Yesterday, May 20, 2020, the European Commission has published the dossier on the new one biodiversity strategy, whose points represent the key element of the Green Deal policy, strongly supported by Von der Leyen herself. The parliamentary Euro also gave the news Marco Dreosto, directly involved in the matter as shadow rapporteur of the ID group on strategy addresses. The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the interrelationships between health, food, supply chains, consumption patterns and planetary boundaries.
Research suggests that the potential direct economic benefits of biodiversity conservation affect a wide range of sectors in terms of higher annual profits, ranging from € 49 billion in the seafood sector to € 3,9 trillion in the insurance sector, arguing that a planet with a healthy biodiversity is an absolute prerequisite for growth and economic recovery. The biodiversity crisis is intrinsically linked to the climate crisis. The loss of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystems are among the three greatest threats humanity will face in the next decade. Without reversing the trend, it will be impossible to achieve the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
"Farmers, fishermen, hunters, foresters, landowners and users are the key players in this strategy, working in the protection of biodiversity, benefiting directly from it ”said Dreosto, adding the fact that some points, as presented, could affect the stakeholders themselves, for this reason he will ask for clarity and use common sense. The key elements concern the expansion of protected areas, the restoration of terrestrial and maritime ecosystems and in particular of agroecosystems, encouraging organic agriculture and rural and recreational tourism, promoting genetic diversity, facilitating the use of traditional varieties and breeds. The protection of birds and pollinators, a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides by 2030, systems to combat soil erosion, forest protection, decarbonisation of the energy system, the adoption of urban greening plans, as well as the restoration of freshwater ecosystems and the fight against invasive alien species, are among the important ed ambitious goals, which the European Union aims to achieve.