Conservation biology

• That's why the Government of Canada is working with Inuit communities to protect nature and biodiversity in the northern regions of Canada.
• The $1.43 million investment will assist the community of Inukjuak and their partners in establishing an Indigenous protected and conserved area.
• Up to 27 Indigenous protected and conserved areas are expected to be established under the Canada Nature Fund's Target 1 Challenge.
• Further, through Budget 2017, the Government announced support for Indigenous Guardians programs, which support Indigenous conservation through on-the-ground stewardship initiatives.

• The Council endorses the objectives of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the nature protection and restoration targets contained therein, which aim at setting biodiversity on the path to recovery.
• The Council stresses that protecting, maintaining and restoring biodiversity and healthy, well-functioning ecosystems will contribute to boosting our resilience and prevent the emergence and spread of new diseases.
• In its conclusions, the Council calls on the Commission to integrate EU biodiversity policy objectives in relevant future legislative proposals.
• The Council reaffirms the EUs determination to lead by example in tackling the global biodiversity crisis and in developing an ambitious new UN global biodiversity framework at the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2021.

• Our assessment shows that safeguarding the health and resilience of Europes nature, and peoples well-being, requires fundamental changes to the way we produce and consume food, manage and use forests, and build cities.
• These efforts need to be coupled with better implementation and enforcement of conservation policies, a focus on nature restoration, as well as increasingly ambitious climate action, especially in the transport and energy sector.

• The EEA report is published simultaneously with the European Commissions State of Nature report, informing about the progress made in reaching the aims of the EUs nature legislation.
• The EEA report shows positive developments in conservation efforts.
• This State of Nature assessmentis the most comprehensive health check of nature ever undertaken in the EU.Virginijus Sinkeviius,Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries This State of Nature assessmentis the most comprehensive health check of nature ever undertaken in the EU.

• Most protected habitats and species have either a poor or a bad conservation status and many of them continue to decline, according to the EEA assessment.
• Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkeviius said: 'This State of Nature assessmentis the most comprehensive health check of nature ever undertaken in the EU.
• It shows very clearly that we are still losing our vital life support system.
• We urgently need to deliver on the commitments in the new EU Biodiversity Strategy to reverse this decline for the benefit of nature, people, climate and the economy.'

Top threats to nature

Intensive agriculture, urban sprawl and unsustainable forestry activities are the top reported pressures to habitats and species, the EEA report says. Pollution of air, water and soil also impacts habitats, as does continued over-exploitation of animals through illegal harvesting and untenable hunting and fishing.
 

Outlook

• A number of species and habitats have shown improvements, such as the Agile Frog in Sweden, coastal lagoons in France, and the Bearded Vulture at the EU level.
• The Natura 2000 networkshows positive effects for many species and habitats.
• For example, coastal and dune habitats, which are better covered by Natura 2000, have a better conservation status than habitats that are less or marginally covered.
• Apart from these new policies, extra efforts are needed to improve monitoring capacities in Member States to support the targets.

Status and trends

Background

• The EU nature directives the Habitats and Birds Directives require conservation efforts for more than 2000 species and habitats across the EU.
• The EEA assessment, which is based on reported data from EU Member States, is the largest and most extensive data gathering and reporting exercise carried out in Europe on the state of nature.Over 220000 people (60 % of them volunteers) have contributed to this process across the EU.

Related content

• Core to the Priceless Planet Coalitions mission is empowering and inspiring consumers to take action against climate change.
• North America: From October 20-27, a Priceless Planet Coalition Auction will provide consumers in the U.S. the opportunity to help preserve the environment with every bid.
• Consumers can also contribute to the Priceless Planet Coalition efforts and donate to Conservation International on PricelessPlanet.org .
• We believe we all need to do our part to protect and preserve our environment, and were proud to join the Priceless Planet Coalition.