sebi 2010 expert group on indicators of climate change impacts on biodiversity presentation of the...

SEBI 2010 expert group onIndicators of climate change impacts

on biodiversity

Presentation of the SEBI 2009 report and follow-up

Sophie Condé SEBI WG1 coordinator, ETC/BD

3rd SEBI Expert Group Meeting Climate change and Biodiversity11-12 June 2009 Paris

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Political context (1)

What ’ new since the adoption of the set of indicators

by CBD, PEBDLS and EU (2004) the EC Biodiversity Communication

(2006) The mid term EC BAP review (2008)


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G8 environment meeting in Syracuse, Italy, April 2009

Around 20 countries decided to take measures on

• Climate• Biodiversity, Economics and Business• Management of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services• Science, Research and Policy• A common path toward the post-2010 framework on biodiversity


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High-level conference in Athens, Greece – “Commission calls for a shake-up in EU biodiversity policy”, May 2009

With 8 action points:• a vision of why biodiversity matters • a better understanding of where we are and what more we need to do • a fully functioning network of protected areas • biodiversity outside of protected areas • biodiversity and Climate Change • global biodiversity • integration of biodiversity into other policy areas • funding


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The future

• Setting post 2010 targets• Importance of biodiversity acknowledged• Links to ecosystem services and climate change• Further build the knowledge base• Sectoral integration!


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SEBI2010 outputs (1)

2007: technical report documenting the indicators

Available on EEA website


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2009: first assessment based on the 26 indicators

Available on EEA website


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2009: first assessment based on the 26 indicators

First report based on biodiversity indicators defined within the CBD in 2004 at European level;

Takes stock of the state of biodiversity and its loss based on the most recent data;

Show what is missing to enable a comprehensive assessments


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2009: fact sheets for the full set of 26 indicators

Will be available soon

on EEA website


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Main findings of the report (1)


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13


Status and trends of the components of biodiversity

Some progress has been made towards halting the loss of biodiversity within Europe but overall the status and trends of most species and habitats give rise to concern, whilst genetic diversity in livestock remains at risk. As for wildlife, the overall risk of species extinction in Europe has further increased.

Much progress has been made in designating protected areas and priority should now be given to their management. The conservation status of the species and habitats covered by EU legislation, however, remains unsatisfactory with 50-85 % of habitats and 40-70 % of species of European interest remaining in an unfavourable conservation status according to the terrestrial regions.

Data availability for ecosystems is limited. Land cover data show a further decline in the extent of grasslands and wetlands with an increase in urban, woodland and open water habitats.


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Threats to biodiversity

Some threats to biodiversity have decreased significantly, whereas others have not, as specified below.

Acidification and eutrophication caused by excess nitrogen are declining

but invasive alien species and climate change appear to have increasingly negative impacts.

Natural and semi-natural land is under pressure, especially from urban sprawl and abandonment of agricultural land. Fragmentation is a threat to forest areas.

Water quality is improving in freshwater and largely unchanged in transitional, coastal and marine waters. Overexploitation of marine fisheries is a major threat to marine ecosystems.

Nitrogen balances on farmland are decreasing, though they are still high.


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Ecosystem integrity and ecosystem services

Water quality in freshwater systems is improving.

In the marine environment, pollution levels are relatively constant and the state of marine fauna is worrying due to unsustainable fishing practices.

On land, habitat fragmentation is a major concern.


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Sustainable use

Forestry is generally sustainable in terms of wood volume harvested, but a stronger biodiversity focus is needed.

Agriculture still exerts a high pressure on the environment, despite agri-environmental measures and increasing organic production.

Commercial fisheries appear unsustainable, with as much as 45 % of assessed stocks being overexploited.

Overall, Europe uses more resources and produces more waste than it can sustainably produce and absorb respectively.


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Status of access and benefits sharing - Status of resource transfer and use - Public opinion

A significant proportion of patent applications is based on genetic resources, but additional work is required to link the data with wider economic and geographical information.

