Safeguarding biological diversity: EU policy and international agreements
Biodiversity, the diversity of life on earth at all levels, is declining, mainly as a result of human-induced pressures such as over-exploitation of natural resources, loss of viable habitats, pollution, climate change or invasive alien species. EU biodiversity policy is based on the Birds and Habitats Directives, which served as the basis for the development of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites now covering 1 million square kilometres on land (or 18% of EU land area) and 250 000 square kilometres of marine sites. The policy is driven by the biodiversity strategy setting ambitious aims for 2020 (halting the loss of biodiversity) and 2050 (protecting and valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services), with the addition of a strategy on green infrastructure. The European Commission estimates that the Natura 2000 network delivers benefits worth between €200 and €300 billion per year, against management costs estimated at €5.8 billion per year. The LIFE Programme co-finances some measures related to biodiversity, especially as regards Natura 2000. Funding aimed at protecting biodiversity is also available under the agricultural, regional, fisheries, and research policies. The European Parliament has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection policy. Developments in EU biodiversity policy include a process of 'biodiversity proofing' of the EU budget, improved monitoring, definition of priorities for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, 'biodiversity offsetting' of unavoidable residual impacts, and a 'fitness check' of EU nature legislation.
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- agricultura sostenible
- AGRICULTURA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCA
- biodiversidad
- biotopo
- convención internacional
- Derecho del medio ambiente
- ECONOMÍA
- especie protegida
- estadísticas del medio ambiente
- financiación de la UE
- finanzas de la Unión Europea
- MEDIO AMBIENTE
- medio natural
- monte
- pesca
- política agraria
- política de medio ambiente de la UE
- política del medio ambiente
- política en materia de cambio climático
- política internacional
- política pesquera común
- política regional de la UE
- protección de la fauna
- región y política regional
- RELACIONES INTERNACIONALES
- silvicultura sostenible
- UNIÓN EUROPEA
- zona protegida