ECNC

Keeping Biodiversity Policy Commitments Alive

Support to the implementation of the CBD and Kyiv targets: Safeguarding Europe’s biodiversity by 2010
ECNC activities for 2008 included participation in relevant meetings in the framework of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS), input into the discussions about the future of the Ministerial ‘Environment for Europe’ process, the preparation of the next ‘Biodiversity in Europe’ Conference and involvement in activities such as the PEEN Committee (see under ECNC Programme Area European Ecological Networks). In May 2008 ECNC participated in the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Bonn, Germany). ECNC's involvement focused on Countdown 2010 and communication, business and biodiversity, financial investments in biodiversity, communication for nature and biodiversity conservation, protected areas and ecological networks, and biodiversity conservation in South-East Europe. ECNC contributed to the organization and the discussions of various side events.

Funding: ECNC core funding.
Partners: Members and observers of the PEBLDS Council.
 

Support to the implementation of EU ‘Biodiversity 2010 and beyond’ policies
Activities in 2008 included participation in a number of meetings of the newly established EU Coordination Group for Biodiversity and Nature as well as bilateral meetings with several departments and units of the Directorate General for the Environment. For other relevant EU support activities, including ECNC’s work for the EEA European Topic Centre for Biological Diversity, please see the other programme areas.

Funding: ECNC core funding.
Partners: Members of the EU Coordination Group for Biodiversity and Nature.

Biodiversity and the Province of Noord-Brabant
Biodiversity is the key item in cooperation with the Province of Noord-Brabant. Municipalities, water boards, businesses and organizations in Noord-Brabant have been stimulated to join the Countdown 2010 initiative, to draft local and business biodiversity plans, to concretize biodiversity activities and to report the results. Almost 100 governmental and non-governmental organizations in Noord-Brabant have now signed the Countdown 2010 Declaration.

At the request of the Province of Noord-Brabant, on 17 December 2008 ECNC organized the seminar ‘Business and Biodiversity in Noord-Brabant’. Selected businesses in Noord-Brabant, considered leaders in biodiversity, were invited to the seminar to identify the opportunities, possibilities and challenges that will crystallize the link between business and biodiversity

In 2008, ECNC provided advice on the monitoring of biodiversity and management of landscape and nature by private landowners.

ECNC provides the secretariat of the Noord-Brabant Task Force on Biodiversity and Countdown 2010 and assisted in the preparation of its strategy and action plan and communication efforts.

Funding: Province of Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands).
More details:  www.biodiversitybrabant.nl; www.biodiversiteitbrabant.nl
www.molo.nl

EAZA European Carnivore Campaign
In September 2008, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) European Carnivore Campaign started. This was developed by EAZA zoos with the involvement of and in partnership with ECNC, together with a number of other organizations and initiatives, including Countdown 2010. ECNC provided input into the campaign’s committee, the involvement of children and the development of PR activities. In September 2008 ECNC’s Communication Officer delivered a speech on ecological networks at the EAZA Annual Conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Funding: ECNC core funding.
Partners: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA; the Netherlands); Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE); Coordinated Research Projects for the Conservation and Management of Carnivores in Switzerland (KORA); IUCN Countdown 2010 (represented by ECNC).
More details: www.ecnc.org/ongoing-projects_30.html?action=detail&id=12
www.carnivorecampaign.eu/