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IUCN in Europe
Luc Bas
Director, IUCN European Regional Office
Spanish Members Forum, 5 May 2016
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Overview
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EU general policy context
Key EU policies for IUCN
IUCN in Europe
Next steps
International Union for Conservation of Nature
10 priorities for the JunckerCommission 2014-2019
1.
A new Boost for Jobs, Growth
and Investment
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5.
6.
A Reasonable and Balanced
Free Trade Agreement with the
U.S.
A Connected Digital Single
Market
7.
A resilient Energy Union with a
Forward-Looking Climate
Change Policy
An Area of Justice and
Fundamental Rights Based on
Mutual Trust
8.
Towards a New Policy on
Migration
9.
A Stronger Global Actor
A Deeper and Fairer Internal
Market with Strengthened
Industrial Base
A Deeper and Fairer Economic
and Monetary Union
10. A Union of Democratic Change
International Union for Conservation of Nature
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• Karmenu Vella
• Former Maltese minister
for Tourism, S&D Group
• Juncker- “Mission Letter”
“modernise directives”
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The European Council
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Heads of States: President Tusk
Ministers form the Council of the European Union
(still)The main decision “taker”.
Different national views - also on environmental issues
EU-Presidencies:
• NL(current)
• SK (2016)
• MT + UK (2017)
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The European Parliament
The European Parliament
• 751 MEPs
• Current EP is more fragmented than previous
• More power since Lisbon Treaty
• Parlementary Intergroups
• Globe EU
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The New European Parliament
2014-2019
International Union for Conservation of Nature
EU Biodiversity Policy
• EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020:
2050 vision, 2020 headline target, 6 targets:
– Target 1: Implementation of the BHDs
– Target 2: Restoration
– Target 3: Agriculture & Forestry
– Target 4: Fisheries
– Target 5: IAS
– Target 6: External dimension
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Birds Directive (1979) and Habitats
Directive (1992)
• They form the backbone of the EU’s internal nature
and biodiversity policy
• Arguably most powerful legal instruments in EU
environmental acquisition
• They are the origin of Natura 2000
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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27.308 sites
1.039.332 km2
18.36% EU land
~4% EU seas
• Biggest network of
PAs in the world
Source: EC
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The Fitness Check of the EU
Nature Directives
What is a Fitness Check
• “Evaluation” to identify regulatory burdens
• Conclusions on the future of the regulatory framework
• Context: Smart/Better Regulation – towards more jobs
and growth
What has happened until now
• Evidence gathering phase
• Public consultation
• Stakeholder conference
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Fitness Check: next steps (2016)
• EC Staff Working Document:
• Dutch Conference:
• EC Communication:
Early June
End June
Autumn
• IUCN Position: “Implement faster and better,
don’t change legal framework now”
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Two IUCN programmatic regions in Europe
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European Region
– Brussels office covers all European Union (EU) Member States and
IUCN Western Statutory countries
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Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region
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Belgrade Office covers all non-EU IUCN Eastern Statutory countries including
Central Asia
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The Regional Conservation Forum,
Helsinki, 15-17 December 2015
International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN European Regional Office
• IUCN’s “Ambassador” in Brussels
– Enables IUCN to inform policy-making in collaboration with EU
institutions and key stakeholders
• Provides crucial input into ongoing policy debates:
– Biodiversity and Nature conservation, Ecosystem services,
Nature Based Solutions, Climate change.
