n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 1

Nature and Biodiversity Newsletter Number 4 6 | August 2019

NATURA 2000

ISSN 2443-7727
40 years of the Birds Directive

Environment
 2 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

Natura 2000
nature and biodiversity
newsletter
August 2019
Contents
3–5
Preparing for the post-2020
EU Biodiversity Framework
6–7
Attitudes of Europeans
towards biodiversity
8–9
Natura2000 barometer –
update Summer 2019
10–13
40 years of the Birds Directive

© European Commission
14–16
Natura News
© Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock

Editorial
As I reach the end of this five-year mandate, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect back over this
immensely busy and exciting period.

It all started with a major evaluation of the two nature Directives. The outcome demonstrated that our EU
nature legislation is highly relevant and necessary, but its implementation needs to be improved, up-scaled
© Stefan Rotter iStock.com

and better financed working with different stakeholder communities. It also highlighted how important nature
protection is to Europeans. Over half a million people responded to the public consultation, far more than for
any other EU consultation ever held until then.

To address the shortcomings identified in the fitness check, I mandated my team to draw up an Action Plan
immediately after. Two years later, the Plan is delivering on its promises. We have developed guidance and tools
to facilitate integration of biodiversity, nature protection, green infrastructure and ecosystem services across
economic sectors, we have focused our enforcement action, we have increased LIFE funding resources for
nature and we are conducting a wide range of communication and awareness raising activities.
© Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com

But broader and longer term actions are needed to protect nature and its vital services in the EU and globally.
This year we have launched the evaluation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in order to prepare the post-2020 EU
and Global Biodiversity frameworks. The aim is to draw lessons from our experience and to raise the political
profile of biodiversity in view of the alarming rate of biodiversity loss confirmed by the recent IPBES report. The
EU, in Europe and globally, needs to provide a policy response to these findings on the occasion of the upcoming
CBD COP in Kunming, China, at the end of 2020.

The pressures on nature are enormous but, as a recent review of 40 years of the Birds Directive has shown, with
time, resources and determination, species can be brought back from the brink of extinction.
© European Commission

I strongly believe that genuine political commitment and financing combined with the engagement of many
different stakeholder groups can slow biodiversity loss and lead to a recovery of nature.

I am encouraged by the inclusion of environmental paths in the new European solidarity corps. And of course I
am heartened by the growing prioritisation and understanding of biodiversity by Europeans.

It remains for me to thank all those I have had the privilege of meeting and working with. They have come from
all walks of life but all are fighting for the same thing: to value and protect the biodiversity we love and need.
Working with you all has truly been an inspiration. Thank you!
Cover: Three-toed woodpecker
© Pål Hermansen/naturepl.com

Karmenu Vella
European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Preparing for the post-2020
EU Biodiversity Framework
EU headline biodiversity In May 2011, the European
Commission published
target: ‘halt the loss a strategy to halt global
of biodiversity and biodiversity loss by 2020 and
the degradation of deliver on the EU’s international
commitments made under
ecosystem services in the Convention on Biological
the EU by 2020, and Diversity. With only 18 months
restore them in so left to go, the time has come
to take stock of progress at
far as feasible, while both EU and Member State
stepping up the EU level in reaching each of the six
contribution to averting operational targets.
From the discussions held
global biodiversity loss’. so far, it seems inevitable that
the EU will fall far short of its
ambitions. The midterm review
had already hinted at this back
in 2015, prompting a redoubling
of efforts and the adoption of
a comprehensive Nature Action
Plan in 2017 in order to speed
up the implementation of the
two EU nature Directives.
n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er
At international level too,
all signs are that the global
objective of halting biodiversity
loss by 2020 will not be
reached.
This was confirmed by the
recent publication in May
of a landmark report by the
Intergovernmental Science-
Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES). According to the report
nature continues to decline at
rates unprecedented in human
history and the rate at which
species are going extinct has
even increased, with serious
impacts on people around the
world (see box).
Taking stock at EU level
In the face of such alarming
findings, it is more important
than ever to tackle the root
| A u g us t 2019 3
© European Commission
causes of this continued decline
at the highest political level and
with the same sense of urgency
as the climate change debate.
These are after all two of the
greatest challenges for the
21st Century, requiring not just
more action but also a major
shift in mind set within society
towards a more sustainable
way of life.
With this in mind, the
Commission launched a
major evaluation of the EU
Biodiversity Strategy earlier this
year. The study will examine
in particular the effectiveness,
efficiency, relevance, coherence
and EU added value of
the EU strategy in order to
determine its relative success
in addressing the drivers of
biodiversity loss in Europe, and
pinpoint the lessons learnt that
 4 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

can be used to inform future

© Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.com
policy developments.
Because the loss of
biodiversity has major
consequences for all parts
of society, and requires a
concerted effort from all sides,
stakeholder consultation and
engagement will be a vital part
of this evaluation process.
That is why, in May, the
Commission, in cooperation
with the European Committee
of the Regions (COR), organised
a major conference to bring
together EU policymakers
and stakeholders within, and
beyond, the environment and
conservation community,
to reflect on achievements Lynx pardina – brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to EU action.
and perceived failures of
the existing strategy and to
gather their views as to future targeted interviews with key the emerging conclusions of the to be adopted at the 15th
orientations. stakeholders and Member evaluation study. This is likely to Conference of the Parties
Over 200 participants State authorities during the be part of the EU Green Week (COP15) to the Convention on
attended the conference, with course of 2019. An online public 2020 which will be dedicated to Biological Diversity in Kunming,
many more following the consultation will be launched the theme of biodiversity. China, in late 2020.
debates via web streaming or in the autumn in all languages The so called ‘New Deal for
through social media. A wealth to gather further evidence and A New Deal for Nature Nature and People’ aims to
of ideas and experiences feedback from the wider public and People build on ongoing consultations,
were gathered through a mix including all those who have The final Commission report as well as the IPBES Global
of breakout sessions, panel had a role in implementing the is expected to be published by Assessment and the 5th Global
discussions, spontaneous online 2020 Strategy or are otherwise the end of 2020 and will pave Biodiversity Outlook, which is
polls and audience feedback. engaged in, or impacted by, its the way for a new post-2020 scheduled to be adopted in
These findings will now be fed targets and actions. EU framework for biodiversity. summer 2020. It will become
into the evaluation study. Thereafter, a final stakeholder This will need to be in line with the guiding framework for all
The conference will also conference will be held in June the new global biodiversity countries, including the EU and
be followed up by further 2020 to present and discuss framework which is expected its Member States, who will be