Spending on biodiversity is only a small part of the EU budget and more information on funding from other sources is needed.

Public awareness of biodiversity is low and urgently needs attention.


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For the next assessment

to determine target values and baselines for each indicator where possible.

will focus more strongly on interactions, responses and integration of biodiversity concerns into sectoral policies.

a deeper analysis will be done of the impact of Europe and its policies on biodiversity in the world


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Interlinkages report (short term recommendations)

1. Accompany each indicator by a clear interpretation guidance. The indicators may produce contradictory messages (up and down).

2. Provide state and trend information (absolute and relative) and ranges.

3. Show underlying positive or negative exceptions in addition of the average results.

4. Use major ecosystem types (biome) and country groups as intermediate spatial scales between (pan) Europe and countries in order to show the diversity within Europe.

5. Reorder the focal areas in: i) state, ii) threats, iii) goods & services and sustainable use and , iv) response. They do better match the 4 policy key questions


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Interlinkages report (long term recommendations)

1. Build models of the major cause-effect relationships (DPSIR) in a concerted scientific effort. The few models which do exist can be used as starting point.

2. Make temporal scales, spatial scales, baselines, assessment principles and critical levels more coherent. Current indicators draw on existing data and indicators as suggested by the CBD, coming from different institutions developed for different purposes. Consequently, they offer a scattered picture hampering clear policy conclusions.

3. Determine critical levels in order to assess whether marine ecosystems, forest and agriculture are sustainably managed.

4. Connection must be made with the European Platform Biodiversity Research Srategy and national biodiversity research strategies to reinforce research on these issues


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ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY, GOODS AND SERVICES Marine trophic index Connectivity/fragmentation of

ecosystems Water quality in aquatic ecosystems

SUSTAINABLE USE Area of ecosystems under sustainable management Forest Agriculture Fishery Aquaculture

Ecological footprint

STATUS AND TRENDS OF COMPONENTS OF BIOVERSITY Trends in extent of selected biomes,

ecosystems, habitats Coverage of protected areas Trends in abundance and distribution of

selected species Change in status of threatened and/or

protected species Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated

animals, cultivated plants, fish species of major socioeconomic importance

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY Nitrogen deposition Numbers and costs of invasive alien

species (Trends in invasive alien species)

Impact of climate change

Status

Threats

Sustainable use

G & S + Ecosystem integrity

What is changing?

Why is it changing?

Why is it important?

Original focal areas

Status

Threats

G&S + Sust use

Response

Adjusted focal areas Key questions

What are & can wedo about it?

Status

Threats

Sustainable use

G & S + Ecosystem integrity

What is changing?What is changing?

Why is it changing?Why is it changing?

Why is it important?

Original focal areas

Status

Threats

G&S + Sust use

Response

Adjusted focal areas Key questions

What are & can wedo about it?


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Indicator State Threats Use Response Sectors

01 Birds birds only agriculture, forestry, best regulation agriculture forestry

01 Butterflies butterflies only agriculture Pollinisation agriculture

02 RLI birds only Biodiv

03 Species FFH only FFH species Biodiv

04 Ecosystems main ecosystemsland use, habitat

lossBiodiv agriculture, households, industry, transports

05 Habitat FFH onky FFH habitats Biodiv

06 Livestock genetic sheep &cattles only agriculture meat & dairy agriculture

07 National sites biodiv, recreation protected areas

08 SCIs & SPAs biodiv, recreation Natura2000

09 Critical load eutrophication agriculture, households, industry, transports

10 IAS invasive species invasive species agriculture, households, transports, business

11 Temperature sensitive species

temperature sensitive species climate change agriculture, households, transports, etc

12 Marine Trophic Index marine fish & ecosystem fisheries Fish Fisheries

13 Frag Natural & semi, habitat

fragmentation agriculture, households, industry, transports

14 Frag Rivers freshwaters river fragmentation energy,

15 Nutrients coastal & marine waters

coastal & marine waters eutrophication clean water agriculture, households, industry, etc

