ECOSYSTEMS & BIODIVERSITY


Biological diversity (or biodiversity) is one of the key terms in conservation, encompassing the richtness of life and the divers patterns it forms.

Biological diversity (or biodiversity) is one of the key terms in conservation, encomassing the richtness of life and the divers patterns it forms.

Environmental policy in general, and policies addressing the growing loss of biodiversity and ecosystems in particular, is constantly evolving. In its early days the focus was on tackling (linear) cause-effect relationships or on species protection. Today, it is recognised that a more holistic and systemic approach is needed, i.e., an ecosystem-based approach.

The 2019 European Green Deal adopts this approach and sustainability rationale, aiming to transform the EU into a resource-efficient and competitive economy achieving no not emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.

The European Green Deal announced a number of new policies and laws to be agreed that will jointly help reach its overall aim. For biodiversity and ecosystems, a new and ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BDS2030) was adopted in 2020. Building on previous strategies and long-standing EU nature legislation the new Strategy puts much emphasis on more effectively protecting nature and on restoring habitats and ecosystems.

space4environment is actively supporting a number the monitoring, collection, harmonisation and assessment of data to underpin the reporting under the Nature Directive to provide information about the status and trends of ecosystems in Europe. Apart from providing quality control and helpdesk functions, space4environment is involved in the tracking of the 30% protected area target of the BDS2030, the analysis and proposal of Green Infrastructure networks based on maintaining and improving the connectivity of healthy ecosystems at landscape as well as at urban level, and supporting ecosystem restoration by identifying pressures and habitats and species. 


Project highlights