The EU’s target of halting biodiversity loss by 2020 remains a serious challenge. Europe’s biodiversity continues to be dangerously eroded through habitat loss, pollution, over-exploitation of resources, invasive alien species and climate change. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

On 14 September 2016 the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) held its Actions for Nature conference where participants from NGOs, the European Commission, Member States, and the private sector discussed how targeted, well-crafted and well-enforced policies can help reverse this trend.

The Commission under President Jean-Claude Juncker has a unique chance to take action for nature. By improving the levels of implementation, investing in nature, improving other sectoral policies and ensuring transparency and stakeholder participation, this Commission can leave a lasting legacy for Europe’s environment.

During the conference, the EEB together with other European nature organisations presented their recommendations: ‘The laws of Nature; what the EU should do to better protect nature in Europe’. This document sets out seven key steps for the European Commission to improve nature conservation across the EU – starting with saving and fully implementing the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Photo: Pieter de Pous, EEB EU Policy Director, sets out 7 key steps the EU must take to save off biodiversity loss © European Environmental Bureau