Archive:Biodiversity statistics

This text has been revised as part of the process for harmonising content for use in the 2011 edition of the Eurostat Yearbook. The text has been reviewed by Eurostat D4 and the contractor performing the editorial work for the next edition of the Yearbook. In a similar vein the Excel content has been formatted/standardised to publication standards. Any significant changes that have been made are detailed on the discussion page (link provided at the bottom of this page). Note that the Excel based images of tables and graphs will only be updated once the content of the Excel file is finalised. Please upload a revised version of the Excel file or indicate on the discussion page which actions (if any) need to be taken (and then inform Eurostat D4 that the article may be finalised).

Data from October 2010, most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.

Biodiversity – a contraction of biological diversity – encompasses the number, variety and variability of living organisms, including mankind. Preventing a loss of biodiversity is important for mankind, given that humans depend on the natural richness of our planet for the food, energy, raw materials, clean air and clean water that make life possible and drive our economies and societies. As such, a reduction or loss of biodiversity may not only undermine the natural environment but also economic and social goals. The challenges associated with preserving biodiversity have made this topic an international issue. This article presents some of the main indicators of biodiversity, such as the number of protected areas and bird populations, and examines the trends for these indicators in the European Union (EU).

Main statistical findings

Figure 1: Protected areas for biodiversity: Habitats Directive, 2007

Figure 2: Common bird indices, EU (aggregated index of population estimates of a selected group of breeding bird species dependent on agricultural land for nesting or feeding, 1990=100)

Habitats

Areas protected for the preservation of biodiversity are proposed by the Member States under the EU's Habitats Directive; they are indicated as a percentage of the total area of each country. About 18 % of the EU-27’s territory was proposed for protection under the Habitats Directive in 2009. Figures for the Member States show that protected areas range between 30 % of the total area of Slovenia to less than 10 % of the total area in seven of the Member States. In general, these protected sites adequately cover the species and habitats listed in the Directive, with an EU-27 average of 84 % of sufficiently covered species and habitats in 2008; only Poland and Cyprus reported less than 50 % sufficiency.

Birds

Since 1990 there has been a general downward trend in the abundance of both common farmland and forest species of birds, as measured by common bird indices. Part of the relatively steep decline (-17 % between 1990 and 2008) in numbers of common farmland birds may be attributed to changes in land use and agricultural practices. There was a more rapid reduction in numbers of common forest birds between 1990 and 2000 across the EU (-26 % between 1990 and 2000). However, recent years have seen a recovery in forest bird numbers, with the index rising from a relative low of 75 to reach 86 by 2008. The index of all common bird species has been relatively stable since 1995, some 10 % below its 1990 level, and stood at 92 in 2008.

Data sources and availability

Habitats

Annual data are available on areas protected under the Habitats Directive. The data are presented as the percentage of compliance with the obligation to protect habitats and species that are typical for the wider biogeographical regions of the EU. The indicator is based on the extent of the area proposed by countries for the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats, wild fauna and flora according to annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive. The index of sufficiency measures the extent to which sites of Community importance proposed by the Member States adequately cover the species and habitats listed in those annexes, in proportion to the share of the biogeographical region that falls within the territory of the country.

Birds

Birds are considered good proxies for measuring the diversity and integrity of ecosystems as they tend to be near the top of the food chain, have large ranges and the ability to move elsewhere when their environment becomes unsuitable; they are therefore responsive to changes in their habitats and ecosystems. The bird indicators presented in this article measure trends of bird populations.

The indicators are designed to capture the overall, average changes in population levels of common birds to reflect the health and functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. The population index of common birds is an aggregated index (with base year 1990 or the first year the Member State entered the scheme) of population trend estimates of a selected group of common bird species. Indices are calculated for each species independently and then combined to create a multi-species EU indicator by averaging the indices with an equal weight using a geometric average. Indices rather than bird abundance are averaged in order to give each species an equal weight in the resulting indicator. The EU index is based on trend data from 20 Member States, derived from annually operated national breeding bird surveys collated by the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS); this data is considered as a good proxy for the whole of the EU.

Three different indices are presented:

• Common farmland birds (36 species);
• Common forest birds (29 species);
• All common birds (136 species).

For the first two categories, the bird species have a high dependence on agricultural or on forest habitats in the nesting season and for feeding. Both groups comprise both year-round residents and migratory species. The aggregated index comprises farmland and forest species together with seventy-one other common species that are generalists, meaning that they occur in many different habitats or are particularly adapted to life in cities.

Context

People depend on natural resources and the variety of species found on the planet for tangible goods that make life possible and drive economic development, such as food, energy, wood, raw materials, clean air and water. Many aspects of our natural environment are public goods, in other words they have no market value or price. As such, the loss of biodiversity can often go undetected by economic systems. However, the natural environment also provides a range of intangibles, such as the aesthetic pleasure derived from viewing landscapes and wildlife, or recreational opportunities. In order to protect this legacy for future generations, the EU seeks to promote policies in a range of areas to ensure that biodiversity is protected through the sustainable development of, among others, agriculture, rural and urban landscapes, energy provision and transport. Many of these issues were touched upon by G8 environment ministers in Potsdam in March 2007, where an extensive study of the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity (TEEB) was commissioned.

Biodiversity strategy is based on the implementation of two landmark Directives, the 'Habitats Directive' (92/43/EEC) of 21 May 1992 and the 'Birds Directive' (79/409/EEC) of 2 April 1979. Implementation of these Directives has involved the establishment of a coherent European ecological network of sites under the title Natura 2000. The EU wants to expand Natura 2000, which currently counts around 26 000 sites (and an area of almost 880 000 km²) where plant and animal species and their habitats are protected. Establishing the Natura 2000 network may be seen as the first pillar of action relating to the conservation of natural habitats. However, EU legislation also foresees measures to establish a second pillar through strict protection regimes for certain animal species (for example, the Arctic fox and the Iberian lynx, both under serious threat of extinction).

In 1998, the EU adopted a biodiversity strategy. Four action plans covering the conservation of natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, and economic and development cooperation were subsequently agreed as part of this strategy in 2001. The European Commission released a Communication ((2006) 216) on ‘halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond’; this underlined the importance of biodiversity protection as a pre-requisite for sustainable development and set out an action plan which addresses the challenge of integrating biodiversity concerns into other policy areas. The Communication also contained indicators to monitor progress and a timetable for evaluations, whereby the European Commission has undertaken to report annually. In March 2010, the Council of the environment ministers of the EU acknowledged that the 2010 targets had not been met and agreed to set a new target, namely, to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, restoring them insofar as feasible, while stepping up the EU’s contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.

Further Eurostat information

Publications

• Energy, transport and environment indicators pocketbook
• Building agro-environmental indicators – Focussing on the European area frame survey LUCAS

Main tables

• Environment (t_env), see:

Biodiversity (t_env_biodiv)

Database

• Environment (env), see:

Biodiversity (env_biodiv)

Protected Areas for biodiversity: Habitats Directive (env_bio1)

Protection of natural resources - Common bird index (env_bio2)

Fish catches from stocks outside of 'safe biological limits' (env_biofish1)

Other information

• Communication COM (2006)-216 final 'Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 - and beyond - Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being'
• Directive 79/409/EEC ('Birds Directive') of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds
• Directive 92/43/EEC ('Habitats Directive') on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora

Source data for tables, figures and maps on this page (MS Excel)

• Biodiversity statistics - tables, figures and maps, 2011

External links

• EBCC - European Bird Census Council
• European Commission - Environment - Biodiversity & Nature
• Convention on Biological Diversity (UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme)

See also

• Agriculture and the environment
• Climate change statistics