The EU Biodiversity Strategy in a nutshell

The eu Biodiversity
Strategy to 2020
The EU Strategy lays down the policy foundations and actions to be undertaken
until 2020 and is built around six mutually supportive and inter-dependent
targets which address the main drivers of biodiversity loss and aims to reduce
the principal pressures on nature and ecosystem services in the EU.

The six targets focus on:

• the full implementation of the EU nature legislation to protect biodiversity;
• maintenance and restoration of ecosystems and their services, and the
deployment of green infrastructure;
• more sustainable agriculture and forestry;
• better management of EU fish stocks and more sustainable fisheries;
• combatting invasive alien species; and
• a greater EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.

Each target is further translated into a set of 20 prioritised actions and other accompanying measures
designed to ensure these ambitions are fully realised.

© Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock
Hawksbill turtle, Indian Ocean
coral reef, Maldives.
required to take the necessary
actions to deliver on the new
global targets, and revise their
biodiversity strategies and other
relevant policy documents.
Various options for
strengthening the global
approach are being discussed,
including more measurable
targets, an overarching
measurable objective
(equivalent to the 1.5 or 2
degrees objective for climate
change) and increasing
accountability through a
stronger review and monitoring
of national strategies,
action plans and biodiversity
commitments.
Such commitments can build
on success stories and the
increasing awareness across
society and policymakers of
the emerging ecological crisis,
and readiness to engage into
decisive transformative actions,
for the sake of the wellbeing
of current as well as future
generations. The clock is ticking
and we simply cannot afford to
fail again this time.
https://bit.ly/29SGDmp
n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 5
The IPBES global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published
its landmark global assessment on the state of global biodiversity in May this year. Compiled by 145
expert authors from 50 countries over the last three years, with inputs from another 310 contributing
authors, the IPBES report is the most comprehensive study ever published on the subject.
According to the report, nature across most of the globe has now been significantly altered by multiple
human drivers, with ecosystems and biodiversity showing rapid decline.
Today, 75% of the land surface is significantly altered, two-thirds of the ocean area is experiencing
increasing cumulative impacts, and over 85% of wetlands have been lost.
Around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades,
more than ever before in human history. More than 40% of amphibian species, almost a third of reef-
forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are now threatened, and at least 680
vertebrate species have been driven to extinction since the 16th century.
Approximately half of the live coral cover on coral reefs has been lost since the 1870s, with accelerating
losses in recent decades due to climate change. 100–300 million people are now at increased risk of
floods and hurricanes because of the loss of habitats providing protection from extreme weather.
The direct drivers of these changes in nature with the largest global impact have been (starting with
those with most impact): changes in land and sea use; direct exploitation of organisms; climate change;
pollution and invasion of alien species.
Despite efforts to conserve nature and implement policies, the Report concludes that global goals for
conserving and sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories.
Goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social,
political and technological factors. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship
between development pathways and their impacts on nature and explores a range of possible scenarios
for the coming decades.
https://www.ipbes.net/news/Media-Release-Global-Assessment
6 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

© Oleh Slobodeniuk/iStock
View over Lago di Carezza in Dolomites, Italy.

Attitudes of Europeans
towards biodiversity
Every few years the Commission
publishes a Eurobarometer
report of people’s attitudes to
nature and biodiversity across
the 28 EU Member States. The
latest such survey was
published in May 2019. It
reflects the views of some
27,640 respondents from
different social and
demographic groups who were
Special Eurobarometer 481
interviewed face-to-face in their
Summary
mother tongue.
Since the last survey in 2015,
Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity people’s understanding of the
meaning of the term
December 2018
Fieldwork
means. This is up 11 percentage
points. At the other end of the
spectrum, 29% of those
interviewed have still not heard
of the term. Nevertheless this is
down from 39% three years ago.
There is also still considerable
variation by country: in six
countries (Sweden, Bulgaria,
Luxemburg, Croatia, France and
Portugal) over half of the
respondents have heard of the
term and know what it means,
whereas in others, like Latvia,
Slovakia and Poland, only a
quarter of the respondents
heard of biodiversity and to
know what it means (48%),
while those aged 55 or over are
the least likely to do so (36%).
In general though, there is
widespread agreement that it is
important to stop biodiversity
loss: over 70% of Europeans
totally agree that we have a
responsibility to look after
nature and that doing so is
essential in tackling climate
change.
An increasing proportion of
the respondents also see
climate change as a major

Publication
“biodiversity” has increased, with knew what it stood for. threat to biodiversity, alongside
two in five Europeans now The socio-demographic pollution and man-made
May 2019

Survey requested by the European Commission,

Directorate-General for Environment
al for Communication

saying that they have heard of analysis shows that those aged disasters. While there is
and co-ordinated by the Directorate-Gener
point of view of the European Commission.
This document does not represent the
in it are solely those of the authors.
The interpretations and opinions contained

