Save Biodiversity 02/09 - Update from Countdown 2010

In this Issue

• Feature: Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas in Europe
  • The “silent” valley of Ticha
  • EP approves report on wilderness
  • Wild areas and Natura 2000
• Do it yourself: Who said biodiversity is just for grown-ups?
• Internal: Partners’ Assembly
• State of biodiversity: Freshwater species in firing line
• Focus on... Natural England
• LARA: City wins best deed award in biodiversity competition
  

^ Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, Dear Readers,

Europe can be “wild”! In view of the forthcoming events and debates on the last wild and untouched areas of Europe, we have chosen to dedicate this issue of our newsletter to initiatives and proposed actions which will protect and enhance European wilderness in light of the 2010 biodiversity target. The upcoming EU Presidency conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas in May will be a milestone in setting a renewed policy agenda for wilderness and we encourage you to contribute to this process of saving these hidden paradises of Europe.

With less than 650 days to the end of 2010, we are also witnessing increased action by our partners in preparing for the post 2010 target. Nairobi, Bonn and soon Athens, Lima and Trondheim will follow in organising events which will ensure greater ownership of any post 2010  framework. This issue will share with you the conclusions of the “High-level working group on the 2010 biodiversity target and post-2010 target(s)” held in Bonn on 9-10 March, which laid the foundations for further discussions on the future of international commitments on biodiversity. To ensure even greater ownership we are pleased to invite you to participate in the dialogue on post-2010 on our new Blog.

Finally, if you haven’t done so yet, mark and save 24 June on your calendar. The 2009 Partners’ Assembly will be a milestone event for preparing our joint message and activities for the International Year of Biodiversity. The 2010 Activity Award will reward your most successful initiatives to communicate biodiversity. You can’t miss it! Send your latest news and pictures and let’s raise the bar for biodiversity together!

Enjoy reading! 

Sebastian Winkler
Head of Countdown 2010
April 3, 2009

^ Feature: Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas in Europe

On 27-28 May 2009, the conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas will be hosted by the Czech Presidency of the EU and the European Commission in Prague, Czech Republic. Numerous Countdown 2010 partners are supporting the organisation of the event which will bring together policy makers, academics, civil society, the private sector and other interested groups and individual experts, to develop a coordinated strategy for the protection and restoration of wilderness and wild areas in Europe.

In a highly urbanized and modern Europe the number of areas largely untouched by man is under constant threat. Large expanses of wild areas can be found in parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and Western Russia and new EU Members States, such as Bulgaria and Romania, including some bordering states. Central and Southern Europe also possesses some areas which have not been significantly modified by human activity. By contrast, smaller wild or nearly wild areas can be said to cover a range of intermediate landscapes – referring to smaller scale and often fragmented areas, where the condition of natural habitats is either partially or substantially modified by grazing, forestry, sporting activity or the general imprint of human artifact. These areas are scattered across the European continent and are increasingly under threat.

The conference is expected to develop a strong movement for wilderness in Europe and identify a roadmap for joint action to protect and restore the last remaining wild areas in Europe. More information is available on the conference website.

• Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas

^The “silent” valley of Ticha

On the northern border of Slovakia, there lies one of the last compact areas of true alpine wilderness in Europe. Ticha the "silent” valley is unique in that it still provides a safe habitat to the three large predators of Central Europe – the wolf, lynx and about 40 brown bears. It is a thriving and self-contained ecosystem – 8,500 hectares of true wilderness, which is rare in Europe. This makes Ticha a crucial hotspot and an additional node for the creation of a European wilderness network.

Unfortunately, Ticha has been facing new threats in recent years. The benefits of forested wilderness beyond timber are not yet recognized and valued. Conservationists and scientists had to protect the valley with their own bodies against timber harvesting in April 2007. People outside Slovakia have even less awareness of this hidden treasure of European wilderness.

In addition to all the scientific arguments – both locally and internationally – for the need to protect the beauty of Ticha and inspire more respect for it, a film and photography project are now being produced. You can learn more at: www.tichawilderness.com

• Ticha the "silent" valley

^EP approves report on wilderness

Only a small percentage of Europe remains untouched by humans. Bold and rapid action is necessary to preserve what is left of these wild areas for the future. On 3 February an overwhelming majority of the European Parliament adopted a text which calls on the European Commission to protect wild areas against climate change and underlines the need for more funding to protect existing sites and to "re-wild" other sites that are currently being used by humans for agriculture.

