Member States´s contributions to the Biodiversity Strategy
The Biodiversity Strategy 2030 is one of the milestones set within the European Green Deal that aims to address climate and environmental challenges at internal and international level by 2050.
The involvement of Member States in the Biodiversity Strategy implementation is critical. Being a non-binding agreement, the Biodiversity Strategy provides a reference point for the different EU nations to commit to on a voluntary basis. The support that Member States provide to the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy varies from case to case and rely on national strategies and actions taken to safeguard and restore biodiversity in Europe.
Pledges on Conservation Status and Protected Areas Targets
After the publication of the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the European Commission called Member States to submit a detailed plan on the actions they will put in place to protect and restore species and habitats in order to contribute to the fulfilment of its targets.
These plans, known as Pledges, are divided into two components based on the main targets of the Biodiversity Strategy:
- Pledges for Conservation Status – concerning the actions targeting an improvement of the conservation status of 30% of species and habitats not currently in a favourable status;
- Pledges for Protected Areas – concerning the measures to newly designate or better manage protected areas in order to achieve a 30% protection and 10% strictly protection.
The reception of pledges is managed by the European Environmental Agency and conforms a middle step in the implementation of the Strategy itself. The pledges reporting is a voluntary exercise that Member States are invited to do, since the commitments laid in the Biodiversity Strategy are not compulsory. After its submission, the pledges follow a revision and assessment process in order to evaluate the impact that Member States´ actions will have at EU level and therefore acquire an overall understanding on the progress of the Strategy targets achievement.
The pledges assessment is carried out during the Biogeographical Seminars that are regularly organised across Europe.
Further information on the Pledges reporting for protected areas and 30% conservation status improvement targets can be found at: European Environmental Agency Website
EU Biogeographical Seminars and other networking events
The Biogeographical Seminars are dedicated networking events that are regularly organised by Member States in each Biogeographical Region to enhance effective implementation, management, monitoring, financing and reporting of the Natura 2000 network.
Since 2023, Biogeographical Seminars also include a space to discuss and support the design and implementation of Pledges on Conservation Status and Protected Area Targets that Member States are called to report to contribute to the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 implementation. To these seminars, stakeholders including Member State representatives, Protected Area management bodies, economic sectors, NGOs and civil society organisations are invited to participate.
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process
The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process is a multi-stakeholders’ co-operation process managed at the biogeographical level. It is guided and monitored by an Expert group on Natura 2000 management and by Steering Committees, composed of representatives of the Member States, the European Commission, the European Environmental Agency, the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity, the European Habitats Forum and the Natura 2000 Users Forum.
Specifically, the Natura 2000 Biogeographical process:
- Aims to strengthen implementation of Natura 2000 and achieve favourable conservation status for habitats and species of Community importance.
- It is central to achieving Targets 1 and 2 of the Biodiversity Strategy and has an important contribution to make to the other targets.
- Namely, for instance: the management and restoration agendas for Natura 2000 are key priorities – they require new know-how and practical measures to achieve the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy targets.