EB90.4 – Kantar Public Brussels

Special Eurobarometer 481 – Wave

the term and know what it 40–54 are most likely to have generally high awareness of the
 n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 7

range of threats to biodiversity,
more “acute” threats such as
man-made disasters and
pollution tend to be more
prominent in the public view
than other key drivers, such as
intensive land use.
In terms of the actions that
are important for the EU to take
in order to protect biodiversity,
almost half of the respondents
thought nature and biodiversity
should be restored to
compensate for damage, and
citizens should be better
informed about the importance
of biodiversity. The third most
popular action was to ‘expand
the areas where nature is
protected’ (43%).
More than a third of the
respondents also said that the
EU should ‘allocate more
financial resources to nature
protection’ (38%) and ‘make
sure that subsidies to
agriculture and fisheries do not
harm biodiversity’ (36%).
Awareness of (including just 1% who know interest and if the damage is
Natura 2000 what it is) and 16% in Germany fully compensated for’. Just 6%
Awareness of Natura 2000 has have heard of it (including 5% considers this kind of economic
increased slightly since 2015 who know what it is). development should take
with three in ten Europeans Nevertheless, a large majority precedence over nature in
stating that they are aware of of Europeans continues to think protected areas.
the network. The majority that nature protection areas are These findings are similar to
(70%) however have still not important for biodiversity, those observed in the 2015
heard of it. particularly in protecting survey, although there has been
Awareness of the Natura endangered animals and plants, a slight increase in the
2000 network continues to vary preventing the destruction of proportion of the respondents
widely across Member States. valuable nature areas on land who say that ‘damage or
There are nine Member States and at sea, and safeguarding destruction of nature is acceptable
where a majority has heard of nature’s role in providing food, only for projects of major public
the Natura 2000 network, with clean air and water. interest and if the damage is
the highest awareness seen in Most the respondents are fully compensated for’.
Bulgaria and Finland (both also unwilling to accept damage Overall, the survey indicates
76%). These are also the to protected nature in exchange that Europeans place a very
countries with the highest for economic development: high value on nature and
proportions of the respondents almost half of the respondents biodiversity and are strongly
that say that they have heard consider that such kind of concerned over its loss, with
of the Natura 2000 network developments ‘should be awareness increasing since
and know what it is (41% and prohibited, because these are 2015. However a significant
40% respectively), along with our most important nature proportion continues to remain
Greece (40%). areas’ (45%). unaware of biodiversity loss
In sharp contrast, just 4% in The same proportion (45%) and of the existence of
the United Kingdom have heard consider this ‘acceptable only Natura 2000.
of the Natura 2000 network for projects of major public https://bit.ly/2LsO9LO

QA2 I will read some statements about why it might be important to halt the loss of biodiversity. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with them.
(% ‐ EU)

77 19 2 1 1
© Radu To/iStock

WE HAVE A RESPONSABILITY TO LOOK AFTER NATURE
76 21 2 0 1

LOOKING AFTER NATURE IS ESSENTIAL IN TACKLING  71 24 3 1 1
CLIMATE CHANGE 67 27 3 1 2

OUR HEALTH AND WELL‐BEING ARE BASED UPON NATURE  63 30 4 1 2
AND BIODIVERSITY 60 33 4 1 2

BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY NATURE ARE IMPORTANT  62 30 4 1 3
FOR OUR LONG‐TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 56 35 4 1 4

BIODIVERSITY IS INDISPENSABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF  61 30 5 1 3
GOODS SUCH AS FOOD, MATERIALS AND MEDICINES 53 36 5 1 5

December 2018
May‐June 2015

The large blue butterfly, Totally agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Totally disagree Don't know

Phengaris [Maculinea] arion.

QA5 Have you heard of the Natura 2000 network?
(%)
© Stefan Rotter/iStock

132 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1

22 38 24 35 42 52 42 47 47 62 55 64 72 62 59 60 70 63 69 63 65 75 81 82 78 79 73 83 95
112

35 36
92

31
22
72
31 33
31 32
23
28
28 28
52
20 24 26 26
20 25
41 40 40 19 20
14 21
34 16
16 14
32
27 25 25 11 11 11
22 21
18 17 15 14 13 13 12 3
11 11 11 10 9 9
12
7 7 6 6 6 5
1

‐8

BG EL FI SI PL CY MT EE AT LU HU PT NL CZ HR SE EU28 BE FR SK IT LV DK IE ES LT RO DE UK

The European souslik You have heard of it and you  You have heard of it but you  You have never heard of it Don't know

know what it is do not know what it is
Spermophilus citellus.
 8 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

barometer
This Natura Barometer is TERRESTRIAL
Natura 2000 network
produced by DG Environment (terrestrial and marine) SCI SPA Natura 2000 network
with the help of the European
Total N° Natura Total area SCI area SPA area Natura area % land area
Environment Agency. It is Member States 2000 Sites Natura 2000 km2 (km2) (km2) (km2) covered
based
on information officially
transmitted by Member States AUSTRIA 350 12891 9381 10254 12891 15.37%
up to 15.3.2019.
BELGIUM 310 5163 3282 3186 3891 12.75%

The Natura 2000 network is BULGARIA 339 41048 33258 25226 38222 34.46%
composed of sites under the
CYPRUS 64 1785 753 1534 1654 28.84%
Habitats Directive (pSCI, SCIs
or SACs – labelled ‘SCIs’ in the CZECH REPUBLIC 1153 11148 7951 7035 11148 14.14%
barometer) and sites under
GERMANY 5200 80816 33528 40260 55214 15.46%
the Birds Directive (SPAs). The
figures relating to the total DENMARK 384 22664 3289 2488 3616 8.39%
area of Natura 2000 sites
ESTONIA 567 14861 7806 6203 8106 17.92%
(i.e. SPAs + SCIs) have been
obtained through GIS analysis. SPAIN 1863 222420 117581 101502 138016 27.34%
This avoids any risk of counting
FINLAND 1866 50636 42197 24550 42495 12.57%
sites twice if they have
been designated under both FRANCE 1779 200364 48506 44012 70750 12.88%
Directives.
GREECE 446 58778 21912 27646 35982 27.27%