• Support’s the Union on Resource mobilization
• Coordinates the European program and
membersengagement.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The EU Policy Advisory Group
(EUPAG)
Established in 2014
Purpose
Advise European Director on matters relating to EU policy
Objective
Guide IUCN’s effective engagement with EU institutions on relevant policy matters
Members; representatives of NCs, European Councilors
and selection of experts
International Union for Conservation of Nature
EU policy priorities
• EU Biodiversity Strategy
• Climate change:
• EU Climate Adaptation Strategy
• Nature based climate mitigation and adaptation
• Land use emissions accounting
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Marine plastic litter
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Illegal Wildlife trafficking
Luxembourg Presidency hosted an EU Ministerial debate
on IUCN 2017-2020 program on July 22, 2015
International Union for Conservation of Nature
EU Policy Activities
IUCN priorities linked to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020
EU Biodiversity Strategy Targets
IUCN Priority
Target 1: Fully implement the Birds and
Habitats Directives
Natura 2000 and link with IUCN Red list
of Species and Green List of PAs
Review of EU Nature Legislation
Target 2: Maintain and restore
ecosystems and their services
Green Infrastructure
Forest Landscape Restoration
Ecosystem Services
Link with IUCN Nature Based Solutions
Target 5: Combat Invasive Alien Species Invasive Alien Species working groups;
collaboration with ISSG
Target 6: Step-up action to tackle the
CBD
global biodiversity crisis
CITES & Wildlife Crime
Sustainable Development Goals
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Species Conservation
• European Red List of species provides a detailed picture of the
status of biodiversity in Europe,
• Aiming to make European Red List a Barometer of Life
• EU Regulation on Invasive Alien
January 2015
Species entered into force
• IUCN’s Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) provides
scientific knowledge to help ensure the “Union’s list” includes the
most damaging species
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Species Conservation
Key Biodiversity Areas •
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KBAs are sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity
Identified using standard IUCN criteria (currently under consultation)
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The IUCN KBA standard incorporates and extends existing approaches
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It will help different actors to implement site conservation safeguards
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KBAs are the starting point for conservation planning at landscape level
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A tool for identifying Natura 2000 gaps,
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and developing Green Infrastructure and identifying opportunities for ecosystem
restoration
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Nature Based Solutions Promoting the use of ecosystems through
restoration and conservation to:
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address global challenges such as climate
change
natural hazards disasters (flooding,
avalanches, tsunamis)
food, water, energy security
urban heat production
Demonstrating
• benefits of nature and
• healthy ecosystems
• showcasing the return on investment
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The Green List of Protected and
Conserved Areas
• New global initiative that celebrates the success of effectively
managed protected areas
• 8 protected areas from Spain, France and Italy are already listed
• IUCN commitment to continue extending the GLPCA work in Europe
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Europe’s diverse protected and conserved areas can be encouraged,
supported and recognized for improved performance, using the IUCN
Global Green List Standard.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN-EU Outermost Regions and
Territories program
Program supported by EC and AFD
• Raising awareness of the importance of the EU Overseas in terms of
Europe’s biodiversity.
•Raising awareness of the threats to biodiversity and the challenges posed
by climate change in the EU Overseas
•Promoting capacity building and regional collaboration in the regions
where the EU Overseas are located.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Common Agricultural Policy
Farmers need to be correctly rewarded for improving
biodiversity and ecosystems and their services
• CAP mid-term review (possibly in 2017)
• Rural Development Programmes (RDP)
modifications
• Likely discussions on next MFF(EU budget)
(including CAP) will start next year (2020 not that
far away)
International Union for Conservation of Nature
A Marine Focus
Marine plastic litter
• Part of the Circular Economy Package
• Also relevant for the implementation of the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive
Marine protection is lagging behind
• Natura 2000 is almost completed in the terrestrial
areas, marine network is far from completion
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Climate Change - Biodiversity
• Nature Based Solutions
• Forest Landscape Restoration
– Bonn Challenge: 150 mill has by 2020 (+200 by
2030)
– No single domestic EU commitment yet
• Land use change:
– Farmland and forests cover around 90% of EU’s
surface
– EU LULUCF accounting system being reviewed
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Global EU Policy
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Focus on Sustainable Development Goals and Wildlife Crisis
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Wildlife crisis:
− IUCN response to the EU’s public consultation on Wildlife Trafficking (April
2014)
− EU strategic approach for African Wildlife Conservation
− Parliament event on the Role of Communities in tackling illegal wildlife
trade (IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group together with other partners)
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IUCN Brussels provides input to EU delegation for CBD and CITES
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Sustainable development Goals
• SDGs: IUCN advocated for the Aichi targets to be reflected in the
final document in order achieve a well-integrated ecosystembased approach as a key contributor to alleviating poverty
• EC
– will launch a consultation in May on how the EU should
implement the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development
– Council conclusions on how EU (and MSs) will implement
the Agenda 2030
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Next steps
• IUCN Global Programme: final draft to be
published June 1st
• European Programme to follow:
– Following the Global Programme development,
will be adopted after Hawai’I
– Has been discussed extensively during the past
months especially at Helsinki Forum
• Joint meeting of WG NC and EUPAG on
June 1st and 2nd in Brussels
International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN World Conservation
Congress 1- 10 Sept. 2016, Hawaiʽi
• Held every 4 years with the aim of conserving the environment
and harnessing the solutions nature offers to global challenges.
• Objectives:
− Inspire international community to take action for nature
− Bring together all IUCN Members to strengthen and mobilize
the Union’s policy to address urgent issues
− Launch the Hawaiʽi commitments
• Resolutions and Recommendations on important conservation
issues are discussed during the Congress
− ~ 100 accepted motions currently under discussion
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Challenging times: our common
responsibility
• Not easy times for environment issues in
Europe: political support limited, huge
pressures
• In Europe a number of positive policies are in
place
– Implementation is crucial
– No regression!
• IUCN is a UNION
– we need all efforts
– European Programme is a UNION’s programme –
not only Secretariat!
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Gracias!
International Union for Conservation of Nature