Activities of Michal WIEZIK related to 2020/2273(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (debate)
Amendments (121)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that agricultural productivity and resilience depend on biodiversity to guarantee the long-term sustainability of our food systems; underlines, furthermore, that much of the biodiversity across Europe has been created by farming and its survival is dependent on the continued active management of farmland; Further recalls the scientific consensus1a that an intensification of this management, including landscape simplification, increases in the use of pesticides and mowing frequency, irrigation expansion and the destruction of pasture lands has led to catastrophic declines in bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian and insect populations; _________________ 1aLetter from European Ornithologists Union, European Mammal Foundation, Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica, Butterfly Conservation Europe, European Bird Census Council; https://assets.vlinderstichting.nl/docs/b0cc 2493-88fe-4591-8838-f44abd1f975a.pdf
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that cascading effect of landscape simplification leads to lower crop production through, in particular, reduced both pollinator and natural enemy richness1a; reiterates that replacement of natural enemy population by use of insecticides exacerbates further the problem of reduced pollination, which is a direct component of crop production; Calls for a holistic approach in order to safeguard ecosystem services through measures leading to increased landscape heterogeneity; _________________ 1aM. Dainese, E. A. Martin, M. A. Aizen, M. Albrecht, I. Bartomeus, R. Bommarco, L. G. Carvalheiro, R. Chaplin-Kramer, V. Gagic, L. A. Garibaldi, J. Ghazoul, H. Grab, M. Jonsson, D. S. Karp, C. M. Kennedy, D. Kleijn, C. Kremen, D. A. Landis, D. K. Letourneau, L. Marini, K. Poveda, R. Rader, H. G. Smith, T. Tscharntke, G. K. S. Andersson, I. Badenhausser, S. Baensch, A. D. M. Bezerra, F. J. J. A. Bianchi, V. Boreux, V. Bretagnolle, B. Caballero-Lopez, P. Cavigliasso, A. Ćetković, N. P. Chacoff, A. Classen, S. Cusser, F.D. da Silva e Silva, G. A. deGroot, J.H. Dudenhöffer, J. Ekroos, T. Fijen, P. Franck, B. M. Freitas, M. P. D. Garratt, C. Gratton, J. Hipólito, A. Holzschuh, L. Hunt, A. L. Iverson, S. Jha, T. Keasar, T. N. Kim,M. Kishinevsky, B. K. Klatt, A.-M. Klein, K.M. Krewenka, S. Krishnan, A. E. Larsen, C. Lavigne, H. Liere, B. Maas, R. E. Mallinger, E. Martinez Pachon, A. Martínez-Salinas, T. D. Meehan, M. G. E. Mitchell, G. A. R. Molina, M. Nesper, L. Nilsson, M. E. O’Rourke,M. K. Peters,M. Plećaš, S. G. Potts, D. d. L. Ramos, J. A. Rosenheim, M. Rundlöf, A. Rusch, A. Sáez, J. Scheper, M. Schleuning, J. M. Schmack, A. R. Sciligo, C. Seymour, D. A. Stanley, R. Stewart, J. C. Stout, L. Sutter,M. B. Takada, H. Taki, G. Tamburini, M. Tschumi, B. F. Viana, C. Westphal, B. K. Willcox, S. D. Wratten, A. Yoshioka, C. Zaragoza-Trello, W. Zhang, Y. Zou, I. Steffan-Dewenter, A global synthesis reveals biodiversity-mediated benefits for crop production. Sci. Adv. 5, eaax0121 (2019).
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the degradation of habitats and disruption of migration corridors by, for example, river modifications and dams, overexploitation for their caviar and meat, as well as pollution have driven sturgeons to the brink of extinction; whereas the drastic decrease of the number of spawners, associated with the population decline, trigger the failure of the natural reproduction, reducing the chance of the few remaining males and females to meet and spawn;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas the data held by the research institutes indicate that the populations of sturgeon species are fragmented, missing certain generations, and the species of sturgeon natural reproduction is deficient, the number of adults migrating to the Danube for reproduction is extremely low and the species sturgeon is on the verge of extinction;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the high level of ambition of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 in seeking to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in the EU; considers that this level of ambition encourages policy action at all levels and promotes the development ofto increase heterogeneity of landscapes and promotes research and innovative solutions' translation into policy to tackle biodiversity loss; stresses that the continuous decline in farmland and forest biodiversity is a reality and that bold action is needed to counteract this trend; agrees that Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans need to set explicit national values for relevant targets of the Biodiversity and Farm to Fork Strategies1a; _________________ 1aas in the Annex to the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Communication of 26 February 2016 on an EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking(COM/2016/087);
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests1a _________________ 1a COM(2019) 352 final
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 10 July 2020 on a Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability,1a _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0201.
