EU nature policies failing most habitats and species

Less than a fifth of more than 1,000 species and 200 habitats protected under EU law have a good conservation status, according to the most comprehensive review of biodiversity in the EU-25 to date.

The European Commission published the review on Monday. It "demonstrates above all the need for better implementation of the [nature protection] legislation that's in place," environment spokesperson Barbara Helfferich said. Nature protection is one of the areas of EU environmental law most frequently breached (EE 18/11/08 http://www.endseurope.com/17134).

Europe's Natura 2000 network of protected areas is "nearly" completed, Ms Helfferich said, but "relatively few member states invest sufficient resources in monitoring the status of species and habitats in their territories", according to the commission's review.

Only 17% of the species and habitats assessed had a satisfactory conservation status. Over half had an "unfavourable" conservation status and some species are facing extinction. Grasslands, wetlands and coastal habitats face the greatest threats, mainly due to the rise of intensive agriculture.

The review, which is required under the 1976 EU habitats directive, is based on member state data for 2001-6. Despite an overall gloomy picture, it lists some success stories, such as the spread of wolves and otters to areas they had previously disappeared from.

Follow-up: European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/ plus press release

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1118&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

and summary report

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/knowledge/rep_habitats/docs/com_2009_358_en.pdf,

full technical report http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/article17,

national summaries

http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/monnat/library?l=/habitats_reporting/reporting_2001-2007/ms-reports_summaries&vm=detailed&sb=Title

and national checklists

http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/monnat/library?l=/habitats_reporting/reporting_2001-2007/ms-reports_checklists/article_checklist/_EN_1.0_&a=d.

See EEB reaction http://www.endseurope.com/docs/90713b.doc.

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