Hi there! The Conference has now ended. Ildikó, Vera and mysef have done what we could to influence the processes and outcomes. We have taken the word on the preperatory NGO meeting, during the workshops and also in the plenary. We advocated for measures to be included in post 2010 biodiversity policies to tackle the drivers of biodiversity loss. As a tool, among others we have asked for the limitation of energy and resource use in the EU and globally (e.g. through setting footprint targets , energy and resource use targtes). We aslo spoke about the issues which you asked us to raise - e.g. to reserve virgin steppe networks of CEE and ECCA countries, an issue Tatiana has raised. Thanks for all those who have given comments on the position paper!
The conference was not very interactive (there was for example no possibility to give comments after the final message was read out). The recommendations coming out from the Conference are the so called "Cibeles" priorities (named after Cibeles, an ancient goddes who is a symbol of Madrid), you can find the paper here: http://www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es/europeanconference2010 together with the presentations.
To sum up: I have mixed feelings about this outcome - of course it contians many important aspects, which we can be happy about. For example it is important point that the biodiversity targets should be included in the EU 2020 strategy (the post-Lisbon economic strategy of the EU) or that further impetus should be given to the implementation of Natura 2000, so that it becomes a functioning network and doesn't exists on the map only. On the other hand there is nothing included on tackling resource use, unsusstainable consumption or anything like that, which we asked for. Indirect drivers are mentioned (possibly also as an effect of me pointing this out on one of the workshops) but unfortunetaly in an incorrect manner:
"Therefore it is necessary to integrate biodiversity into the key instruments of economic planning. This integration will make it possible to efficiently tackle the indirect and direct drivers of biodiversity loss at a global, European, national and local level." - This means in other words that biodiversity needs to be integrated with GDP or other national accounting systems. This is definetly good, but it is also sure that this alone wont stop the overuse of resources and the consequent continued loss of biodiversity.
So I think we still have some more work in front of us :).
I know Veonika and Ildikó wanted to blog as well, so I leave something to tell for them, too and stop here. Cheers! Saro