This astonishing result shows that wilderness protection is a concern shared by all political parties within the European Parliament and is a cornerstone for the conservation of Europe’s last untouched areas.

Greater use of the EU's existing Natura 2000 network is also called for in the report. The European Commission, in cooperation with stakeholders, is asked to develop guidelines on how to protect, manage, use sustainably, monitor and finance wilderness areas under the Natura 2000 network. The mapping of wild areas in Europe is also seen as a tool to identify major threats to wilderness and the level of biodiversity contained in them.

The report contributes to reviving and redefining the concept of wilderness protection in Europe – a continent where most landscapes are culturally influenced and where continuing management intervention has often been seen as a necessary part of conservation. This achievement proves that time is changing and the wilderness momentum in Europe is growing. The European Parliament has sent out a clear message which paves the way for concrete measures in the years to come. The report is available here.

• Report approved by EP

^Wild areas and Natura 2000

In preparation for the conference in Prague, a workshop involving researchers and managers of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites took place in Srní, Czech Republic on 25-28 January.

Sixty participants from twelve EU Member States gathered to explore the implementation of the wilderness concept in Europe and how this links to the Natura 2000 network. The workshop also addressed some of the challenges in relation to management practices of Natura 2000 sites.

There is a clear and shared agreement on developing a network of wild protected areas in Europe. The protection of wild areas may become a milestone in nature conservation policy and action.

^Do it yourself: Who said biodiversity is just for grown-ups?

On 18 March, as part of the national celebration of the 53rd Tree Festival in the Netherlands, ECNC and the Province of Noord-Brabant presented the Kids Countdown 2010 Declaration. Eight schools from the Eindhoven region signed the Declaration and promised to undertake action in and around their schools to promote and enhance biodiversity.

The Kids Countdown 2010 Declaration is a pilot project for the Eindhoven region. After the festival, all schools in the Province of Noord-Brabant have been invited to follow the example and sign the Declaration. In this way, ECNC and the Province of Noord-Brabant want to make children aware of the nature surrounding them and the positive influence they can have on its quality.  

The children who signed the declaration during the Tree Festival received a €1,000 grant from the Province which will support the implementation of their Biodiversity Action Plan. Special guest during the Tree Festival was HRH Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein of Jordan. Biodiversity conservation needs everybody’s contribution – from the oldest to the youngest! Develop your own Kids Countdown 2010 Declaration and promote it to your local schools!

Natureparif, the Regional Agency for Nature and Biodiversity of Ile-de-France, has just launched a Countdown 2010 Petition through Facebook. Using the latest social networking online technologies, Natureparif is inviting every individual to sign the Countdown 2010 Declaration. 200 people have already signed. Create a petition in your country! To find out more click here.

The Countdown 2010 Secretariat would like to invite you to participate in an online survey on the use of the CBD indicators. UNEP-WCMC, through the 2010 BIP project, is leading the survey in preparation of a joint workshop in July 2009. The survey can be accessed here and will be open until 30 April 2009.

• Kids' Declaration by ECNC
• Petition
• 2010 BIP

^Internal: Partners’ Assembly

What will make the International Year of Biodiversity a success? How will we reach a wider audience? What is the secret to effective communications?

With less than a year to 2010, we will dedicate the 2009 Partners’ Assembly - which will take place on 24 June in Brussels at the outskirts of Green Week - to the International Year of Biodiversity and the communication activities and tools that will be developed for it. We want all of you to be actively engaged in helping us define the best strategy to reach the highest number of individuals and organizations in 2010.

After last year’s success, this year we invite you to present your best communications project to win the “2010 Activity Award”! What initiative proved to be the most successful in your communications efforts? What was your organization’s most original idea to communicate biodiversity? What communication tools were most effective in reaching the public? In the next few weeks we will send you all details to take part in the competition. And don’t forget…the winner will receive a digital camera!

Staff: the Countdown 2010 Secretariat is very happy to welcome Luce as the new Countdown 2010 intern to the team. Luce will support our Countdown 2010 partnership work and keep an eye on the European Parliament. She will replace Nikola who has been with us for the last six months. We would also like to welcome Alison Coleman to the team. Alison is the new Regional Communications Officer for IUCN ROfE and will be helping with Countdown 2010 communications.

