Brussels wants to make new biodiversity targets mandatory

The European Commission wants to legislate the new biodiversity targets for 2030 and 2050, as the voluntary standards for 2020 have not been met.

The plans were unveiled yesterday (Tuesday 13 April) during a webinar by the European Landowners' Organization (ELO) and the European Parliament's Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting and Rural Development. 

15% recovery in 2030
Keynote speaker Stefan Leiner, head of the European Commission's Biodiversity Service, said the plan is still a work in progress. The aim is for Europe to be on the road to improving nature by 2030 and to have largely restored ecosystems by 2050. The means to achieve this are specific binding biodiversity targets, building on existing legislation. "It should be binding on member states, but it is up to the countries themselves to introduce the right incentives. We will not prescribe them in detail," said Leiner.

The plan that is being worked on is based on a minimum of 15% improvement of degraded areas in 2030, 40% in 2040 and 90% in 2050. According to Leiner, the European rules should mainly focus on ecosystems that have the most potential to absorb CO2. and reduce the risk of natural disasters.

Financial resources
Several MEPs say that involving stakeholders, including farmers, is the key to long-term success. Or as Jurgen Tack, scientific director of ELO puts it: "Let's be honest, the real experts are those who have their two feet in the field." MEP Alexander Bernhuber, who grew up on a farm in Austria, indicates that the biodiversity targets can influence the work of agricultural entrepreneurs. "You can't get greener than green if the numbers below the line turn red." He is therefore concerned about the mandatory nature of the targets. 

Leiner says it's important that the people who will ultimately be doing it — farmers, fishermen and other land users — get the right resources. "They need to be given the tools and opportunities. Having about 2026% of the EU budget going to biodiversity by 10 will help with this." Álvaro Amaro, chairman of the so-called intergroup, also believes that farmers and other stakeholders should receive financial support for their efforts to improve biodiversity.

Linda van Eekeres

Linda van Eekeres is co-writing editor-in-chief. She mainly focuses on macro-economic developments and the influence of politics on the agricultural sector.

l.vaneekeres@boerenbusiness. Nl

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