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 b (new)
Citation 12 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2020 on the EU’s role in protecting and restoring the world forests1a , _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0212
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets the fact that the EU’s biodiversity strategy to 2020 had not set measurable targets for agriculture, making it difficult to assess progress and the performance of EU-funded actions; recalls that poor coordination between EU policies and strategies dealing with biodiversity has led to failure to address the decline in genetic diversity 1a ;Calls on the Commission to follow the ECA's recommendations and to build on these lessons learned in the Biodiversity strategy 2030; _________________ 1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/DocI tem.aspx?did=%7bB5A7E9DE-C42E- 4C1D-A5D2-03CA1FADE6F8%7d
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the One Planet Summit in 2021 saw the President of the European Commission outlining a detailed vision for forests protection and having the EU leading the world in the fight against global deforestation; whereas this now needs to be acted upon;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas extinction of species is forever, threatening the existence of ecosystems and ecosystem services, and posing a threat to human wellbeing and survival and should be prevented by all means available;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the strong link with the Farm to Fork strategy and the need for a holistic approach to the food system; calls on the Commission to establish an evidence-based evaluation of the status and trends of the main taxonomy groups of fauna and flora of predominantly agricultural species and of the implementation of the strategy’s measures and targets, in particular of the individual and cumulative impacts on the, including the positive impact, on the long-term social and economic sustainability of agriculture in the EU, food security and prices, and the potential risks of displacing biodiversity losses abroad by the replacement of local agricultural production with importscontinuing biodiversity losses both in the EU and abroad if our model of agriculture, dependent on feed imports and external inputs, remains to be the mainstream supported by the policy;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the evidence available suggests that it is not too late to halt and reverse current trends in the decline of biodiversity4 ; whereas the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 presents the opportunity to incorporate the lessons learned from the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak by switching from a “reactive” model to a “proactive” and precautionary model, initiating a decisive change of the EU policies away from the exploitation of wildlife for domestic and international trade; _________________ 4 Global Biodiversity Outlook 5.
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Subheading 2 a (new)
Subheading 2 a (new)
Stresses the emergency to establish “fish stock recovery areas” (or “no take zones”) in the Black Sea, to allow the recovery of the wild populations of sturgeons, as such areas were proven beneficial both for biodiversity conservation and for fishery management;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU Pollinators Initiative 1a, which confirms its strong position regarding the importance of pollinators protection, particularly in context of risk and exposure to chemicals and transformative change of agricultural practices; _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2019)0104
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the current network of legally protected areas, including those under strict protection, is not sufficiently large to safeguard biodiversity, whereas 30% of area protected, both at land and at sea, is an absolute minimum needed according to experts;
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote the use of pasture and pastoral habitats, including wooded pastures and other agroforestry systems, as a critical precondition for creating nesting substrates for pollinators, birds and mammals, and in synergy with maintenance of high nature value grassland communities confined to grazing and traditional forms of extensive farming;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Expresses concern over plans and projects of intensive animal feeding operations in various Member States; considers that traditional extensive animal farming is being threatened by intensive form of production which the Common Agricultural policy helps make profitable to the detriment of biodiversity and wider environment; calls for all policy instruments coherently working towards support of the traditional European cultural landscape of the extensive production supporting biodiversity and phasing out support to intensive production units;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the EFSA Bee Guidance Document has not been adopted yet and its review has not been successfully finalised, and the process of Biocides - Pollinators Guidance Document by ECHA is ongoing; whereas even full application of the 2013 EFSA Bee Guidance would leave butterflies, moths and hoverflies unprotected by the pesticide approval regime;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas next to nature conservation and restoration, action on drivers of biodiversity loss especially in the land-use sectors and food system transformation are central to an effective post-2020 biodiversity strategy1a _________________ 1a Leclère, D., Obersteiner, M., Barrett, M. et al. Bending the curve of terrestrial biodiversity needs an integrated strategy. Nature 585, 551–556(2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2705-y
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas soil is a shared resource and its biodiversity is under increasing pressure; whereas EU-wide monitoring of soil biodiversity, trends in its range and volume, should complement regular LUCAS survey of physico-chemical parameters in long-term;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas there is a need to include pro-active management actions to enable the recovery of wild species of fauna and flora across habitats;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas according to the IPBES, pollution is one of the five drivers of biodiversity loss; whereas it is estimated that robust information exists for about 500 chemicals and by April 2019, ECHA considered 450 substances as being sufficiently regulated; whereas another 10 000 substances are considered to have their risks fairly well characterised, while limited risk information is available for around 20 000 substances; whereas the majority, around 70 000 substances have hardly any information on their hazards or exposures; whereas significant knowledge gaps regarding all impacts of chemicals on the biodiversity and environment need to be urgently closed;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas biodiversity conservation and conservation of insects are inextricably linked; whereas the framework and actions of the current EU Pollinators Initiative require reinforcement and effective integration across EU sectoral policies; whereas monitoring, research and other activities related to insect protection are fragmented, often inadequate, under- funded or non-existing on national level; whereas it proves beneficial to stimulate joint activities of citizens, municipalities, farmers, associations, businesses, educational institutions, other societal players and authorities to engage in nature conservation and restoration;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Cf. whereas resilient ecosystems are rich in species; whereas Natura 2000 contributes to the conservation of species but many other threatened species remain outside this network; whereas the widening of protected areas is intended to safeguard biodiversity, contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption and generate substantial returns in investment and job opportunities;
