2 October 2015: The European Commission (EC) published the mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, showing progress in many areas but highlighting the need for greater effort by States on implementation to achieve the primary objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2020. The review report was submitted to the European Parliament and Council on 2 October 2015.

The Strategy aims to reverse biodiversity loss and fast-track the EU’s transition toward a resource-efficient and green economy. It builds on the commitments made by EU leaders in March 2010 on halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2020, and protecting, valuing and restoring EU biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2050. The Strategy also responds to global commitments made at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.

The Strategy addresses the drivers of biodiversity loss in the EU, as well as global aspects of biodiversity loss, through a multi-sectoral approach. It features six priority targets: fully implementing existing EU legislation on nature protection; improving and restoring ecosystems and ecosystem services wherever possible, notably by the increased use of green infrastructure; ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and forestry activities; safeguarding and protecting EU fish stocks; controlling invasive alien species; and stepping up the EU’s contribution to concerted global action to avert biodiversity loss.

In the mid-term review of progress toward these goals, especially halting biodiversity loss by 2020, the EC relays the need for greater implementation of nature-related legislation by member States, as well as greater integration of biodiversity concerns into agriculture, forestry, fisheries, regional development, and trade policies, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In a press release, the EC notes that more than three quarters of the important natural habitats in the EU are now “in an unfavorable state, and many species are threatened with extinction.”

Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said “much more work is needed” to close the gaps and reach the biodiversity targets by 2020. He added, “losing biodiversity means losing our life-support system. We can’t afford that, and neither can our economy.”

According to the EC press release, the review comes as a new EU regulation on invasive alien species enters into force and also as a Eurobarometer survey finds that: at least three quarters of Europeans “think there are serious threats to animals, plants and ecosystems at a national, European and global level,” and over half “think they will be personally affected by biodiversity loss.” [EC Press Release] [Publication: The Mid-Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020] [Publication Webpage] [IISD RS Story on EC Unveiling of 2020 Strategy]