 to ensure the success of the grant projects funded through the calls for proposals. We will also work to secure additional funding for on-the-ground projects for the period up to the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework in 2020.



Min Agri Nature & Food Quality (NL), IUCN Spanish Committee (SP), UK National Committee (UK), Foundation RAVON (NL), IUCN French Committee (FR), French Overseas Ministry (FR), WWF, Directorate Nature & Biodiversity, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Netherlands (NL), French National Museum of Natural History (FR), IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (NL).

CEM


Programme Area 3: Deploying nature based solutions to address societal challenges including climate change, food security and economic and social development

12- Mainstreaming nature based solutions into EU Policies The IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 aimed to increase awareness among EU Member States about the Bonn Challenge -which is an ongoing activity of the IUCN European Office21-, ultimately promoting a future EU has a full domestic pledge on Forest Landscape Restoration for Bonn challenge 2.0 by 2030. Furthermore, bringing together existing evidence to share knowledge and demonstrate success stories of ecosystem based adaptation among EU policy makers and EU Member States, and in this regards IUCN Europe is involved in a range of projects that focus on creating awareness of the values of nature based solutions in planning, decision making and action in cities and a variety of European ecosystems: Aquacross, GrowGreen, Enable, Supporting target 2 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, Sincere.

Each of the previously mentioned projects has contributed –and will contribute during the upcoming year– to developing knowledge, engaging stakeholders and creating action to increase awareness of policy makers at different levels of the importance of integrating nature-based solutions in decision making and policy actions.

Aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers, coasts, and seas - home to an array of species and habitats and providing numerous ecosystem services - are under significant threat from human activity. A major output of the Aquacross project in 2017 was the publication of a scientific article assessing the extent to which European Union environmental policies support ecosystem-based management. The article concludes that the EU policy framework, in the form of the Nature Directives, the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, supports a number of elements of ecosystem-based management. However, to fully implement ecosystem-based management in aquatic ecosystems, these policies require further streamlining and coordination. The Aquacross project hosted a final conference in October 2018, whichwas a key opportunity to disseminate results to policy makers, practitioners, businesses and other stakeholders. IUCN produced a video introducing one of the AQUACROSS case studies – Lough Erne in Northern Ireland – and an infographic of the principles of ecosystem-based management of aquatic ecosystems. The final results of the project were summarised in a series of briefs for different audiences, to which IUCN contributed.

IUCN, in collaboration with ICLEI, leads the communication and stakeholder engagement in Enable, a project that seeks to advance understanding of maximising the social and environmental benefits of green and blue infrastructure in urban areas. Enable partners with the cities of Barcelona (Spain), Halle (Germany), Lodz (Poland), Stockholm (Sweden), Oslo (Norway) and New York (United States) to test 21 The Bonn Challenge was strongly highlighted during IUCN’s interventions at the event “Value Forestry Values” organized by EUSTAFOR on the 27th of February 2018, as well as at the event "Achieving the 1.5° Target with Forests: What Role for the EU?”, organized by FERN on the 7th of March 2018.


possible solutions for green and blue infrastructure. The first Enable factsheet defines Enable’s approach to addressing the complex social and ecological challenges that green and blue infrastructure can respond to. In 2018, ENABLE hosted a webinar on how to make green and blue spaces in cities more socially and environmentally just to ensure that all citizens have access to the multiple benefits these spaces provide. This webinar brought together scientific experts who work closely with the local governments of Halle in Germany, Barcelona in Spain and Bologna in Italy to discuss planning strategies and the design of urban Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI). IUCN and Deltares hosted a side-event and roundtable session during the conference “Green Infrastructure”: Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable and Resilient Cities”, which was held from 4-7 April 2017 in Orvieto, Italy. This conference was organised by the COST Action FP1204 project “Greeninurbs”, coordinated by the IUCN Member Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and brought together around 400 experts from Europe and around the world for an exchange on the benefits of nature-based solutions for urban quality of life. The main objective was to show how a transdisciplinary approach to urban planning, based on the provision of ecosystem services, can make future cities more resilient and sustainable. In discussion paper by Friends of Europe, 'Scaling disruptive technologies to achieve energy transition', from 2018, Luc Bas explains that Nature-based solutions need to be central in any strategy to mitigate climate change and to accomplish the transition to a zero net emission society. The fact that these solutions do not get the attention they deserve is surprising given their ability to contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation simultaneously, while also providing additional benefits to human health and biodiversity. In 2018, the IUCN Urban Alliance was established with IUCN Member Scottish Wildlife Trust and with support from Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin. This Alliance aims to create a platform for debate and advocacy on urban dimensions of nature conservation; to catalyse new partnerships and projects for greener cities; and to develop a ‘City Nature Index’ for monitoring the health of urban ecosystems. The IUCN Urban Nature Alliance will raise awareness of the value of ecosystems in urban areas, and of how these ecosystems can help address urban challenges including air pollution, flooding and health problems caused by lack of access to quality green spaces.