^State of Biodiversity: Freshwater species in firing line

The Water World Forum which recently took place in Istanbul highlighted once more that the scarcity of water is a growing concern for all countries in the world. Clear and coordinated measures need to be taken to ensure water is protected and available for all.

In Southern Africa, many freshwater fish, crabs, dragonflies, molluscs and aquatic plants are at risk of extinction. A study by the IUCN Species Programme, in collaboration with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, shows that seven percent of species are known to be regionally threatened or extinct.

These species provide food for local people and some of them, such as the molluscs, help purify the drinking water. William Darwall, Manager of IUCN’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the World Water Forum said “the trend is to think about water supply in terms of irrigation, hydropower and drinking water. People tend to forget about the species that live in the water but we can no longer afford to do this.”

The conservation of freshwater species is possible only if it is considered in the development planning. The results from the assessment of 1,279 freshwater species in Southern Africa show that the more developed a country is, the more species are threatened with extinction. Of the 94 species threatened in southern Africa, 78 of these are found in South Africa, the most developed country in the region.

• IUCN Species Programme
• Webstory on IUCN website

^Focus on: Natural England

In April 2006, 34 projects – funded by Natural England’s Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action Fund – started using a share of the £3.8 million on offer to deliver improvements for priority species and habitats in England. The projects ran for two years and achieved some amazing benefits for biodiversity.

Over 450 hectares of priority grasslands were restored using techniques, such as grazing by traditional animal breeds, seeding donor meadows from local receptor sites and encouraging farmers to take up environmental stewardship options. Over 350ha of priority heathland were restored by clearing scrub and bracken from a number of key sites and 180ha of native woodland were planted in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Species have also benefited. For instance, the black grouse has increased both its range and population size in northern England and the cirl bunting has been successfully re-introduced to an area of Cornwall. Sites are being managed more effectively for a variety of invertebrates including butterflies and moths, as well as invertebrates associated with brownfield habitats.

All projects have engaged with volunteers who have contributed over 140,000 days of their time to help conserve biodiversity in England. A number of projects also engaged with school children, including one project which took life-sized inflatable sea creatures into the classroom.

A further £5.5 million has now been offered to 38 new projects which started in November 2008. These projects will run until March 2011 and include wetland, grassland, woodland and marine habitats as well as plant, mammal, bird and amphibian species. Further details about the current and previous projects can be found on the Natural England website.

• Natural England on Countdown 2010 website
• Natural England website

^LARA: City wins best deed award in biodiversity competition

The 550-year-old City of Espoo in Southern Finland was awarded the 2009 award for biodiversity by the Minister of the Environment, Paula Lehtomäki. To celebrate its 550th anniversary, the City has decided to protect a 550-hectares forested area which covers three per cent of the total area of Espoo.

The growing involvement of local authorities in the management and conservation of biodiversity is once more recognized by the result of the 2009 Countdown 2010 competition in Finland. Although the loss of biodiversity is a global concern, the role of local actors is fundamental to ensure tangible measures are taken.   

Minister Paula Lehtomäki underlined that “If a city in the densely-populated Southern Finland can do this, it surely is an inspiration for other municipalities in Finland to strive for similar solutions”, said Lehtomäki. “The protection decision is an innovative and concrete way of combining decision-making, human needs and environmental issues”.

The jury consisting of representatives of the IUCN Finnish National Committee emphasised the importance of protecting forests in Southern Finland where the share of protected areas is lower than in other parts of the country. The decision by the City of Espoo leaves an immeasurable, priceless and everlasting legacy for future generations that can be enjoyed by the present generation.

The Countdown 2010 competition is organized in Finland every two years by IUCN Finnish National Committee. The first competition was held during Finland’s EU Presidency in autumn 2006. The successful natural landscaping of a former dump and landfill site stood out as the clear winner of the 2007 Countdown competition.

• Winners’ Certificate of Honour 2009
• IUCN Finnish National Committee  

For more information please contact info@countdown2010.net or visit www.countdown2010.net

This newsletter is issued bi-monthly by Countdown 2010. We welcome comments, feedback and contributions to info@countdown2010.net. Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at www.countdown2010.net/article/newsletter.

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