Amendment 141 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the key role of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in protecting and promoting farmland biodiversity, including genetic diversity; underlines the potential of the green architecture components of the CAP in promoting and providing incentives for the transition to more sustainable agricultural systems for producing food and maintaining high nature value farmland; considers that Member States must ensure the timely development and uptake of actions which contribute to enhancing the delivery and potential of biodiversity benefits in line with the required level of ambition;
Amendment 146 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 150 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Notes that the CAP has been failing to promote the positive correlation between the production and selective enhancement of functional biodiversity; highlights that provision of ecosystem services by fauna requires an agricultural plot to offer a non-toxic environment and suitable habitat for all the life stages of target organisms, for nesting, breeding and foraging;
Amendment 151 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Considers that small changes introduced by the Common Agricultural Policy in its various reforms have not represented a strong signal for famers to change their practice and is of the opinion that a significant change basing itself on climate and biodiversity crises is necessary to assure farmers of its relevance also for their business and livelihood;
Amendment 152 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Amendment 153 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Amendment 154 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Underlines that the rural development programmes have greater biodiversity potential than direct payments; calls on the Member States to use high-impact measures such as result- based schemes, as opposed to the less demanding and less beneficial (“light green”) ones 1a. _________________ 1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/DocI tem.aspx?did=%7bB5A7E9DE-C42E- 4C1D-A5D2-03CA1FADE6F8%7d
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the poor status of European Forests; stresses that in some biogeographical regions as little as 5% of Annex I forest habitats are in favourable conservation status1a;underlines that the Biodiversity Strategy requires Member States to ensure no deterioration in conservation trends and status of all protected habitats and species; notes significant levels of further deterioration of forest ecosystems in unfavourable conservation status across the most of biogeographical regions2a; _________________ 1aBoreal biogeographical region with 4,84% and Atlantic with 4,94% in favourable status, in accordance with data (2019) reported pursuant to the Art. 17 of Habitats Directive for the period 2013- 2018 2a data(2019) reported pursuant to the Art. 17 of Habitats Directive for the period2013-2018
Amendment 180 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that despite a belief that result-based schemes with embedded monitoring within bring bureaucracy and complexity, the experience from number of pilot projects on the matter shows rather a positive feedback from farmers, feeling of ownership and pride over public goods and nature the land holds, being an important part of the citizens' science, encompassing also educational element for kids at family farms; underlines that these schemes needs to be promoted and used at much larger scale than currently; notes that they can be implemented under the Pillar I ecoschemes with a clear incentivising element remunerating the implementation beyond cost incurred and income foregone;
Amendment 180 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the high level of ambition when setting targets; strongly recommends, however, that such targets should not be legally binding, and that they should be set on a case-by-case basis, adapted to local specificities and to the level required to protect nature; recommends that such targets should also take into account socio-economic considerations, should be backed by reconversion programs and alternative livelihood to fishing communities and the need to ensure a long-term resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain, be proportionate with the objective pursued and have a solid scientific basis;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Notes with concern the substantial losses of forests species and habitats reported, recalls that five forest tree species are extinct in the wild, 42 forest tree species are critically endangered and 107 forest tree species are endangered in Europe;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Underlines that changes in land use, and production and consumption patterns are one of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss; notes that the 10% target of non-productive elements in agricultural areas represents a challenge and without transformative changes of the CAP this is unlikely to be realised; notes the absence of linear landscape features1a, total absence of extensive pastures2a, a steep decrease in low input farming3ain some EU agricultural areas and notes with concern rare occurrences of positive statistically relevant changes in the last decade; _________________ 1a from the SWD -Commission recommendations for Slovakia’s CAP strategic plan 2afrom the SWD -Commission recommendations for the Netherlands CAP strategic plan 3a halving from 2010 to 2017, SWD- Commission recommendations for Romania’s CAP strategic plan
Amendment 187 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls for holistic approach when adopting measures supporting pollinators; notes that support directed merely towards honeybees e.g. based on number of beehives, is alone absolutely insufficient in halting decline in pollinators, as well is ineffective to sustain pollination ecosystem service as honey bee only supplements, rather than substitutes for, pollination provided by different groups of insect species1a, including solitary bees, butterflies, hoverflies and beetles; Calls on Member States to include in their draft Strategic Plans a broad array of measures targeting various groups of pollinators; _________________ 1aLucas A. Garibaldi at al, 2013: Wild Pollinators Enhance Fruit Set of Crops Regardless of Honey Bee Abundance
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Notes that logging is a factor posing a threat to the greatest number of species in some of the EU Member States1a as it causes loss of habitat, structures and substrates that species require, through the conversion of ancient woodlands to industrial stands; _________________ 1ain Sweden, data from the Swedish Species Information Centre