Ecologic, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Ecologic, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), IUCN Spanish Committee (SP), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Environment Agency Austria (AT), Ministry of Environment (FI), EUROPARC Federation (DE), Ministry of Environment (CZ), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), FACE (BE), IUCN French Committee (FR), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), Belgian Science Policy Office, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT), Rewilding Europe (NL).

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), CEM, Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), Rewilding Europe (NL), SGE (Sociedad Geológica de España) (SP).

Contribution from IUCN members: promoting dialogue with companies, governments and scientists to work together to halt biodiversity loss and achieve a net positive impact

IUCN Member: IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands


Link: https://www.iucn.nl/en/partnership/one-planet-thinking

One Planet Thinking is a normative program and engages in dialogue with companies, governments and scientists to work together to not only halt biodiversity loss but also achieve a net positive impact. The IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands started an OPT Pilot with Alpro, a company that produces vegetable-protein based drinks (ie, milk replacements) The pilot lasted throughout 2018. It collaborated with WWF-NL (OPT partners) and three other organizations: Metabolic (systems-thinking consultancy), the Context-Based Water Targets initiative, and researchers from Wageningen University. The main objective is to develop ecological targets on water use, land use, and nitrogen to complement their existing targets on carbon (since these four issues are of critical concern with agriculture). All of these targets consider biodiversity conservation as the ultimate objective (ie, achieving no-net loss) at the landscape level and take into account impacts and dependencies on natural capital as well as the socioeconomic implications of company actions. Besides the targets, the project will also result in an intervention roadmap to help the company meet its targets. The pilot will support the One Planet Thinking and MPNK programs and will provide insight on how to integrate different methodologies and target-setting approaches.


Contribution from IUCN members: promoting the EU restoration agenda using rewilding principles.

IUCN Member: Rewilding Europe


Link: https://rewildingeurope.com/news/green-shoots-for-rewilding/

The overall aim of the project is to strengthen the EU restoration agenda and ensure that specific actions are taken to create a coherent ecological network in Europe, by promoting and using rewilding principles. n this project, “rewilding” is presented as a multifaceted concept with three broad dimensions that interact with each other: 1) restoring and giving space to natural processes, 2) reconnecting wild(er) nature with the modern economy, and 3) responding to and shaping of cosmopolitan perceptions of nature conservation among European society. There are a number of guiding principles that increasingly characterise rewilding as a distinct approach to conservation. Rewilding can represent a more cost-efficient approach to ecosystem restoration. The goal is to restore dynamic and self-sustaining ecosystems and, where appropriate, stimulate new enterprise and economic activity. This opens up the prospect of significantly reducing recurrent management costs, and the opportunity to raise new investment and income streams, thus creating new incentives for stakeholders and local communities to value their natural capital and to support conservation.

The project aims to demonstrate that rewilding principles provide a good solution to support a coherent and functional ecological network in Europe, thereby strengthening the EU restoration agenda. By showing that rewilding principles are an efficient means to provide solutions for restoring Europe’s nature, we promoted the acceptance of rewilding principles in the political debate and strive to see their inclusion in the follow-up of the 2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy.

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22 https://rewildingeurope.com/news/green-shoots-for-rewilding/


13- Nature based solutions for sustainable development The IUCN European Work Programme 2017-2020 foresaw a stronger involvement of IUCN partners –including subnational governments– sharing cases/examples and knowledge tools that highlight the economic, social and environmental benefits of nature based solutions. Below is a description of the key actions that are contributing to such targets.

IUCN Europe is involved in GrowGreen, a Horizon 2020-funded project on nature-based solutions for climate and water resilience in cities, and Enable, a Biodiversa-funded project on green and blue infrastructure. As part of these projects, IUCN Europe is contributing to building the evidence base for urban nature-based solutions in Europe, including their economic, social and environmental benefits. IUCN is particularly active in communicating and disseminating the outcomes of these projects and facilitating exchange between the cities partnering in these projects and others and by presenting best practices and inspiring examples to implement nature-based solutions at European and international meetings and by publishing stories on social media.

There is a clear gap between the current investment and needs for financing of nature-based solutions to respond to climate and water related challenges in cities. Green finance offers a new and growing area of the financial sector that creates space for sustainable and non-conventional projects and partnerships IUCN Europe organised a conference on innovative financing for nature-based solutions for climate and water resilience in cities in March 2019. This conference aimed to bring together city representatives, investors and business to connect, share experiences and find joint solutions for financing city greening. Acknowledging the value of nature and the necessity to protect, enhance and restore the services it provides to cities, means a major shift in urban planning and development and requires translating these values into concrete and well-designed policies and actions that can create change on the ground and improve health, wellbeing, climate and water resilience, as well as social and economic benefits.

