P AN -E UROPEAN B IODIVERSITY P LATFORM W ORK P ROGRAMME 2014-2017 1 - PDF document

P AN -E UROPEAN B IODIVERSITY P LATFORM W ORK P ROGRAMME 2014-2017 1

Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1. Presentation of the pan European Biodiversity Platform ........................................... 4 1.2. The Pan-European Biodiversity Strategy ..................................................................... 4 2. Ecosystem Management in Pan-Europe ..................................................................................... 5 2.1 Situation of Ecosystems & Biodiversity in the Pan-European Region .......................... 5 2.2 Regional Cooperation on Biodiversity and Ecosystems – State of Affairs .................... 6 2.3 Priority Objectives for Ecosystem Management in Pan-Europe .................................. 7 3. Rationale ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4. Way forward on regional cooperation on biodiversity in Pan-Europe ..................................... 11 4.1 Revision of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) ................... 12 4.2 Actions to improve the way biodiversity and ecosystem services concerns and requirements are reflected in economic and development frameworks ........................ 13 4.3 Actions to promote synergies amongst the biodiversity-related MEAs ..................... 17 5. Annexes ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Annex 1 – Outcome of the 6 th Biodiversity in Europe Conference ................................... 20 Annex 2 – Final statement by the CEE Region to the CBD COP 11 ……………………………….. 22 Annex 3 – Suggested project concept notes ………………………………………………………………… 23 4.1. Revision of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) ….21 4.1.1 Capacity Building for NBSAP revision ………………………………………….21 4.1.2 Support for Biodiversity Monitoring……………………..…………………….22 4.2 Actions to improve the way biodiversity and ecosystem services concerns and requirements are reflected in economic and development frameworks ….. 25 4.2.1 Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services .. …….23 4.2 .2 Thematic Biodiversity Knowledge Mapping…………………………………24 2

4.2.3 The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) ……………… .25 4.2.4 Capacity Support for the use of market-based instruments and policy making ………………………………………………………………………………….... .27 4.3 Actions to promote synergies amongst the biodiversity-related MEAs ……… 30 4.3.1 Streamlined implementation …………………………………… ..... …………..28 4.3.2 Streamlined reporting for obligations under MEAs and Conventions Annex 4 – Other project initiatives ……………………………………………………………………………… 32 3

1. Introduction 1.1. Presentation of the pan European Biodiversity Platform In 1994, the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) was developed as a European response to support implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It served as a coordinating and unifying framework in Pan-Europe for strengthening and building on existing initiatives. In 2011, the Pan-European 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity was developed as the successor to PEBLDS. This new strategy refocuses efforts to prevent further loss of biodiversity in the Pan-European region, in line with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- 2020. Furthermore, recognizing the importance of regional efforts to conserve biodiversity, the strategy emphasizes work in the following sub-regions: Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Western Balkans. At the 6 th Intergovernmental Biodiversity in Europe Conference held in Batumi, Georgia, in April 2013, countries present decided to establish the Pan-European Biodiversity Platform, as a follow-up to the PEBLDS, to contribute to the implementation of the Pan-European 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Platform promotes regional and sub-regional biodiversity cooperation and serves as a bridge for further cooperation and coherence between EU and non-EU countries in Pan-Europe. UNEP, providing the Secretariat for this Platform, is contributing to efforts amongst Pan- European countries to implement national, regional, and global biodiversity strategies. The Platform Steering Committee that helps to lead the platform is composed of governments and stakeholders and includes representatives from 10 countries, representatives from NGOs, academic institutions and other stakeholders. The Platform and Steering Committee are currently chaired by the Russian Federation. 1.2. The Pan-European 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Not enough attention has been paid by decision makers to the role of nature in development, leading to a narrow focus on short-term gains at the expense of long-term prosperity and viability. The current model of economic development, based on over-exploitation and degradation of natural resources, is a challenge for ensuring sustainable economic development and social equity. Ecosystem degradation and the resulting loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services affect sectors such as agriculture, livestock breeding, fishing, and forestry the most, the very sectors on w hich many of the world’s poor depend for their livelihood. The key goal of the Pan-European 2020 Biodiversity Strategy is to address those challenges in order to comply with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its agreed Aichi Targets. It aims both at facilitating cooperation and synergies between biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and at contributing to the implementation of biodiversity- 4

related Conventions at the regional level. Following discussions with pan- European countries and international organisations, including the European Commission, Pan-European cooperation will focus on the following objectives: - Delivery of an informal platform for the exchange of views, expertise and experiences for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi targets in the Pan- European region; - Direct support for pilot activities for the implementation of the global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi targets in the Pan-European region; - Improved regional cooperation for policy development and implementation and the identification of priority themes of common Pan-European interest; - Enhanced coherence of biodiversity policies and priority actions at national and European levels; - Delivery of an informal platform of exchange of views, expertise and experience to support implementation of MEAs as well as other related initiatives such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). 2. Ecosystem Management in Pan - Europe 2.1 Situation of Ecosystems & Biodiversity in the Pan-European Region The main causes of biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystems throughout Pan-Europe are changes in natural habitats. These are mostly due to: intensive agricultural production systems and land abandonment; construction and transport (fragmentation); overexploitation of forests, grasslands, oceans, rivers, lakes and soils; invasion of alien species; pollution; and — increasingly — climate change. For any policy to be effective in maintaining and restoring biodiversity in Pan- Europe, it must address these threats (EEA, 2010). The latest Corine Land Cover inventory (EEA, 2010) shows a continued expansion of artificial surfaces (e.g. urban sprawl, infrastructure) and abandoned land at the expense of agricultural land, grasslands and wetlands across Pan-Europe. Natural grasslands are still being turned into arable land and built-up areas, or become desertification centers being under overexploitation. The loss of wetlands has slowed down (near 3 % lost in the last 16 years) but Pan-Europe had already lost more than half of its wetlands before 1990. Extensive agricultural land is being converted into forms of more intensive agriculture and for parts into forest. Drivers of threats to biodiversity, ecosystems, and their services Effective conservation and management of land, water, and living resources first requires a thorough understanding of the key drivers of threats to biodiversity, ecosystems, and their services. While these drivers impact countries to different extents, we can nevertheless find 5