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Notes that large-scale clearcutting is a legally applied forestry practice in number of Member States, including in protected areas in some cases; highlights that this practice negatively affects the symbiotic interdependent network of trees with fungi; stresses that according to science likeliness of reestablishment of this web after clearcut is almost non-existent; reiterates that clearcutting does not mimic natural disturbances by wildfire as, unlike a clearcut site, a site disturbed by wildfire is characterised by a very high amount of deadwood, by a number of living trees and soil open for colonisation of species; calls for a ban on clearcutting forest management across the EU;
Amendment 203 #
3. Stresses that the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of the ‘One Health’ principle in policy-making and that transformative changes are needed to be made; calls for an urgent rethinking of how to alignalignment of the Union’s current policies with the changes needed;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes the sudden increase in the mean value of intensity of harvest for the years 2016–2018 with respect to the mean of the years 2004–2015 (by 43%) and 2011–2015 (49%); stresses that increased rates of natural disturbances from windstorms or fires have been factored out from the analysis and that the observed abrupt increase has been due to change in management1a; notes that this increase in harvested area is threatening ecosystems which primarily have had other functions other than wood production, including those not harvested for centuries; expresses serious concern over this continuous loss of irreplaceable natural values and bio-cultural legacy; _________________ 1a Ceccherini, G., Duveiller, G., Grassi,G. et al. Abrupt increase in harvested forest area over Europe after 2015. Nature 583, 72–77 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2438-y
Amendment 219 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the importance of demonstrating sustainable forest management for the health and longevity of forest ecosystems and the preservation of the multifunctional role of forests; highlights the potential of agroforestryand of proper adaptation strategy for the health of forest ecosystems managed for wood production, reiterates that such management shall be based on concrete benchmarks and indicators feeding into a monitoring system connecting local forest information to a harmonised European network information system; further underlines the importance of the concept of proforestation for longevity of forests ecosystems; highlights the potential of agroforestry to contribute to the 3 billion trees target, to improve and boost ecosystem services and farmland biodiversity, while enhancing farm productivity;
Amendment 244 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Agrees with the Forest Europe1a that the Pan-European indicators for sustainable forest management cannot evaluate quantified rate of forest biodiversity loss and proposed that new or adapted indicators be developed; _________________ 1aForest Europe, 2015: Goals for European Forests, available at:https://foresteurope.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/11/MID_TERM_Ev aluatG2020T_2015.pdf
Amendment 248 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Amendment 251 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Stresses that utilisation of forest resources in number of areas reaches unsustainable levels and hampers both climate and biodiversity goals as well the provision services of forests managed for wood production; underlines that increased levels of harvest lead to increase in harvested area1a, threatening ecosystems which have had primarily other function, e.g. drinking water sources protection, flood or avalanche prevention, nature protection, research, reindeer-herding or recreation; _________________ 1a Ceccherini, G., Duveiller, G., Grassi, G. et al. Abrupt increase in harvested forest area over Europe after 2015. Nature 583, 72–77 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2438-y
Amendment 255 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Highlights that in number of valuable agroforestry systems in the EU, also due to conditionality on number of trees or canopy cover, the regeneration has been hampered; proposes that 3 billion trees target comprise also a conscious choice of allowing self- rejuvenation and regeneration of agroforestry systems like dehesas, montados or Fennoscandian wooded pastures, adjusting the livestock density and creating dedicated regeneration plots free of livestock which the CAP will not penalize and on the contrary will incentivize saving and regenerating these systems, and not only planting of trees in parcels with absence of trees;
Amendment 258 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Stresses that choice of sustaining and further boosting the bioenergy industry could lead to a management choice of shortening of rotation period or choice of fast-growing species which will lower the quality of wood and value of products and threaten the wood-working industries; notes that win-win solution of limiting the use of whole trees for energy purposes proposed in the Biodiversity Strategy is important also for wood- working industries;
Amendment 261 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Considers that support to afforestation initiatives should be focusing on holistic approaches taking into account also local economic and social conditions and local communities and favouring resilient mixed and healthy forests;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines that a high fraction (54%) of mapped primary forests is not under strict protection currently and that timber harvesting or salvage logging may jeopardise the untouched nature of these forests; recalls that wide patches of primary forest are being currently logged in many mountain areas, for instance in Romania and Slovakia or in several Balkan countries1a; considers ensuring strict protection of the remaining primary and old-growth forests most urgent and calls on the Commission and Member States to harmonise existing data and fill in the gaps regarding the location of these forests, and to create a database of all potential sites fulfilling the quality of old- growth and primary forests retroactively in the year 2020 with a temporary moratorium on logging of all the respective sites to prevent their purposeful destruction and to legally ensure the non- intervention status of the confirmed ones without delay; _________________ 1aSabatini FM, Burrascano S, Keeton WS, et al. Where are Europe’s last primary forests? Divers Distrib. 2018;24:1426–1439. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12778
Amendment 282 #
9. Stresses the importance of plant protection productsintegrated pest management and tools for the stability of agricultural production and the sustainability of farmers’ incomes; considers that, although progress has been made, a substantial reduction in the use and risks of chemical pesticides is needed; stresses the key role of integrated pest management in reducing pesticide dependency, and urges the Member States to ensure it is applied and its implementation is assessed systematically; stresses that farmers need a bigger toolbox of crop protection solutions and methods, as well as bolstered training and advisory systems;