Demonstrating that nature-based solutions generate a positive return can help to reduce the barriers for investors. This event highlighted successful examples of cities that have managed to bring together innovative ideas, political commitment and financing for integrating nature in urban development across sectors. Learning from practice, zooming in on each phase of the investment planning and project and business development process, created an inspiring setting for learning and provided participants to the conference with valuable ideas, knowledge, tools and networks, that they can take back to their home cities, share and use in their day to day work.

In March 2018, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation organised a brainstorm session on How to integrate Nature Based Solutions in the Mediterranean cities. The aim of this meeting was to organise a discussion about how to promote the implementation of Nature based Solutions in Mediterranean cities. A group of 7 experts from different trans-disciplinary fields, covering urban ecology, research, public administration, international organisations, entrepreneurial network, and public agencies related to Mediterranean cities participated providing ideas and actions on how to get the best results, in terms of societal and biodiversity benefits from NbS implementation.


In November 2017 IUCN Europe and the European Parliament hosted an event on nature-based solutions to raise awareness of their potential amongst European stakeholders. The event highlighted the effectiveness and co-benefits of nature-based solutions for addressing a range of societal challenges, including climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and for benefitting biodiversity. Speakers presented several inspiring examples of nature-based solutions in action and defined the next steps for maximising their potential. As part of the Aquacross project, IUCN Europe produced a business brief on the benefits for business of engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the contribution AQUACROSS makes to this process. It discusses how businesses’ contribution to achieving the SDGs will improve their environmental performance, reduce risks in supply chains, and open up new markets and opportunities for innovation. IUCN’s Chantal van Ham and Helen Klimmek contributed a chapter to the Springer book Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas, showcasing successful examples of Partnerships for Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Areas. Forests play a crucial role in supporting our mental and physical health, yet this is often overlooked within health strategies, education programmes, and in everyday human lifestyles. In the 2017 Spring Issue of REVOLVE Magazine, Chantal van Ham and Helen Klimmek from the IUCN European Regional Office explore the numerous benefits and services provided by forests, and the need to recognise these within health strategies and programmes. Finally, there have been some important developments in the EU land use policy discussion during the past year which are relevant also to the related target in the IUCN Work programme (“By 2020 LULUCF emissions are included in the EU carbon accounting system while avoiding offsetting in other sectors”), as on the 17th of April 2018, the EU Parliament adopted the new Regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from LULUCF into the 2030 climate and energy framework. Although in principle this can be seen as a positive development, the impacts of the Regulation on EU forests will be easier to understand further on, once forest management reference levels of each Member State are set.




Ecologic, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Natur&Umwelt (LI), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), Deutcher Naturschutzring (DE), Ministry of Environment (CZ), Quercus (PT), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), Rewilding Europe (NL), IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (NL), IUCN National Committee, France.

Ministry of the Environment of Sweden (SW), CEM, Federparchi Europarc Italia (IT), Rewilding Europe (NL), SGE (Sociedad Geológica de España) (SP), World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (SP), BfN (DE).

Contribution from IUCN members: promoting peatland restoration in the UK

IUCN Member: IUCN UK

Country: United Kingdom

Link: http://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme exists to promote peatland restoration in the UK and advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice. A three year programme of work was developed to provide a ‘conservation quartet’ consisting of partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice. One of the overarching themes for this work is the promotion of the multiple benefits of peatlands to society.

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23 http://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/


Contribution from IUCN members: Establishment of a working group to determine extent and tools of future ecological infrastructure in Switzerland

IUCN Member: Swiss IUCN Committee

Country: Switzerland

With only 6,2% covered by protected areas, Switzerland is at the low end concerning protected areas in Europe. The Swiss IUCN Committee therefore invited the Federal and cantonal offices for the environment, science and NGOs. The overall idea is the development of a common understanding of Ecological infrastructure in Switzerland and the elements it need to contain for all these groups. The IUCN Committee conducted 3 sessions on the issue, including a national conference in October 2017, which led to the establishment of an expert group on GI.

14- Ecosystem based adaptation The targets in our IUCN European Work Programme included the publication and dissemination of evidence and success stories on disaster related economic benefits of investing ecosystems. The IUCN European Regional Office is raising awareness for the potential of nature-based solutions in climate adaptation and mitigation by participating in debates at EU level, promoting the potential for landscape restoration in achieving the EU climate change commitments and to provide multiple benefits to the economy and society.

