New EU initiative to protect biodiversity and fight wildlife crime
On the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Commission is launching a new initiative to halt biodiversity loss in developing countries by helping them protect their ecosystems, combat wildlife crime and develop green economies.
The EU Biodiversity for Life (B4Life) initiative will focus on Least Developed Countries and countries containing “biodiversity hotspots”, the places where ecosystems and their services are the richest but also the most threatened. B4Life will be financed through different envelopes of development assistance with an estimated budget of up to €800 million for 2014-2020. Biodiversity and development are closely linked and mutually reinforcing. Seeing ecosystem conservation and restoration as an opportunity to generate growth, create jobs and reduce poverty through a green economy contributes to the EU's development agenda. Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development, said: “We have already agreed with our EU partners that development is not sustainable if it damages the environment, biodiversity or natural resources. B4Life will now provide the means to step up our efforts to support livelihoods through halting biodiversity loss and combating wildlife crime.”
For more information: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-593_en.htm
