President Barroso recognises biodiversity conservation is a vital part of the debate on the future of Europe

12-02-2007

The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso today gave a strong statement about the importance of biodiversity conservation in Europe at a meeting with representatives from BirdLife International, where a new report -“Wellbeing Through Wildlife in the EU”, for which the President wrote the foreword - was launched.

The President congratulated BirdLife on the publication of the report and emphasised the need to effectively communicate – through real life examples - the positive impact of biodiversity conservation on society and Europe’s future.

The EU has committed to halt the loss of wildlife (biodiversity) across the EU by 2010, which Mr Barroso concedes has been extensive. He states in the foreword: “Biodiversity loss, and the consequent decline of ecosystem services, is a grave threat to our societies and economies.”

The President further underlined that joint action for biodiversity is “a vital, and indeed vitalising, part of the debate on the future of Europe” and is an area where cooperation at EU level has “real added value”, for example through the establishment of the Natura 2000 network of conservation areas, which he sees as one of the key tools of the EU to achieve the 2010 target.

“The conservation of wildlife is critical for the prosperity and quality of life of EU citizens” —President Barroso, President of the European Commission

The new BirdLife report highlights (through 26 concrete case studies from across Europe) the importance of biodiversity for the health, quality of life and prosperity of all EU citizens. It shows how long term economic development relies on environmental resources and functioning ecosystems, how access to green space improves physical and mental health and how education in the natural environment benefits current and future generations.

“Among many others, Europe’s agriculture, water supplies, and fisheries all rely on a healthy environment, and whether European societies will be able to adapt to the consequences of climate change will also depend on functioning and diverse ecosystems” said Clairie Papazoglou, Head of the European Division of BirdLife International. “Of course we must not forget that we have a moral duty to preserve the diversity of life for future generations, too”.

RSPB (BirdLife partner in the UK) economist Aniol Esteban, the principal author of the report, said “EU institutions and Members States must realize that investing in wildlife is investing in citizens’ wellbeing. The forthcoming review of the EU budget is a crucial opportunity for the Commission to secure many of these benefits to EU Society.”