IUCN hosted a panel session on nature-based solutions for a climate resilient Europeat the 23rd UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Bonn, Germany. Participants discussed nature-based solutions as a crucial part of the toolbox for addressing climate change, with well-functioning ecosystems improving the resilience of nature and society while also often producing a high return on investment rate. Speakers included Estonian Environment Minister Siim Kiisler, Lord Mayor of Bonn and First Vice President of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Ashok Sridharan, Director of Decarbonisation and Energy for the Welsh Government Prys Davies and Elena Višnar Malinovská, Head of Unit Adaptation to Climate Change, DG Climate Action, European Commission. In 2018, IUCN became a partner of the Nature4Climate initiative that Nature4Climate is a multi-stakeholder coalition that aims to increase investment and action on natural climate solutions in support of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Forests and trees play a crucial role in managing urban flooding and protecting drinking water supplies. To maximise these benefits, nature-based solutions, such as street trees and forests, are essential for


resilient cities and effective partnerships should be developed between authorities from national to local level to protect rural forests. In the 2018 Spring Issue of REVOLVE Magazine, Kate Reilly from the IUCN European Regional Office explores the role of forests in filtering pollutants and slowing down and storing rain, and how these functions can be protected and restored to improve quality of life of urban citizens. IUCN Members active in this Area of Work


Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SE), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (NL), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Ministry of Environment (FI), Ministry of Environment (CZ), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SK), Foundation RAVON (NL), Foundation FLORON (NL), IUCN French Committee (FR), Israel Nature and Parks Authority (IL), Agency for Nature & Forests (BE), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Rewilding Europe (NL), IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (NL), The Nature Conservancy.


General conclusions

Considering the information in this report, and in view also of the preparation of the IUCN European Work Programme post 2020, the following conclusions have been drawn:

• The involvement of all relevant elements of IUCN for the preparation of the Work Programme in 2015 and 2016, and for the elaboration of this final evaluation, has been helpful in the implementation of the Work Programme, and is a good example of the One Programme Approach of IUCN. Further work to enhance such involvement of members would be very welcome for the elaboration of the next IUCN European Work Programme.

• Bearing in mind that this Work Programme is the Union’s joint effort, with contributions not solely from the Secretariat, it is important to try to collect information about IUCN members’ involvement in its implementation. The survey sent to collect such information in the framework of the preparation of this Work Programme was the first step. Further options and opportunities to collect this information should be explored, especially in the context of the preparations for the next IUCN European Work Programme post 2020.

• While very much welcoming the input from IUCN Members for the development of the Work Programme, it is suggested that -especially when such input puts forward additional / extra targets or Areas of Work- such suggestions are also accompanied by expected action or commitments from proponent IUCN Members to support the development of the actions or the achievement of the targets.

• The structure of the European Work Programme follows the structure of the IUCN Global Programme (the same 3 Programme Areas, with the same Sub-Results in each of them). Further down, the organisation of the IUCN European regional contribution to the IUCN Global Programme in “Areas of Work” can be considered a positive approach, as:

o it divides the activity into logical units for which individual targets and indicators can be elaborated

o it helps to clearly identify responsibilities within the IUCN Secretariat for implementation and follow up

In this sense, it is suggested to consider this same approach for the next Work Programme 2021-2024. This also means that it is possible to start thinking about such “Areas of Work” now, at least preliminarily, which will help to advance towards the elaboration of the new Programme.


• The Work Programme has two main uses: one is more internal (for the IUCN family), aiming to help organise and clarify our work, contribution to the Global programme and targets; and a second more external, aiming to show to external audiences what IUCN plans to do and prioritizes. While the Work programme can be well suited for the first use (internal), it may be more challenging to use for external audiences. In this sense, some solutions could be considered, such as using a more communicative language in the Work programme, or maybe developing specific tools to simplify the messages for the external world, e.g. through short communicative brochures.

• IUCN European Regional Office’s current activity in the framework of the Area of Work “Marine Conservation” is now mainly focused on the work around plastics – which can be foreseen to remain as such until 2020, when the European Work Programme will end. Therefore, it was suggested in the Mid-term Review to:

o change the name of this Area of Work (currently “Marine Conservation”) to “The Plastics Challenge”.

o modify the 2.3.1 (currently: “By 2018 the European Strategy for Plastics includes a specific goal on marine plastic litter and specific actions to achieve this goal”) to “By 2020 IUCN has contributed to the implementation of the EU Plastics Strategy”; its associated indicator will read: “EU legislative and policy developments related are ambitious and reflect IUCN’s views”. delete the following regional result: “The implementation of key EU policies relevant for the protection of the marine environment has been enhanced with the use of relevant IUCN knowledge products and tools”, as well the target and indicator associated.

This was already implemented in 2018, following the Mid-term Review.

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