Amendment 285 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses concerns over substantial use of emergency application of knowingly harmful substances, including neonicotinoids; stresses that it is important that restrictions and bans be accompanied by support, expert advice and knowledge transfer on use of alternatives and above all on improved practice mitigating the propagation of pest material and making use of natural predators where possible, including creation of habitats for useful fauna;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Further believes that the 10 % of land should be set aside for wilderness and non-intervention management;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that for forest restoration, pro-forestation (allowing natural forests to grow older and larger, and re- naturalising plantation forests), as recognised by the European Parliament report on the EU’s role to protect and restore the world’s forests, is the quickest way to recover biodiversity, resilience, ecosystem integrity and stability, long- lived carbon stocks in forests; underlines that reforestation can play a role, but must focus on re-establishing natural forests; highlights that afforestation (planting forests in non-forest biomes), should only be contemplated if needed to improve ecological connectivity between protected areas and to improve landscape scale resilience, whilst promoting planting of mixed native species as opposed to monoculture plantations; underlines that to incentivise forest restoration, new mechanisms for payment for ecosystem services must be developed, which can help add value to nature conservation protection;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that restoration efforts should to a maximum possible extent support natural regeneration; emphasises that for forest ecosystems this means respecting early seral stages, including those produced by natural disasters, as these, together with late seral stages are characterised by the highest levels of biodiversity, which correlates with a high amount of dead wood as crucial habitat and substrate for number of specialised species;
Amendment 305 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the fact that agricultural production is being increasingly concentrated in a limited range of agricultural crops, varieties and genotypes; underlines that preserving genetic variability in all its components is crucial to promoting the diversity and richness of agricultural ecosystems and to the preservation of local genetic resources, in particular as a repository of solutions to help in facing the environmental challenges that lie ahead.; welcomes that the Commission is considering1a the revision of marketing rules for traditional crop varieties in order to contribute to their conservation and sustainable use, and its intention to take measures to facilitate the registration of seed varieties, including for organic farming, and to ensure easier market access for traditional and locally adapted varieties. _________________ 1a Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Stresses the important role of the EU in the Danube Convention; highlights the value of the Carpathian region in terms of biodiversity and notes that the EU accession to the Carpathian Convention would be of relevance to support the policy development and planning of the region which holds irreplaceable natural values in continental Europe;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 344 #
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 to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters; stresses that after restoration, no ecosystem degradation should be allowed;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the restoration target of 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers through the removal of barriers and the restoration of floodplains; underlines that the work and planning should be coordinated at the river basin level for a multiplier and highest possible effect and to prevent dead ends; notes that while on the longest European river the Danube there is openness to refurbish both a stage around Iron Gate and barriers in Austria, Slovakia has so far not made any indication to eliminate the barrier caused by Gabčíkovo power plant; stresses that in case of non-action, the effect of restoration will be limited and any action on Austrian side would, e.g. regarding sturgeons, be rendered meaningless;
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes that the new legislative instrument for nature restoration should be additional and complementary to the existing EU legislation focused on the restoration and should cover at least the restoration of ecosystems including forests, peatlands, floodplains, free- flowing rivers, wetlands, biodiversity-rich grasslands, coastal areas and marine ecosystems such as seagrass meadows or biogenic reefs;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the commitments to ensure no deterioration in conservation trends and status of all protected habitats and species by 2030 and to ensure that on Member States level at least 30 % of species and habitats not currently in favourable status are in that category or show a strong positive trend; calls on the Member States to adopt national Restoration Plans offering supporting measures and activities to deliver environmental recovery on both national and EU level; considers it essential to foresee clear measurable time-bound targets, to publish the plans and their assessments in due time and to ensure their reinforcement with other sectoral policies, their planning and financial instruments;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Believes that the 30% conservation improvement target should be set on national level for all species and habitats reported under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive; calls on the Commission to set a clear baseline, to ensure harmonized and regular reporting, and work away shortcomings in the current methodology for trend estimates;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Strongly regrets the alarming decline of pollinators, which are a key indicator of the health of the environment and provide crucial ecosystem services; calls on the Commission and Member States to address all requests expressed in its resolution of 18 December 2019 on the EU Pollinators Initiative without further delays; calls for an urgent revision of the Initiative and development of a new EU strategy for pollinator protection with sufficient resources devoted to this end; believes that the new cross-sectoral strategy must entail a new EU-wide Pollinator Monitoring Framework with robust schemes deployed on Member States level, interim milestones, clear time-bound objectives, indicators and targets, including new legal pollinator restoration target and impact indicator1a, and necessary capacity building; _________________ 1aAs per the commitment made in the EU Pollinators Initiative: Action 5C https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/c onservation/species/pollinators/documents /EU_pollinators_initiative.pdf
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that economic activities directly affecting and exploiting ecosystems and their biodiversity shall incorporate all the possible safeguards to mitigate the negative impact on these ecosystems; notes that the fact that both the value of biodiversity lost and value of carbon released from the ecosystems leads to choices and positive accounts even in cases where significant natural values are being lost; underlines that in particular exploitation of forest ecosystems whether for products or bioenergy use should be based on measurable indicators and robust sustainability criteria; highlights that currently that is not the case and practically any management and use is simply declared and treated as sustainable without this claim having been credibly earned;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses that it is imperative that legality of production based on exploitation of ecosystems is properly enforced, that illegal practices are adequately and dissuasively sanctioned and liability, including if applicable criminal liability, established; highlights the recent case of the largest sanction ever received for forest operators for cartel behaviour1a, aiming to artificially lower the wood price from Romanian forests; notes that the real cost of values lost could be hundreds of millions of euros / year caused by the illegal activity; _________________ 1afine of 25 mil EUR as reported, e.g. https://newsbeezer.com/romaniaeng/fines- of-25-million-euros-for-the-wood- industry-schweighofer-kronospan-and- egger-eggers- reaction/?fbclid=IwAR2ifUkF5WEaBvEe FbFvuq16RWHOdsFUg1MDMHdxUCge PXrTdqTa4czOPP0