Arrows indicate increase in CROATIA 779 25690 16040 17034 20704 36.58%
the area of the Natura 2000
network since the last HUNGARY 525 19949 14442 13747 19949 21.44%

update of the barometer in IRELAND 604 19486 7166 4311 9229 13.13%
November 2017.
ITALY 2613 64124 42899 40126 57265 19.00%

Significant progress continues LITHUANIA 559 9666 6304 5530 8103 12.41%
to be made in the marine
environment. Further marine LUXEMBOURG 66 702 416 418 702 27.03%
sites have been designated in LATVIA 333 11834 7421 6610 7447 11.53%
Finland, France, Malta and the
United Kingdom. MALTA 52 4183 41 16 42 13.29%

NETHERLANDS 196 20605 3139 4771 5522 13.30%

POLAND 984 68393 34187 48428 61156 19.56%

PORTUGAL 166 57062 15680 9204 19010 20.67%

Natura 2000 in EU 28
ROMANIA 606 60577 40310 37118 54214 22.74%
40.25%
marine SWEDEN 4087 75854 55106 26448 55611 13.40%

SLOVENIA 355 7682 6634 5066 7672 37.84%

SLOVAKIA 683 14633 6151 13105 14633 29.96%

UNITED KINGDOM 934 153137 13176 16091 21008 8.58%

59.75%
land EU 28 27863 1336151 598556 541919 784252 18.04%

j Small increase in 2019 jj Moderate increase in 2019 jjj Substantial increase in 2019
 n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 9

update Summer 2019 Viewer

MARINE
SCI SPA Natura 2000 network
SCI area SPA area Natura area
(km2) (km2) (km2)

n.a. n.a. n.a. AT

1128 318 1271 BE

2482 550 2827 BG

124 110 131 CY

n.a. n.a. n.a. CZ

20938 19738 25603 DE

16492 12176 19048 DK

Developed by the European Commission, with the assistance
3883 6480 6754 EE of the European Environment Agency (EEA) the ‘Natura 2000
Viewer’ enables the user to locate and explore Natura 2000
54892 52064 84404 ES
sites anywhere in the EU at the press of a button.
j 7676 j 7402 j 8141 FI
Various search options are available:
jj 106287 jjj 116574 jj 129613 FR
• Locate a specific Natura 2000 site: use the search tool to zoom
17528 8516 22796 GR in on the location of a specific Natura 2000 site.

4668 1112 4986 HR

• Find a Natura 2000 site near you: type in a location anywhere in
the EU and the map will automatically zoom in on that area and
n.a. n.a. n.a. HU highlight all the Natura 2000 sites present.

9784 1584 10257 IE

• Look for a particular species or habitat type: find all Natura
2000 sites designated for a particular species or habitat type by
5801 4006 6859 IT typing in its name or code.

958 1056 1563 LT

• Discover the distribution and conservation status of a
habitat type or species: as reported under the latest Article 17
n.a. n.a. n.a. LU report of the Habitats Directive or the latest Article 12 report of
the Birds Directive.
2664 4280 4387 LV
• Search according to different backgrounds: The Viewer can be
j 2282 3221 j 4142 MT overlaid on some 250,000 different layers available under ArcGIS
online (e.g. topography, land use, climate, demographics...).
12074 8627 15083 NL

4339 7224 7237 PL The Viewer will be of interest to:

30918 8747 38052 PT

• the general public, teachers and school children interested in
finding out more about the EU’s natural heritage and the
6188 1630 6362 RO Natura 2000 network;

20174 14448 20243 SE

• land owners, users and other stakeholders who would like to
know about Natura 2000 sites in their area;
• developers preparing new plans or projects;
•
4 9 10 SI
non-governmental organisations;
n.a. n.a. n.a. SK • government authorities, land use planners and policymakers; and
121745 j 21507 132130 UK • researchers and scientists.

453029 301379 551899 EU 28

10 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019
The EU population of the Griffon Vulture is increasing again after years of persecution.
40 Years of the Birds Directive
– a European success story
Adopted 40 years ago, in 1979,
the EU Birds Directive was a
truly ground-breaking piece of
legislation. It was one of the
first environmental laws to be
adopted at European level,
despite the Community’s then
limited powers in the
environmental field.
The Directive also came at a
time when international
conservation initiatives were
The Birds Directive: still very much in their infancy.
40 years conserving our
shared natural heritage The first World Summit on the
Human Environment had been
held just a few years before
and only one international
nature convention was in
Environment
existence – the Ramsar
Convention on the conservation
1971
Ramsar Convention
International
level
1970 1980 1990
1973
First EU Action
EU level Programme for the
environment
of wetlands, which had entered
into force in 1975.
But, even at that time, the
alarming decline in birdlife had
captured the hearts and minds
of people across Europe. Reports
were emerging about the
large-scale drainage of
wetlands, and the loss of other
major habitats through
agricultural industrialisation,
unchecked development and
urban sprawl.
This, combined with the
dramatic decline in bird numbers
through pollution, persecution
and the excessive use of
harmful pesticides such as DDT,
brought into sharp focus the
need for urgent action. The
1979
Bern and Bonn Conventions
1979 1984
Birds Directive ACE Biotopes Fund
© David Kjaer/naturepl.com
ensuing public outcry galvanised
governments to take action.
The nine Member States that
made up the EU at the time fully
recognised that, because of the
migratory nature of many birds,
they would be much stronger
and more effective if they
worked together. And so, the
Birds Directive came into being,
protecting over 500 wild bird
species across their entire
natural range within the EU,
irrespective of country borders.
The Directive also brought a
new focus to wildlife
conservation, based on the
protection and management of
habitats as well as species. Until
then most conservation
1992
Biodiversity
Convention
1992
Habitats
Directive
1992
LIFE Fund

