About: Biodiversity
Climate change makes mountain tops bloom, for now
Europe's mountain summits are flush with new plant species, a greening that has increased in lock-step with the acceleration of global warming since the mid-20th century, researchers said Wednesday (4 April).
Forests are crucial in salvaging the Paris goals – EU must lead the way
In addition to halting deforestation, the European Union must support efforts to allow forest regeneration and sequestering more carbon dioxide, write Heidi Hautala and Carlos Zorrinho.
Organic farming: progress in EU seeds and agricultural biodiversity
The issue of seeds available for organic farming and the biodiversity promoted by this agronomic model is among the topics that have been subject of the longest and most heated negotiations. But progress is waiting around the corner, writes Blanche Magarinos-Rey.
Commission open to ‘biodiversity clause’ to end glyphosate deadlock
The European Commission stands ready to insert a clause referring to biodiversity in the glyphosate renewal proposal if requested by member states, a Commission Spokesperson told EURACTIV.
Report: Switzerland lost 90% of its ponds within two centuries
Intensive agriculture has gradually dried them out, and soils are no longer able to handle violent rains, creating increased flooding and lethal mud slides. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Parliament narrowly adopts pesticide ban for ‘ecological areas’
The European Parliament narrowly endorsed a ban on the use of pesticides on arable land set aside for nature conservation on Wednesday (14 June), prompting a leading environmental group to call for a rethinking of how the bloc's multi-billion agricultural policy is decided.
Primeval forest risks sparking new EU-Poland clash
The EU warned Poland on Thursday (27 April) it may take legal action to stop logging in a UNESCO World Heritage forest, risking a new clash with Warsaw's right-wing government. VideoPromoted content
Help nature – change agriculture
Europe's food and farming system is broken. It's not protecting farmers, nature or people. We can change it now: http://www.wwf.eu/living_land/
World on track to lose two-thirds of wild animals by 2020, major report warns
The number of wild animals living on Earth is set to fall by two-thirds by 2020, according to a new report, part of a mass extinction that is destroying the natural world upon which humanity depends.
American lobster ‘not invasive’, US tells Sweden
Canada and the United States on Monday (6 June) rejected Swedish calls for a ban on imports of live American lobsters, saying fears of an invasive species displacing its European cousin are unsubstantiated.
EU nature directives: The trust of millions in Juncker’s hands
The European Commission’s decision on the future of the EU Nature Directives is not just a test of trust in the EU's protection of our nature. it is also a test of President Juncker’s commitment to maintaining unity and solidarity, write Stanley Johnson and Olaf Tschimpke in an exclusive op-ed for EURACTIV.com.
Poland approves logging in primeval forest
Polish environmental authorities have given the go-ahead for substantial logging in Europe’s last primeval forest, despite protests from environmental groups and the EU. EURACTIV’s partner Joural de l'Environnement reports.
The EU must save the Bialowieza Forest
The future of Poland’s pristine Bialowieza Forest is at stake, but short-term commercial interests should not prevail over the long-term protection of Europe’s last primeval forest, writes Luc Bas.
EU conservation law ‘modernisation’ may weaken protections
European Commission President Juncker wants EU laws on nature conservation modernised. But environmental activists have warned against weakening the current legislation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Pesticides: Economic nonsense?
The cost of pesticides may far outweigh their benefits, according to the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), which has conducted a study on the external costs of these products. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
France adopts watered-down palm oil tax
French MPs have approved an additional tax on palm oil. But sustainably-produced oil and imports for biofuels will be exempt from the tax. EURACTIV France reports.
French palm oil tax ‘unfair’ and ‘destructive’, producers say
French plans to place an additional tax on palm oil as part of its biodiversity bill have angered Malaysia and Indonesia. The bill is expected to be passed next week. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission’s ‘green’ CAP questionable, study says
The implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2014-2020 is not as “green” as the European Commission is claiming, a new study has found.
Assessing co-benefits could accelerate action on climate change
Despite the encouraging and historic climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris, politicians all over the world argue that quick climate action is too costly. But if they redid the calculation and included co-benefits they would take action now. And they should, argues Christian Friis Bach.
Forests: An underused toolbox for enhancing climate resilience
World leaders have to find new ways of tackling the climate issue. One of the answers might be to integrate nature conservation efforts, such as restoring forest landscapes, writes Luc Bas.
Implementation of EU nature legislation needs to be stepped up
Europe is set to miss its target on biodiversity conservation for 2020. It is now becoming clear that there is a disconnect between what the Directives intend, and what is happening on the ground, writes Luc Bas.
Three Bulgarian national parks to permit construction, NGOs warn
Bulgaria's construction business has always had its eye on buidling hotels, ski slopes and recreational villages in protected areas - but now NGOs have warned that draft management plans could see three national parks open the door to the bulldozers.
New CAP must face biodiversity challenge
The new “greener” Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could help the EU meet its objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2020, the Commission has told EURACTIV, after its own review showed there had been no significant progress towards stopping environmental destruction.