37 Amendments of Nils TORVALDS related to 2020/2273(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution on the new EU Forest Strategy of 8 October 20201a, _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0257
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission report of 2 October 2015 on the mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (COM/2015/0478),
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and its level of ambition; stresses the strong link to the European Green Deal including the Farm to Fork Strategy and the need to reach coherence and a sound balance between the different high-level policy goals;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and its level of ambition; with respect to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes the importance of sustainable forest management (SFM) as an effective way to maintain and enhance biodiversity and the vitality of forests and to prevent pests and diseases also in protected areas.
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Highlights the importance of taking into account the different biogeographical areas and notes the differences in calculated biodiversity loss; recalls that only one biodiversity hotspot (the Mediterranean basin) is located in Europe and calls for prioritising actions in this hotspot;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses strong support for theTakes note of the proposed targets of protecting at least 30 % of the Union’s marine and terrestrial areas, and of strictly protecting at least 10 % of these areas, including primary and old-growth forests; stresses that these should be bindingforests based on internationally recognised definitions; stresses that before proposing relevant legislation, targets should be based on a holistic evaluation of the effectiveness of current protected areas and implemented by Member StatesUnion-wide in accordance with science- based criteria and biodiversity needs; underlines that in addition to increasing protected areas, the quality of protected areas should be ensured and clear conservation and management plans implemented; insists that those activities that are compatible with protection goals or even positively contribute to biodiversity protection must remain admissible in areas under strict protection; notes with concern that the Commission considers extractive activities such as fishing, hunting or forestry incompatible with strict protection, as expressed in a draft technical note on criteria and guidance for protected areas designations; echoes paragraph 10 of the Council Conclusions of 16 October 2020 on Biodiversity which highlights that stricter level of protection may allow for certain human activities, which are in line with the conservation objectives of the protected area;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses strong support for the targets of protecting at least 30 % of the Union’s marine and terrestrial areas, and of strictly protecting at least 10 % of these areas, including primary and old-growth forests; stresses that the targetse should be binding and implemented by Member States, taking into account the national circumstances and internationally recognised definitions of the forest in accordance with science- based criteria and biodiversity needs; underlines that in addition to increasing protected areas, the quality of protected areas should be ensured and clear conservation plans implemented; considers that measures already taken in Member States should be fully acknowledged in the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy; stresses the need to respect and support the rights of landowners;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that an effective implementation of the strategy depends on its acceptance in rural communities which are often economically and socially dependant on land- and forest-use; underlines in this regard the need to take into account economic and social aspects along with the environmental pillars of sustainability in a balanced way and to include local stakeholders in the process of protected area designation;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that where conservation measures restrict the use of privately owned land or negatively affect its value, adequate compensation should be granted to the owner;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on the EU Nature Restoration Plan and reiterates its call for a restoration target of at least 30 % of the EU’s land and seas, which should be implemented by each Member State consistently throughout their territory; considers that in addition to an overall restoration target, ecosystem-specific targets should be set, with a particular emphasis on ecosystems for the dual purposes of biodiversity restoration and climate change mitigation and adaptation; stresses that after restoration, no ecosystem degradation should be allowed;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. WelcomesTakes note of the upcoming legislative proposal on the EU Nature Restoration Plan and reiterates its call for a restoration target of at least 30 % of the EU’s land and seas, which should be implemented by each Member State consistently throughout their territory; considers that in addition to an overall restoration target, ecosystem-specific targets should be set, with a particular emphasis on ecosystems forUnion-wide; considers that particular emphasis should be put on the dual purposes of biodiversity restoration and climate change mitigation and adaptation; stresses that after restoration, no ecosystem degradation should be allowed;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights the importance of taking a shared responsibility approach including all relevant sectors on tackling the main direct anthropogenic drivers that duly takes into account all relevant activities such as the significantly increasing land sealing in urban areas; stresses that focussing on agriculture and forestry alone would fall short of addressing the causes appropriately; underlines the importance of taking into account specific local circumstances and to include all relevant local stakeholders in decision making processes;
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights that soil biodiversity is the basis for key ecological processes and crucial to meet climate and biodiversity goals under the European Green Deal; notes with concern the increased soil degradation and the lack of specific EU legislation; ;calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal fexplore the establishmentusefulness of a common framework for the protection and sustainable use of soil that includes a specific decontamination targetwith regard to practicability, proportionality, costs, administrative burden and subsidiarity and to report back to the European Parliament and the Council; stresses the need to prioritise positive incentives and voluntary bottom-up participatory process in order to increase the acceptance, motivation and commitment of biodiversity protection;