initiatives tended to focus on
the conservation of a few iconic
species. Yet, it had become
increasingly evident that, in
order to save a species, one had
also to conserve its habitat.
The Birds Directive was one of
the first pieces of legislation to
introduce provisions to protect
the most important habitats of
threatened and vulnerable bird
species, paying particular
attention to wetlands of
international importance.
Forty years on, the Birds
Directive remains as far-
reaching, ambitious and relevant
as ever. It continues to set the
standard for bird conservation
across the now 28 Member
States and, together with the
Habitats Directive adopted in
1992, forms the bedrock of the
EU’s biodiversity policy.
Taking stock
But, what has it actually
achieved over the years and has
it really made a difference on
the ground? This is a complex
question, considering the sheer
scale and scope of the Directive,
and the wide-ranging threats
and pressures that Europe’s
birds continue to face.
The 40th anniversary
provided an opportunity to
reflect back on all that has been
achieved to-date, and all that
remains to be done. Inevitably, it
takes time, money, diligence and
goodwill to turn decades of
decline and bad habits around,
but, as the Birds Directive has
shown, with patience and
persistence, it can be done,
which gives us hope for the
future.
This timely retrospective was
an edifying experience. It
1995
AEWA (Agreement on the
Conservation of African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds)
2000 2010 2020
1998
First EU Biodiversity
Strategy
confirmed that, where targeted
action takes place on a sufficient
scale, the status of species and
habitats invariably improves,
and has even led to some of the
world’s most remarkable species
recoveries.
The following highlights some
of the Birds Directive’s top
achievements, as well as some
of its remaining challenges.
These are extracted from a new
brochure published by the
European Commission to
celebrate the Birds Directive’s
40th anniversary.
Site protection
Today, thanks to the Birds
Directive, over 5611 sites have
been protected for wild birds
across the EU, covering more
than 749 045 km2 of land and
sea – equivalent to an area the
size of Germany and Poland put
together. These sites protect the
habitats of 194 birds species
listed in Annex I that are
900000
800000
700000
600000
Area km2
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
1986 1991
17% 16%
15%
52%
52%
Unknown
Secure
Near threatened, declining or depleted
2004 Threatened
Biodiversity Convention
Biodiversity Targets
2006
EU Biodiversity
Action Plan
n at u r e a n d bio d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 11
threatened, restricted in range or who have designated around
particularly vulnerable to 30% and 25% respectively of
changes in their habitats. their territory as SPA. In total,
Along with sites protected around 92% of all the Important
under the Habitats Directive, Bird Areas identified by BirdLife
these Special Protection Areas International in the EU-28 are
form part of the Natura 2000 classified as SPAs.
network, which is the largest Several scientific studies have
coordinated network of been published recently on the
protected areas in the world. effects of this Europe-wide
Progress in classifying SPAs designation process. They all
was initially quite slow and confirm that SPAs have been
remained stagnant for the first instrumental in protecting the
10–15 years. But then, with the Annex I bird species for which
adoption of the Habitats they were designated. These
Directive in 1992, the gradual species have, on average, fared
enlargement of the EU to 28 significantly better than other
Member States, and the powerful species. Around 40% of Annex I
influence of the European Court birds are now showing an
of Justice, the number of increasing population, compared
protected sites grew rapidly, to just 22% of other birds.
increasing almost four-fold
between 1996 and 2016. Species protection
The SPA network is now The second major pillar of the
considered largely complete on Birds Directive concerns its
land, even for countries that species protection measures. At
have only recently joined the EU, the time the Directive was
such as Slovenia and Croatia adopted, millions of birds were
being captured and killed
unnecessarily across the EU for
6000 various reasons. This added
No. of SPAs
5000
even more pressure on many
Area km2 species whose populations were
4000 already decimated by
No. of SPAs
agricultural pesticides and
3000
industrial pollution.
2000 The Birds Directive imposed a
general EU-wide ban on the
1000
wholesale persecution of wild
17% 16%
1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2019
0 birds, which had a rapid impact
Year 15% on various populations. Birds of
prey, in particular, made a
Birds’ population status 52% remarkable recovery across
Europe after centuries of
52% persecution. Europe is now one
Unknown
Secure of the few places in the world
Near threatened, declining or depleted where vulture populations are
Threatened increasing to safe numbers.
The Directive also introduced
a system of careful control to
2010
Biodiversity Convention
10-year Strategic Plan
2010 2017
EU Biodiversity EU Action Plan for nature,
Strategy 2014 people and the economy
EU Regulation
on invasive alien species
12 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