Amendment 423 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights that soil biodiversity is the basis for key ecological processes; notes with concern the increased soil degradation and the lack of specific EU legislation; calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal for the establishment of a common framework for the protection and sustainable use of soil that includes a specific decontamination targetconceptualises soil and major threats, including loss of soil’s biodiversity, sets out objectives, indicators, measurable targets and timeline in order to preserve soil functions and tackle all main soil threats, establishes a legal obligation to act and take precautions to prevent or minimise adverse effects;
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that soil biodiversity plays an important role in providing vital ecosystem services and mitigating climate change as it is also an important element of terrestrial carbon sinks, whereas for example in boreal forests 50-70% of the carbon is stored in the soils1a; stresses therefore that forest harvesting and agriculture methods that are less invasive on soils should be implemented; _________________ 1a 2019 IPBES report
Amendment 444 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that continuing decline in biodiversity has had negative consequences for the delivery of many ecosystem services over the last decades and continuing decline in regulating services can have detrimental consequences for quality of life; stresses that these declines have occurred in part because of the intensive agriculture and forestry practices1a; _________________ 1aIPBES(2018):Summary for policymakers of the regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Member States to build on the recommendations of the Commission1b which facilitate reaching compliance of national Strategic Plans with the goals of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; believes that the Plans should foresee adequate financial resources earmarked for environmental restoration of agricultural and rural landscape area; _________________ 1bStaff Working Documents: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/staf f-working-document-com-2020-846- recommendations-member-states-regards- their-strategic-plan-cap_en
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Highlights that both intensive animal agriculture and intensive aquaculture impact disproportionately on land-use requirements and respective biodiversity including through the external feed inputs; calls on the Commission and Member States to bring about the change including through the EAGF, EAFRD and EMFF;
Amendment 509 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Expresses its support for 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 be incorporated into EU legislation; considers it imperative that farmers receive support and training in the transition towards agroecological practice and implemented by the CAP Strategic Plans which should set the binding midterm and 2027 farm targets in this respect; considers it imperative that farmers receive support and training in the transition towards agroecological practices, where relevant also in synergy with improved animal welfare, and that early movers and farmers managing high-nature value areas receive support for the delivery of public goods;
Amendment 538 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers that EU agriculture needs to be streamlined towards a true ecological and climate transition in line with the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 for which the new CAP strategic plans are a unique and the only opportunity; urges the Commission and the Member States to mobilise both resources and actors towards these priorities in an effective and consistent way;
Amendment 565 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that all fishing activities must be subject to maximum sustainable yield levels, with zero tolerance of illegal fishing practices and the elimination of by- catches of sensitive species as well as capture of fish to feed carnivorous farmed fish;
Amendment 568 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that any increase in aquaculture production should be based on extensive low trophic production such as algae, bivalves and pond-fish systems which provide ecosystem services, have lower carbon emissions and can reduce pressure on terrestrial and marine resources and biodiversity, and away from intensively reared farmed fish which are dependent on inefficient use of marine and terrestrial resources and produce higher carbon emissions;
Amendment 640 #
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 Strategy; calls for the inclusion in the Nature Restoration Pla with the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems as its core objective and should increase the EU’s natural sinks while protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversity; calls for the inclusion of specific binding targets for the protecrestoration and restorasubsequent protection of forest ecosystems in the legislative instrument for the new legally binding restoration targets, which should also be incorporated into the Forest Strategy;
Amendment 659 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the indicator of the share of sustainable forest management in the EU countries should be based on robust data and cannot be based on industry self-certifying its practices; calls for new and adapted indicators to be developed by an expert committee established for this purpose which will provide the basis for a definition of sustainable forest management and close- to-nature forestry, and be used for the purposes of policy and MFF programmes implementation and Recovery funding;
Amendment 663 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Reiterates that Forest Europe confirms1a that the Pan-European indicators for sustainable forest management cannot evaluate the quantified rate of forest biodiversity loss and proposes that new or adapted indicators be developed; _________________ 1aForest Europe, 2015: Goals for European Forests, available at:https://foresteurope.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/11/MID_TERM_Ev aluatG2020T_2015.pdf
Amendment 664 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Highlights that an increase in harvest and consequently an increase in harvested area hampers both climate and biodiversity goals as well as the European indigenous peoples1a; considers that only circular and cascading use of forest and other biomass resources that does not compromise on scientifically underpinned protection and restoration action and climate action should take place in the EU; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better- regulation/have-your- say/initiatives/12674-Forests-new-EU- strategy/F1300504
