Loss of Biodiversity II — European Solutions

“Biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people are our common heritage and humanity’s most important life-supporting ‘safety net’. But our safety net is stretched almost to breaking point,” said professor Sandra Diaz in a recent United Nations assessment report. As mentioned in the previous article, clean air, water, and sustainable food is highly dependable on the pluralism of nature – a pluralism clearly observed in the number of plants, animals, birds, or insects that inhabit our untamed surroundings.

But how do we act against all the dangers? Is there anything actively done to prevent the loss of biodiversity? First of all, let’s look at the situation from a perspective closer to home. The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, spanning over 9 years (starting with the year 2011) aimed to reduce the amount of biodiversity loss in the European Union, but also to restore as many ecosystems as possible. More importantly, it was not only the intention that mattered here – there are also a series of results we can look at with positive eyes.

The targets and the achievements of the EU strategy by 2020:

• Protection of species & habitats – the laws regarding conservation and habitat protection are significantly stronger, well-defined, and more implemented now than they were 10 years ago.
• Maintain and restore ecosystems – through green infrastructures, the EU managed to restore “at least 15% degraded ecosystems”.
• Sustainable agriculture and forestry – improvements can be observed in this area, as well, although the practices are not as spread as envisioned; however, species whose habitat depended on agriculture and forestry are now much better protected.
• Sustainable fishing and healthy seas – the need for clean waters and healthy fishing practices is only natural in a continent that is surrounded by seas; by 2015, fishing became sustainable, and after 9 years we also managed to get to a point where fishing does not have an impact on species or ecosystems.
• Combating invasive species – outside of human effects, biodiversity is strictly monitored and protected against pathogens, while most invasive species are also quickly observed and eradicated.
• Halting the loss of biodiversity – represented by EU’s active contribution to ceasing any ecological damage, including economical or socially-focused green projects (for example, the BEST Initiative).

You might wonder what the post-2020 eco perspective is, now that the first plan came to an end. Especially when taking into consideration the Covid-19 pandemic, biodiversity remains an important focus of the European Commission’s green proposals. Therefore, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 looks like this: It aims to “build our societies’ resilience to future threats”, including climate change, forest fires, the uncertainty of food resources, and disease-related factors that might affect wildlife. On another hand, the strategy also plans on better establishing, preserving, and ensuring the status of Natura 2000 areas, which is, in simpler terms, a large-scale network of protected areas throughout the European Union.

Romania, as a member state, is also a contributor to Natura 2000. From the list of Romanian sites belonging to this extended eco-network, we could name:

• Jiu Valley – http://www.defileuljiului.ro/
• Rodna Mountains – http://www.parcrodna.ro/
• Cozia – http://www.cozia.ro/
• Cheile Nerei-Beușnița – https://www.cheilenereibeusnita.ro/

It is important to mention that human activity in these protected areas has not been thoroughly restricted – they do not necessarily act like a natural reserve. Instead, there is a continuous contribution from landowners, the government, and research institutions to improve daily practices that protect the local biodiversity. This specific contribution is best observed in the agricultural behaviour of the inhabitants, but also in the ways in which forests and wildlife are observed, monitored, and protected. Moreso, the project is also concerned with the virtual attitude regarding the issue as they organise several online campaigns and pro-biodiversity groups whose main focus is on the conservation of important and biodiverse Romanian sites.

When it comes to good practices influencing the conservation of biodiversity, we can look at many official sources that claim to take care of the environment and condone their efforts. Of course, this could distance the average person from directly involving themselves in one project or another, especially since most of them seem to fall under the responsibility of a certain country’s government or other official institutions. Biodiversity is, after all, a large-scale issue. But what is important for us, as normal citizens, is to look at these projects from a “how can I help?” perspective. We need to start with education, awareness, and most importantly, active support for the organizations contributing to the process. The EU strategies mentioned above are just a small drop in the sea of pro-biodiversity initiatives conducted throughout Europe and beyond the continent’s borders.

Șanta Diana-Camelia | Media Communication | 2nd Year

Disclaimer: All pictures used in this article are royalty-free images uploaded and shared by creators on pexels.com;

Resources:

❀ UN Report: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’.
❀ Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020.
❀ EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.
❀ Biodiversity: a priority for the European Parliament.
❀ UN Report urges ‘transformative’ changes to prevent mass extinction.
❀ Speech: Eat, buy and sell sustainable fish!
❀ EU Environment: BEST Initiative.
❀ Biodiversity strategy for 2030.
❀ Nature and biodiversity: Natura 2000.
❀ natura2000.ro