ensure that, where wild birds
continue to be hunted or used,
this is done in a sustainable
manner that does not jeopardise
their survival.
In the beginning, the hunting
provisions of the Directive
caused considerable
controversy, leading to
misunderstandings on all sides.
But, the launch of the
Commission’s ‘Sustainable
Hunting Initiative’ in 2001
proved to be a turning point. Its
aim was twofold: to improve the
overall understanding of the
legal and technical aspects of
the Directive’s provisions on
hunting and to foster a closer
cooperation and dialogue
between hunting and
conservation groups.
It led not only to a greater Member States must also
recognition of the legitimacy of protect them from damaging
hunting as a form of sustainable activities and take the
use but also of the potentially necessary conservation
significant role that responsible measures to maintain, or restore
hunters can play in helping to the protected habitats and
safeguard biodiversity. It also species, to an optimal condition.
prompted hunters and This is clearly a complex
conservationists to work process considering the sheer
together to conserve Europe’s number of protected areas
wild birds and their habitats, involved and the often complex
something that would have been mix of pressures, threats and
unthinkable in the 1980s. land use issues at stake. Only
with strong stakeholder
Conservation action engagement and sufficient
The creation of the Natura 2000 human and financial resources
network represents, in itself, a to implement the necessary
major achievement for nature conservation measures can
conservation in Europe. But this there be any real progress.
is usually only the start of the EU funding has been key in
process; once sites have been this respect. The LIFE fund in
designated under Natura 2000, particular has made a major
contribution. Adopted at the
same time as the Habitats
Directive in 1992 it has
co-financed over 1700 nature
and biodiversity projects so far,
a third of which were for
improving the conservation
status of some 230 bird species
and their habitats across the EU.
This has resulted in a total
investment of €1.3 billion so far.
EU Agri-environmental
measures have also been an
important source of funding for
Natura 2000 sites and many
examples now exist of schemes
tailored to the management of
birds species and their habitats.
But as yet they have not been
rolled out on a sufficiently large
enough scale to have more than
a local impact, or indeed to

The continuing problem of illegal bird crime

Despite the success of the Birds Directive in protecting
wild birds species across Europe, there is still a huge
problem with their illegal capture, killing and trade. An
estimated 25  million birds are killed every year around
the Mediterranean basin as they migrate between Europe
© Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com

and Africa. This is having a major impact on many species’

populations and is a major barrier to their recovery.
Although enforcement is primarily a responsibility of
Member States, the Commission is playing a major
supporting role through awareness raising, training of
enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges, as well
as information exchange and data gathering. It is also The White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla became extinct in
working actively with third countries within the framework several EU Member States as a direct result of persecution.
of the Bern Convention’s Tunis Action Plan 2013–2020 on Thanks to its legal protection and a ban on harmful
the eradication of illegal killing, trapping and trade of chemicals, such as DDT and PCB, the EU population has
Birds and of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). quadrupled since 1970.
© Juan Carlos Munoz/naturepl.com
© Paulo Oliveira/Alamy Stock Photo

The Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia had declined as

a result of habitat loss. Thanks to the protection of over 800
sites for the species as SPAs and habitat restoration works the
Atlantic flyway population more than doubled between 1991
Bird jaw trap with dead blue tit Parus caeruleus, Portugal. and 2012.

counter the overall negative
effects of wider EU agricultural
policies and practices.
In conclusion, whilst progress
has been made in managing
and restoring SPAs across the
EU, it is clear that there is still
much work to be done if these
sites are to reach their full
potential in conserving Europe’s
rich birdlife.
And the result?
Today, thanks to the Birds
Directive, many species that
were previously considered
threatened in Europe are now
off the danger list. This is to a
great extent the result not only
of species and site protection
measures but also of targeted
EU Species Action Plans and
© Sven Zacek/maturepl.com
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius is a widespread species
that requires mature trees and ample dead wood for a viable
population. Its European population is stable, reflecting the
maturing of many European forests.
© Hans & Jens Erikson/naturepl.com
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa has been in decline, mainly
as a result of intensified grassland management and pressures
of hunting. Despite the introduction of a hunting moratorium
and other efforts to reverse this trend, the species has been
unable to recover so far.
LIFE funding which has brought
several species back from the
brink of extinction, and led to
the recovery of many others.
More than half of the EU’s
wild species now have a stable
population but, inevitably, not
everything is rosy. Clearly, some
species have done better than
others.
From the latest State of EU
Nature report, it can be seen
that, on the one hand almost
90% of all herons, pelicans,
ibises and spoonbills now have
a secure EU population status.
These typically breed in colonies
in wetlands and other well-
defined areas that can be more
easily protected and managed
within the Natura 2000
network.
nnat
atuurree aanndd bio
bioddiiver
versit
sityy nnew
ewsl
sleetttter
Unsustainable agricultural practices have led to a worrying decline in
farmland birds whose numbers have fallen by 50% since 1980.
Other water birds, such as
ducks, geese and swans are also
generally increasing. Several
migratory geese species, such
as the barnacle and pink-footed
goose, have adapted to more
intensive agriculture practices,
and, thanks to reduced hunting
pressure, their populations have
literally exploded across
north-west Europe. Sea ducks
on the other hand remain highly
threatened.
The situation for eagles and
falcons is equally encouraging,
they recovered well once their
persecution was made illegal
and poisonous pesticides were
banned. As a result over 60% of
the species (17 out of 28
species) now have a secure
status. Birds associated with
forests also had the lowest
share of threatened species
(3%) although some old-growth
forest specialists, such as the
white-backed woodpecker, are
still rare.
Birds associated with
grasslands and agricultural
habitats, on the other hand,
have the highest proportion of
threatened species (23%),
followed by birds associated
with marine habitats, such as
petrels, shearwaters and
storm-petrels indicating trouble
with the marine environment.
Several huntable species, such
er | AAuuggus
ustt 2019
2019 13
© Volodymyr Kucherenko/iStock.com
as partridges, quail and grouse
are also not faring well with
more than half still declining or
threatened.
The worsening status of
these species can be put down
to a number of factors, but are
usually due to pressures outside
protected areas and across the
wider countryside, such as
diffuse pollution, intensified
land or sea use, over-
exploitation and climate change.
All of these require a major step
change in the wider policy
agendas if they are to be
properly addressed.
Future challenges
After decades of hard work, a
great deal has been achieved for
Europe’s birdlife thanks
to the
Birds Directive. These
achievements give hope for the
future. They illustrate that,
where actions are taken at a
sufficient scale and with
sufficient resources, even the
direst of situations can be
turned out.
But, clearly many major
challenges lie ahead, and there
is still a long way to go to fulfil
the Birds Directive’s full
potential. So let’s just keep
going, come what may!
The 40 years Birds Directive
brochure is available on:
https://bit.ly/2RB706R
14 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