Amendment 665 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Reiterates its call1a to recognise the EU’s competences, responsibility and funds available in the area of forest protection and that the success of our external action and of our partners’ response to protect their forests depends on how effective and ambitious we are in relation to our natural heritage; Calls, therefore on the European Commission to assume and fully exercise its competence in the areas of forest protection and prudent and rational utilisation of forest resources and jointly on the Commission and Member States to ensure the highest standards of environmental protection and consistency between the task of protecting and restoring forests both within the EU and in its external action; _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament's resolution of 16 September 2020 on the EU’s role in protecting and restoring the world’s forests (2019/2156(INI
Amendment 675 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that the Union’s tree planting initiatives should be based on clear ecological principles, proforestation, sustainable reforestation and the, greening of urban areas and agroforestry; calls on the Commission to ensure that these initiatives are carried out only in a manner compatible with and conducive to the biodiversity objectives;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to urgently present a proposal for an EU legal framework based on mandatory due diligence that ensures sustainable, free of ecosystem degradation and deforestation- free value chains;
Amendment 724 #
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 of natural carbon sinks in the EU including by the revision of the policy framework which represents undue pressure on these;
Amendment 745 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to prepare a long-term EU action plan on climate and biodiversity that improves coherence and interconnections for future actions, and integrates commitments under the post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement, including transforming animal farming to ensure animal densities stay within the carrying capacity of the land;
Amendment 753 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines that the new EU Climate adaptation strategy must be fully aligned with the Biodiversity Strategy and the preparedness for natural disasters through the Civil Protection Mechanism; calls for the inclusion in the legislative instrument for the new legally binding restoration targets of specific binding targets for the protection and restoration of ecosystems with the highest potential to capture and store carbon and to restore biodiversity and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters; calls for the important role of nature-based solutions in fostering biodiversity, and actions to reduce vulnerability of the population, economic activities, animal welfare and wildlife from natural disasters to be integrated into the Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 807 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Regrets that the assessment of the impacts of chemicals on the environment and biodiversity tends to be underestimated and undervalued in the socio-economic analysis during the authorisation process under REACH; is concerned by the continuous use and authorisation of hazardous chemicals with negative impacts on the environment or in cases of missing safety data on environmental endpoints; calls on the Commission, in its role as risk manager, to take greater consideration of the impacts of chemicals, including their chronic and long-term effects, on the environment and biodiversity;
Amendment 840 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Reiterates its opposition to a Review of the Guidance Document for the risk assessment for bees which lowers the ambition of the Guidance document from 2013 based on which the three neonicotinoid pesticides were banned in the EU; calls on the Member States to approve a risk-assessment methodology ensuring the highest-possible level of protection of pollinators, including a wide range of wild pollinators;
Amendment 845 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure that the protection of Apis mellifera, Bombus spp. and solitary bees, within the review process of the Bee Guidance Document does not fall below the level of protection intended by the 2013 EFSA Bee Guidance and that it addresses both toxic and chronic toxicity as well as larvae toxicity and other species; calls for increased transparency of the review process;
Amendment 873 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Regrets that the list of Union concern represents less than 6 % of IAS present in Europe; calls on the Commission to ensure proper coverage of IAS affecting threatened species on the EU list and to reinforce prevention by introducing mandatory risk assessments prior to the first import of non-native species and by adopting white listsor positive lists as soon as possible and by 2030 at the latest;
Amendment 880 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Highlights that investments in restoration activities and in avoiding land degradation by far exceed the costs; believes that the EU Taxonomy can be a useful tool in the future to scale up public and private investments to implement the Biodiversity Strategy and EU Nature Restoration Plan or to track biodiversity- friendly spending in EU public finance; calls therefore on the Commission to prevent any delays in its adoption;
Amendment 900 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 9
Subheading 9
Funding, mainstreaming and governance framework and overall policy coherence
Amendment 905 #
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 supporting targets of the Biodiversity Strategy ; 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; recalls that biodiversity-related Union spending should be tracked in accordance with an effective, transparent and comprehensive methodology to be set out by the Commission, in cooperation with the European Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 907 #
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 at least 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; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure an increasing annual trend of biodiversity expenditure in order to meet the commitments of the co-legislators within the MFF and the Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 924 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Highlights the need to develop, promote and put in place well-designed compensation schemes for forest-land owners in particular in biodiversity-rich forest ecosystems for an application of a non-intervention regime;
Amendment 948 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to provide an assessment of all subsidies harmful to the environment with a view to their phasing out by 203025 at the latest; reiterates its calls for the reorientation of taxation systems towards an increased use of environmental taxation;
Amendment 950 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights that the CAP Strategic Plans should mainstream biodiversity- friendly land use and put emphasis on agroecological approaches, including agroforestry; notes that the CAP area- based measures cannot alone, without phasing out harmful subsidies, halt biodiversity loss since also due to the established framework negative population trends have been observed also in areas which have received agri- environment-climate payments, even if the trend was less negative1a; _________________ 1ain Slovakia farmland bird index declined by 17%, while in areas where agri-environment-climate measure of the rural development programme was implemented the decrease observed was 4%.