16 Freshwater eutrophication clean water agriculture, households, industry, etc

17 Forest forestry Wood Forestry

18 Deadwood forest ecosystem forestry Forestry

19 Nitrogen eutrophication Agriculture

20 Agri Managt farmland agriculture agri products AES organic farming Agriculture

21 Fisheries fish fisheries Fish Fisheries

22 Aquaculture coastal & marine

watersaqua products Aquaculture

23 Footprint

24 Patents Patents

25 Financing nature policy

26 Public awareness nature policy


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Has biodiversity loss been halted?

Extent

Threatened Agro-genetic

Zoom in:

40

60

80

100

120

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Farmland birds

Forest birds

All common birds

species abundance

Habitats & Species Eu interest

STI birds and Butterflies

Intactness/integrity?

Quality distribution

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995 2000 2005 1995 2000 2005 1995 2000 2005 2001 2004 1995 2000 2005

France Germany Greece Netherlands Poland

% of CattlePopulationconsisting ofnative breeds

% of NativeCattle BreedsEndangered

0.85

0.90

0.95

1994 2004

Year

Red

Lis

t Ind

ex o

f sp

ecie

s su

rviv

al

-4 -2 0 2 4 6

Constructed, industrial, artif icial habitats (779362)

Inland surface w ater (99513)

Woodland and forest (603421)

Marine habitats (-6580)

Grassland (-223555)

Cultivated, agriculture, horticulture (-801538)

inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated (-42197)

Coastal habitats (-3231)

heathland, scrub and tundra (-298108)

Mire, bog and fen habitats (-107044)

% change

Change in extent/biome


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Is agriculture sustainably managed?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995 2000 2005 1995 2000 2005 1995 2000 2005 2001 2004 1995 2000 2005

France Germany Greece Netherlands Poland

% of CattlePopulationconsisting ofnative breeds

% of NativeCattle BreedsEndangered

-10

20

50

80

110

140

170

200

230

260

290

320

350

380

410

440

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Kg

pe

r H

a

AT

BE

CZ

DE

DK

ES

FI

FR

GR

HU

IE

IT

LU

NL

PL

PT

SE

SK

UK

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Austria

Belgiu

m

Czech

Rep

ublic

Denm

ark

Ger

man

y

Eston

ia

Irelan

d

Gre

eceSpa

in

Franc

eIta

ly

Cypru

s

Latv

ia

Lithua

nia

Luxe

mbo

urg

Hunga

ryM

alta

Nether

land

s

Polan

d

Portu

gal

Slove

nia

Slova

kia

Finlan

d

Sweden

Unite

d Kin

gdom

EU 25

Norway

2000

2003

2005

% organic farming

time

% E

urop

e

0

HNV farmland

Total agriculture

Minim

um le

vels

100%

time

% E

urop

e

0

HNV farmland

Total agriculture

Minim

um le

vels

100%

1960 2005

100%

Area usedoutsideEurope

0%

Food

1960 2005

100%

Area usedoutsideEurope

0%

Food

Agricultural area

Agro-geneticN-balance

HNV area

Footprint

Pressure

State

Response

40

60

80

100

120

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Farmland birds

Forest birds

All common birds

STI farmland birds & butterflies

N-input

N-input

0

40

200

N-input

N-input

0

40

200

N-input

time

Bio

dive

rsity

-fri

endl

yfa

rmla

nd

%

Organic farming

Agri-env. schemes

time

Bio

dive

rsity

-fri

endl

yfa

rmla

nd

%

Organic farming

Agri-env. schemes

Organic farming

Agri-env. schemes

Potentially supporting practices


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Thank you for your attention!

sebi 2010 expert group on indicators of climate change impacts on biodiversity presentation of the...

Documents

climate biodiversity

biodiversity indicators

loss of biodiversity

state of biodiversity

eu biodiversity policy

ec biodiversity communication

technical report

indicatorsfirst report