• news • publicationS • events

The European Natura the largest number of public ‘traditional’ action projects sites’ on the interpretation of
2000 Award 2020 votes. aimed at developing, applying certain key concepts of Article
Now in its fifth year, the So why not apply? The and promoting best practice 6, including the Appropriate
high-profile Natura 2000 deadline is 30 September 2019. in relation to nature and Assessment procedure, in order
Award is once again open All six winners will be presented biodiversity. to assist Member States and
for applications. If you have with their Award at the high- It will also support new, stakeholders in their correct
been working hard for Natura level Ceremony in May 2020 in dedicated ‘Strategic Nature application.
2000, be it through active Brussels. Projects’ (SNaP) in all Member The guidance document has
conservation work, awareness To find out more, go to: States to help mainstream recently been updated to take
raising or other successful https://bit.ly/1cpVvBK nature and biodiversity policy account of more than 15 years
initiatives, this award is for you! objectives into other policies of experience in implementing
The award is available in five The future and financing programmes, the provisions of Article 6. It
categories: communication; EU LIFE fund such as agriculture and rural also incorporates jurisprudence
socio-economic benefits; A provisional agreement has development. These ‘SNaPs’ will established through a large
conservation; reconciling been reached between the replace the current Integrated body of rulings issued by the
interests/perceptions; cross- Commission, the European Projects. European Court of Justice, as
border Parliament (EP) and the The provisional LIFE well as various Commission
cooperation Council over the future EU agreement will now be subject notes on the management of
and LIFE fund (2021–2027). The to formal approval by the EP Natura 2000 sites.
networking. programme will be similar and Council, and is dependent The document, which has
In addition, to the existing fund but will upon an overall consensus been published as an official
the have a significantly bigger between Member States on the Commission Notice after
E U
NATURA 2000
R O
EuropeanP E A N budget, which is proposed to be EU’s future long term budget. an extensive consultation
AWARD Citizens’ increased to €5.45 billion for In the meantime, a new call procedure, is intended to assist
2020
Award is
Get the recognition you deserve!
the seven-year period. for Integrated Projects has been Member State authorities, as
given to The Nature and Biodiversity launched under the existing well as anyone else involved
the project sub-programme (€2.15 billion) programme. The deadline for in the management of Natura
receiving will continue to support submission of a concept note is 2000 sites and the application
5 September 2019. of the Article 6 permit
Environment

For full details go to: procedure.

https://bit.ly/2HwHZqw It will be further
2018 Citizens’ Award winner: School of Nature, Portugal. complemented by an update
Updated guidance on of the methodological guide
© European Commission

Article 6 of the on Article 6(3)&(4) procedures

Habitats Directive later in the year which will offer
Article 6 is one of the most more practical ‘how to’ advice
important articles of the on carrying out the Article 6
Habitats Directive as it defines assessment and permitting
how Natura 2000 sites are procedure.
managed and protected. It is The guidance document
also one of the most discussed, ‘Managing Natura 2000 sites’ is
not least because it has available in all EU languages, go
potentially significant economic to: https://bit.ly/1qwUQsb
implications.
New Union List of
1

Back in 2002,
the Commission Invasive Alien Species
drew up a The EU Regulation on Invasive
guidance Managing Natura 2000 sites
Alien Species (IAS) was adopted
document The provisions of Article 6 of the
‘Habitats’ Directive 92/43/EEC in January 2015. It establishes
‘Managing Environment
a coordinated Europe-wide
Natura 2000 framework for action to
Updated art.6 guide 2019.indd 1

