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Biodiversity: EU is losing diversity, populations of birds and butterflies are shrinking

2022-05-23T16:17:31.325Z


Birds and butterflies are dwindling because the EU is poorly protecting their nature. Germany is also under criticism: Cem Özdemir's Ministry of Agriculture has to revise its strategic plan for EU subsidies.


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Monoculture: Fields near Königshain in Saxony

Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek / IMAGO

In the past five years, the European Union has made progress on most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – with one exception: it has taken a step backwards when it comes to protecting ecosystems and biological diversity, as the statistical office of the union of states reported on Monday.

The global goal of "life on land" declared by the United Nations aims to counteract the loss of forests and the spread of deserts, restore degraded land and soils, halt the loss of biological diversity and protect endangered species.

However, Eurostat data showed a decline in biodiversity and continued deterioration in soil quality.

For several species and habitats that should be protected by the EU, the report certifies an "unfavorable protection status".

More forest but fewer birds and butterflies

Although the proportion of forest in the EU is growing, pressure on biodiversity is increasing as more and more agricultural, semi-natural and natural areas are built up and more intensively farmed.

"The resulting loss of habitat is one of the reasons for the long-term decline in birds and meadow butterflies," says the sixth edition of a periodic report that monitors progress toward UN goals.

From 1990 to 2020, the number of common bird species fell by 13.3 percent, and that of bird species native to agricultural land by 36.9 percent.

This is seen as an indicator of the quality of the agricultural environment.

More intensive farming results in fewer nesting sites such as hedgerows, wetlands, meadows or fallow land.

The use of pesticides and altered plowing times for crop cultivation disrupt breeding birds and deprive them of food sources.

The population of butterflies, which are among the most common pollinators of plants, fell by a quarter from 1991 to 2018.

This estimate is based on data from 17 of the 27 EU member states and is attributed to changes in land use including in mountains and wetlands.

According to the EU Commission, Özdemir's agricultural plan is inadequate

Germany is also criticized.

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) must make significant improvements to the German strategic plan for future EU agricultural subsidies.

According to an assessment published on the ministry's website, the EU Commission has identified "clear deficiencies".

The strategic plan is part of a reform of the EU's common agricultural policy, which aims to make food production more environmentally friendly.

How the individual EU countries implement this should be set out in their national strategy plans.

When Germany submitted its plan several weeks late in February, Özdemir was still confident that it would be approved.

The Commission assumes that the German plan will only partially contribute to strengthening environmental protection, biodiversity and climate protection, for example within the framework of the Paris climate agreement.

In the agreement, Germany also undertakes to limit permanent warming to well below two and, if possible, below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

One agrees with the commission, "that there is further development potential in the CAP strategic plan, especially with the environmental and climate-related goals," according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

A spokesman said that the EU Commission's "constructive comments" encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture to continue on the path of making German agriculture more crisis-proof and sustainable.

Questions raised by the commission will probably be clarified with the federal states next week.

Talks are also planned with associations and organizations in May.

According to the ministry, the aim is for the amended plan to be approved by Brussels by autumn.

War in Ukraine makes agrarian reform more urgent

The German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) and the German Nature Conservation Union (Nabu) announced at the time that the plans failed "to meet the goals of climate protection, the restoration of biodiversity, the expansion of organic farming and the conversion of livestock farming".

Specifically, the Commission's reply to the German plan also states that, in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany must specify how, for example, dependence on fossil fuels and mineral fertilizers will be reduced.

The ministry replied that the request was "logical" since Germany submitted its strategic plan before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EU agricultural policy has a volume of almost 390 billion euros for the years 2021 to 2027. It is repeatedly criticized for contributing to agriculture relying too much on environmentally harmful methods.

Almost a year ago, the EU states and the EU Parliament had therefore agreed on the reform of agricultural policy.

On the side of the Ministry of Agriculture, it also says about their importance: "The range of funding affects the living area of ​​​​about 40 million people in rural areas and is relevant in the agricultural sector for around 300,000 applicant companies."

ak/Reuters/dpa

Source: spiegel

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