Amendment 484 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the CommissionMember States to set specific ambitious targets on urban biodiversity, nature-based solutions and green infrastructure and to develop a Trans-European Network for Green Infrastructure (TEN-G) linked to the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN- N);
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Expresses its support forTakes note of the 2030 targets of bringing at least 25 % of agricultural land under organic farm management, which should become the norm in the long term, and ensuring that at least 10 % of agricultural land consists of high-diversity landscape features, which should be implemented at farm level, targets which should both; acknowledges the benefits of organic farming for biodiversity while stressing the need to consider trade-offs regarding different aspects of sustainability; thus calls for exploiting the strengths of different farming models and further improving them on their weaknesses; stresses, that an area target approach threatens profitability of organic farming and hence could increase dependency on subsidies which would be in corporated into EU legislation; considers it imperative that farmers receive support and trainingntradiction to the aim of the Farm to Fork Strategy to make sustainable farming a profitable business model for European farmers and calls for a market- driven uptake of organic farming instead; considers it imperative that farmers receive sufficient support and educational training as part of risk management- and advisory services offered by National Authorities in the transition towards agroecological and sustainable practices;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. calls on Commission and Member States to take into account voluntary measures as well as pressure on the availability of agricultural land when implementing measures regarding high- diversity landscape features;
Amendment 602 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Insists that priority for protected areas must be environmental conservation and restoration and that no activity in these areas should undermine this goal; recognises, however, that agriculture and forestry practices and other forms of human activity do not contradict the conservation objectives of protected areas and high-diversity landscape features of agricultural land per se and even can be beneficial to their achievement; underlines in this regard that productive use must remain an option, taking into account specific local conditions; calls on the Commission to avoid future marine renewable energy developments and bottom-trawling fishing within Marine Protected Areas;
Amendment 636 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that the new EU Forest Strategy must be fully aligned with the Climate Law and the Biodiversity Stratege need for coherence between the EU Forest Strategy, the Climate Law and the Biodiversity Strategy, in accordance with the Member States’ competence for forestry; calls for the inclusion in the Nature Restoration Plan of specific binding targets for the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems, which should also be incorporated into the Forest Strategy; notes with great concern that forests have increasingly come under pressure by events such as forest fires, bark beetle infestations, heatwaves and extreme drought; stresses that these events threaten unmanaged forests more severely and must be taken into account along with local conditions when setting protection targets, carefully balancing forest resistance and resilience requirements with biodiversity protection goals; underlines the important role of sustainable forest management in tackling the aforementioned threats as well as in increasing forest carbon sequestration, biodiversity and other ecosystem services;
Amendment 662 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Underlines the important contribution of multifunctional forests and the forest-based sector in achieving climate neutrality by 2050 by providing renewable alternatives to fossil-based resources and materials, including building materials that serve as long-term carbon storage;
Amendment 703 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to urgently prespresent, after an impact assessment, a proposal for an EU legal framework based on mandatory due diligence that ensures sustainable and deforestation-free value chains;
Amendment 716 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Expresses its concern that the majority of the ranges of terrestrial species will decrease significantly in a 1.5 to 2°C scenario; highlights, therefore, the need to prioritise nature-based solutions in meeting climate mitigation goals and in adaptation strategies and to increase the protection and sustainable management of natural carbon sinks in the EU, while ensuring that the full potential of biogenic resources is used in order to achieve the phasing-out of fossil fuels with a view to achieving the objective of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 732 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Expresses its concern that the majority of the ranges of terrestrial species will decrease significantly in a 1.5 to 2°C scenario; highlights, therefore, the need to prioritise nature-based solutionsustainably manage our natural resources in meeting climate mitigation goals and in adaptation strategies and to increase the protection of natural carbon sinks in the EU;
Amendment 744 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to preparesent a long-term EU action plan on climate and biodiversity that improvensures coherence and interconnections for future actions, and formally integrates commitments under the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement; Nationally-Determined Contributions of the Paris Agreement; underlines the importance of creating a formal coordination structure as soon as possible, as well as better coordination of reporting, monitoring, assessment and review of both climate and biodiversity plans in the future;
Amendment 759 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Highlights that the substitution effects of wood-based products should be recognised as important in achieving the targets of the Green Deal and in increasing the carbon stocks in forests; considers that sustainably managed forests can support long-term wood availability and enhance biodiversity;