17/01/2019 11:52:05

The pumpkinseed fish was added to the Union List of Invasive Alien Species this year.
prevent, minimise and mitigate
the adverse impacts of IAS on
biodiversity and ecosystem
services, and to limit their
damage to the economy and
human health.
At its core is a list of Invasive
Alien Species of Union Concern
for which Member States must
adopt targeted measures.
The Regulation lays down the
conditions to be met for an IAS
species to be included on the
Union list. This includes the
need for a scientifically robust
risk assessment.
Forty-nine species have been
added to the list up to now,
37 in 2016 and 12 in 2017.
Following the positive opinion of
the Member States at the IAS
Committee on 14 June 2019, a
further 17 species – 13 plants
and four animals – will be
added later this year.
This will include the common
myna bird Acridotheres tristis
from Asia and the tree of
heaven Ailanthus altissima
which has spread widely across
the EU, having been used as an
ornamental species in urban
parks.
It also includes the
pumpkinseed or pond-perch,
Lepomis gibbosus, a small
predatory fish that has escaped
from aquaria and ponds and a
first marine species, Plotosus
lineatus, a catfish that entered
the Mediterranean through the
Suez canal.
https://bit.ly/1lrd3BF
Latest on the
Biogeographical
process
Two further Natura 2000
seminars are taking place
in 2019. The third Atlantic
seminar was held in Antwerp,
Belgium in June while the third
Boreal seminar is foreseen
for October in Talliin, Estonia.
Next year, it will be the turn of
the Alpine and Mediterranean
regions to hold their third
round of seminars. Following
each event, an updated
roadmap is drawn up to
identify priorities and actions
for further cooperation within
each region.
Every year, the Commission
also supports a series of
networking events within the
framework of the Natura 2000
Biogeographical Process which
can focus on particular issues.
These are demand led.
Full details are available on:
https://bit.ly/2gFs88y
Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director at DG Environment giving a
presentation at the third Atlantic seminar, Antwerp, Belgium.
n atnuat
r eu raen da nbio
d bio d i ver
d i ver
Support for biodiversity
actions in the EU
Overseas
In place since 2011, the EU
BEST programme supports the
conservation of biodiversity and
the sustainable use of ecosystem
services, including ecosystem-
based approaches to climate
change adaptation and mitigation,
across the EU’s nine Outermost
Regions (ORs) and 25 Overseas
Countries and Territories (OCTs).
So far, 90 projects have been
supported to the tune of over
€14.75 million. Selected through a
series of open calls for proposals,
the projects have undertaken a
wide range of activities including:
designating and managing
terrestrial and marine protected
areas, encouraging participative
and integrated approaches
to ecosystem management,
combating invasive alien species,
valuing ecosystem services,
protecting endangered species,
as well as networking, education,
sit sit
y nyew
nesl e t t er | A u g us t 2019 15
capacity building and outreach
activities.
New calls for proposals for
swift small grants will be
launched in the coming months
under the BEST 2.0+ (for
Overseas Countries and
By Cephas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, wikimedia
Territories) and LIFE4BEST (for
Outermost Regions) Programmes.
So keep an eye out for
announcements on the BEST
website: https://bit.ly/2Fe6l6A
A brochure on the 90 BEST
projects funded so far is also
available from:
https://bit.ly/2Iotcy7
The European Business
and Nature Summit
A ‘European Business and Nature
Summit’ (EBNS), co-organised
by the EU Business@Biodiversity
Platform will take place on
November 7–8 in Madrid. The
event aims to showcase and
build on action from all sectors
and stakeholders in support of
biodiversity, and contribute to
shaping the new post-2020 Deal
for Nature and People in order to
strengthen the role of business
in contributing to protecting
biodiversity and natural capital.
The summit will be highlighting
examples of best practices,
tools and approaches to deliver
a positive business impact on
biodiversity. It will also provide
a forum to discuss business
opportunities and progress
made by businesses and
financial institutions in better
accounting for their impacts and
dependencies on nature, and
in taking informed decisions to
generate a net positive impact.
In this respect, the EU
Business&Biodiversity Platform
is working on the assessment
of biodiversity accounting
approaches for businesses and
© Theo Vanderluis
financial institutions to compare
the different methods used for
natural capital accounting and
biodiversity and the obstacles
they have faced. The platform
has recently published a report
on this topic.
More info on:
https://bit.ly/2XUwFcZ
The report is available on:
https://bit.ly/2SKQaC3
16 n at u r e a n d b io d i ver sit y n ew sl e t t er | A u g us t 2019

New report on natural

© dennisvdw/iStock
and cultural heritage
Europe’s natural and cultural
heritage is not only unique but
also inextricably linked.
Nevertheless, despite facing
similar threats and challenges,
it is rare that these two sectors
work together.
As part of its contribution to
the new European Framework
for Action on Cultural Heritage
(2018), and as a follow up to
the Action Plan on Nature,
People and the Economy, DG
Environment commissioned a
new study to examine the
spatial overlaps between
natural and cultural heritage in
Europe, their perceived values
to society and the threats and
challenges they both face.
The report also investigates
the main stumbling blocks Rila monastery, Bulgaria, located in the heart of a large Natura 2000 site.
preventing greater cooperation
between the two sectors and
explores the many advantages development drive are also infrastructure. It will be further A reminder about the
of working together towards a explored. supported by a Commission Natura 2000
more sustainable, greener The report is available from: Guide which will put forward Newsletter survey
economy. https://bit.ly/2WQwhzY criteria for a strategic EU-level We would like to thank all those
KH-01-19-558-EN-C

The Green Infrastructure, whilst who have replied to our online

different Green Infrastructure outlining financing opportunities survey on the newsletter
EU funds and ecosystem services and technical support tools. The already, your views are very
that can be The Commission has recently third element of the package, an useful for us. If you have not
used to adopted a review of progress in EU guidance document on had a chance to fill in the survey
Natural aNd Cultural
kick start Heritage iN europe:
Working together within the
implementing the EU Green integrating ecosystems and their there is still time until 1 October
joint Natura 2000 network
Infrastructure (GI) Strategy. The services into decision-making, 2019 to do so. This is an
nature and ISBN 978-92-76-08752-6

Environment
report is part of a package of was adopted in July. opportunity for you to let us
culture measures aimed at further For further information and know what you think.
initiatives supporting the deployment of links to the documents go to: The survey is available on:
as part of a wider sustainable EU-level green and blue https://bit.ly/2fukTQL https://bit.ly/31BNOL3

The Natura 2000 Newsletter is produced by DG Environment, European Commission. Author: Kerstin Sundseth Ecosystems LTD, Brussels. Commission Editors: Sofia Pachini,
DG Environment. Design: www.naturebureau.co.uk
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2019. © European Union, 2019
Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse policy of European Commission documents is regulated by Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011,
p. 39). For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the EU copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders.
The newsletter does not necessarily reflect the official view of the European Commission.
Photos: Cover © Pål Hermansen/naturepl.com; p. 2 © Aydin Bahramlouian/AEWA, © Stefan Rotter/iStock.com, © Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com, © European Commission
© European Commission; p. 3 © European Commission; p. 4. © Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.com; p. 5 © Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock; p. 6 © Oleh Slobodeniuk/iStock;
p. 7 © Radu To/iStock, © Stefan Rotter/iStock; p. 10 © David Kjaer/naturepl.com; p. 12 © Paulo Oliveira/Alamy Stock Photo,
© Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com, © Juan C. Munoz/naturepl.com; p. 13 © Volodymyr Kucherenko/iStock.com, © Sven Zacek/
naturepl.com, © Hans & Jens Erikson/naturepl.com; p. 14 © European Commission; p. 15 By Cephas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
wikimedia, © Theo Vanderluis; p. 16 © dennisvdw/iStock

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