Document Actions - Published:
14 Jul 2009 - In 2002, when the world committed
to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss
by 2010, Europe went one step further and
pledged to halt the loss completely. A set
of 26 indicators, known as 'Streamlining
European 2010 Biodiversity
Indicators' (SEBI 2010), was compiled to
measure change. The first assessment based
on SEBI 2010 by the European Environment
Agency (EEA) shows that despite progress,
biodiversity loss continues. It also identified
important gaps in our knowledge.
The EEA's report "
Progress towards the European 2010 biodiversity
target ", finds that European biodiversity
is still under serious pressure and that
the policy response is not yet adequate
to halt the general decline. Biodiversity
faces grave risks at the level of genes,
species and ecosystems.
On 13 July, the European
Commission released a ' Composite report'
to the European Council and Parliament on
the implementation of the Habitats Directive.
Responding to the two reports' findings,
EEA Executive Director Professor Jacqueline
McGlade said:
"Europe's biodiversity
is still under serious pressure and faces
grave risks. Although we will miss the target
of halting the biodiversity loss in Europe
by 2010, some progress is being made. As
[EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas]
said recently in Athens, the post-2010 target
should be ambitious, measurable and clear.
It should maintain the emphasis given to
the intrinsic value of biodiversity while
also recognising the value of healthy and
resilient ecosystems and the services they
provide".
The next major assessment
based on the indicators will be done in
2010.
Key findings from the
EEA report
Substantial progress has been made in protecting
habitats. Some 17 % of EU land area is now
included in the Natura 2000 network and
16 % protected under national schemes across
39 countries.
Around 40-85 % of habitats
and 40-70 % of species of European interest
have an unfavourable conservation status.
Grasslands and wetlands across Europe are
particularly at risk.
Legislation on atmospheric
emissions, freshwater quality and waste
water treatment has reduced the pressure
on biodiversity. Specific measures have
also relieved agriculture-related pressures,
although further efforts are required.
Water quality has generally
improved in fresh waters.
Overexploitation of
marine fisheries remains a threat to marine
ecosystems, with some 45 % of assessed European
stocks falling outside safe biological limits.
Invasive alien species
remain a threat, increasingly so in marine
systems.
Urban sprawl and abandonment
of agricultural land put pressure on natural
and semi-natural areas. Forest fragmentation
is another key threat and has increased
since 11000.
SEBI 2010 in brief
The SEBI 2010 process aims to ensure consistency
between biodiversity indicator sets at the
national and international levels, while
trying to give a coherent and relevant assessment
of the state of biodiversity in Europe.
The SEBI 2010 set currently comprises 26
indicators.
SEBI 2010 relies on
the contribution of more than 120 experts
from across Europe, as well as input from
intergovernmental organisations and NGOs.
Its institutional partners are the European
Environment Agency (and its European Topic
Centre on Biological Diversity), the European
Centre for Nature Conservation, the United
Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation
Monitoring Centre, the European Commission,
the Joint Secretariat of the Pan-European
Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy
(PEBLDS), and the Czech Republic (as lead
country for the Kiev Resolution on Biodiversity's
Action Plan on Monitoring and Indicators).
The SEBI 2010 process covers 53 countries
across Europe.