Amendment 773 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. WelcomesTakes note of the Commission’s targets of reducing the use of more hazardous andand risk from chemical pesticides by 50 %, the use of fertilisers by at least 20 % and nutrient losses by at least 50 % by 2030, which should be made binding; considers that the derogation envisaged in Article 53(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 should be clarified andnutrient losses by at least 50 % - resulting in a reduction of the use of fertilisers by at least 20 % - by 2030; calls on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive impact assessment of all quantitative targets and their reciprocal influence brought forward in the Biodiversity and Farm-to-Fork Strategies before proposing relevant legislation; considers that while regulation by derogation should be avoided in general, Article 53(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 remains an important instrument to ensure farmers have access to effective means of plant protection; stresses, however, that it must only be applied founder thealth and environmental reasons; scrutiny of the Commission and in strict accordance with Article 1(3) and (4) of the Regulation;
Amendment 792 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the Commission’s targets of reducing the use of more hazardous and chemical pesticides by 50 %, the use of fertilisers by at least 20 % and nutrient losses by at least 50 % by 2030, which should be made binding; considers that the derogation envisaged in Article 53(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 should be clarified and must only be applied for health and environmental reasons;
Amendment 798 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines that in order to achieve substantial reductions in pesticide use and risk, not only safer alternatives must become available to ensure the availability of a functioning plant protection toolbox and more efficient use must be facilitated by innovative tools such as digital and precision farming, but there is also a need for more resistant varieties that require less input to secure stable yields; stresses the importance of new innovative breeding techniques for making such varieties and calls on the Commission to propose a regulatory framework in this regard;
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Welcomes the Commission´s proposal to reduce nutrient losses; stresses that a strategy to reduce nutrient losses should focus primarily on enabling farmers to increase efficiency of nutrient management and highlights the importance of innovative technologies and solutions in this regard; further calls for the strategy to consider the climate and environmental impact of different fertilisers;
Amendment 919 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to ensure effective biodiversity mainstreaming and proofing across EU spending and programmes on the basis of the EU Taxonomy and the ‘do no significant harm’ principle; calls on the Commission to provide a comprehensive assessment of how the EUR 20 billion per year needed for nature could be mobilised, to make corresponding proposals for the Union’s annual budget and to examine the need for a dedicated funding instrument for TEN-N; considers that efforts should be made to reach 10 % annual spending on biodiversity under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) as soon as possible from 2021 onwards;
Amendment 977 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights the need for a legally binding biodiversity governance framework, similar to the Climate Law, which steers a path to 2050 through a set of binding objectives, including targets for 2030 and the COP15 commitments, and which establishes a monitoring mechanism with smart indicators; calls on the Commission to submit a legal proposal to this end in 2022;
Amendment 995 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls that Article 37 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights reflects the principle of ensuring environmental protection in Union legislation; considers that the right to a healthy environment should be recognised in the EU Charter and that the Union should also advocate a similar right internationally; recalls that ownership rights must be respected;
Amendment 1014 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to reinforce biodiversity within Union youth programmes such as the European Voluntary Service, and to launch a Green Erasmus programme focused on restoration and conservation; highlights the crucial role research and education play in order to empirically analyse the loss of biodiversity; stresses the need for a substantial increase in funding of public research, particularly regarding the development of research indicators to quantify biodiversity measures; reiterates its calls for a specific mission and funding dedicated to biodiversity within future research programmes;
Amendment 1025 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Highlights the importance of healthy soil for biodiversity, sustainable forest management, forest conversion and agricultural ecosystem services and takes note of existing knowledge and data gaps in the area; calls on the Commission and Member States to support further research in soil ecosystem services and to adjust relevant existing funding programmes in order to facilitate such research projects;
Amendment 1040 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Stresses the importance of closing critical knowledge gaps and improving our understanding of biogeographical regions; underlines the need to improve knowledge on key risk behaviours, illegal, unregulated, and the legal and regulated wildlife trade as a contributing factor to disease risk, and improving understanding of the relationship between ecosystem degradation and restoration, landscape structure and the risk of disease emergence; urges to improve horizon scanning to identify emerging threats and challenges and policy responses to them;
Amendment 1083 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Stresses the strong links between biodiversity loss and increasing emergence of pandemics; calls on the EU to promote during the upcoming COP 15 the establishment of a supranational scientific council to identify policy options, monitor and prevent the root causes of pandemics resulting from environmental degradation and biodiversity loss; calls on the Parties to commit to a reduction and elimination of wildlife trade of high-risk disease species;
Amendment 1200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Underlines that the successful implementation of the strategy depends on the involvement of all actors and sectors; calls on the Commission to create a stakeholder platform for discussion and to ensure an inclusive, equitable and just transition; emphasises the importance of thorough and comprehensive impact assessments of the overall Strategy and any legislative action related to the Strategy;