Amendment 979 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls for coherence across policy areas; notes that while the Biodiversity Strategy rightly recognises the need to minimise the use of whole trees and food and feed crops for energy production, the draft delegated act for the Taxonomy Regulation considers such use of primary material as an activity that has a substantial positive impact on the climate and the environment in line with the flawed sustainability criteria of the RED II; considers such incoherence with the biodiversity and climate goals worrisome and urgently calls for a revision of Renewable Energy Directive and Annexes and for changes in the draft delegated act to the Taxonomy Regulation and its Annexes;
Amendment 983 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Notes that the Biodiversity Strategy does not call for citizens’ action and does not consider the creation of a Biodiversity pact analogous to the Climate pact; highlights however that synergies with biodiversity actions and targets can and should be highlighted in the activities of climate ambassadors, as well as at the events and in the promotion action under the Climate pact;
Amendment 999 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that wildlife rescue centres and sanctuaries receive adequate financial support; highlights that these facilities play a critical role within the EU in supporting Member States’ obligations to fight against wildlife trafficking and in ensuring the welfare of confiscated wild animals;
Amendment 1003 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Reiterates its concern that the staffing of the Directorate General for Environment has undergone significant reductions in the last years and its HR level represents only 1,3 % of all Commission staff; believes that a sufficient level of qualified staff is a precondition for the successful implementation and enforcement of Union policies, including the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and its targets;
Amendment 1023 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Stresses that biodiversity mainstreaming needs to be accompanied with data collection; notes with concern that basic research, including taxonomy, which is crucial for this purpose, is heavily under-resourced and lacks support in policy, research funding and is neglected also in the Biodiversity Strategy; calls for adequate funding to be allocated from Horizon Europe for basic research projects and capacity building, for also using the technical assistance axis of other EU funds for this purpose and developing support schemes under Common Agricultural Policy with embedded data collection;
Amendment 1031 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to support capacity building and cooperation among authorities, citizens, scientists, professionals and other stakeholders in general; believes that investing in strengthening and expanding the pool of taxonomic expertise in the Member States is of particular importance;
Amendment 1042 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Highlights that EU projects’ outcomes can represent valuable asset for the mainstream policy and planning action; underlines the potential of EU co- funded research and LIFE projects for monitoring of species and ecosystems, including for the strict protection and restoration targets;
Amendment 1047 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the monitoring framework within the CAP including by wider use of the incentivising result-based schemes with monitoring embedded within and calls for consideration of implementation of these schemes also as forest- environment measures;
Amendment 1102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Recognises the detrimental effect of commercial wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, on biodiversity, human and animal health and welfare; and calls for the introduction of measures to end the unnecessary commercial trade in endangered species and their parts; believes that a new proposal for legislation should be considered, which would be based on the precautionary principle and the ‘do no harm’ principle at its very core; underlines, furthermore, that the Commission should assess legislative means how to ensure that importation, transhipment, purchase and sale of wildlife taken, processed, transported or sold in violation of laws in the country of origin is prevented;
Amendment 1111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Notes with concern the spread of zoonotic pathogens from animals to humans and between species and acknowledges that wildlife markets and wildlife trade are seriously contributing to this; regrets the implementation gaps of EU Wildlife Trade Regulations as they do not cover all critical species and do not provide the same protection for captive- bred animals; urges the Commission to jointly address legal commercial trade and illegal trade in the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the upcoming review of the EU Wildlife Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking;
Amendment 1135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Expresses its concerns about the growing damage caused by environmental crime and involvement of organised groups therein; believes that fight against environmental crime needs to be strengthened, in Member States and across their borders; encourages the cooperation between the Commission, and DG JUST, HOME and ENV in particular, and the Member States; stresses that efforts and collaboration must be intensified, including by building adequate capacities on national and regional levels; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to recognize environmental and wildlife crime as serious criminal activity and apply penalties with a strong deterrent effect;
Amendment 1159 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 12
Subheading 12
Implementation and, enforcement of natureand recast of relevant legislation
Amendment 1165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Urges Member States to fully comply with the obligations set out in existing EU nature legislation and calls on the Commission to live up to its commitment on zero tolerance to non- compliance in nature protection, swiftly pursue infringement procedures, to use its prerogative to ask for a decision ordering interim measures and compel compliance through imposition of sanctions and penalty payments in nature protection; remedy all cases of non-compliance and to allocate sufficient resources in order to overcome the current delays;
Amendment 1178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Points out that lengthy procedure and prolonged dialogues with Member state are an issue in the field of environmental infringements due to a risk of an irreversible damage on environment; highlights that in case of urgency, the Commission can shorten the period given to reply to the letter of formal notice and the reasoned opinion1a; supports these decisions and actions of the Commission; _________________ 1aIn the infringement procedure under Article 258 TFEU against Romania for systemic breaches of the EU Environmental law in relation to forestry activities, for both replies Romania was given 1 month instead of standard 2 months to reply.
Amendment 1186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Amendment 1196 #
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; and for existing platforms, expert groups and other similar entities on all matters related to biodiversity and drivers of its loss to ensure equitable and inclusive representation of different stakeholders; notes that indigenous peoples of Europe are not represented in any of the expert groups or relevant subgroups1a; calls for an immediate change of the status quo where applicable; _________________ 1afrom the response of the Sámi people to the consultation to the Roadmap of the EU Forest Strategy ''The Saami Council supports a broad consultation process, but underlines the need and the obligation under international law to also include the indigenous people, the Sámi people in this process. We are currently not represented in any of the expert groups or other relevant subgroups.'', available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/betterregulat ion/ have-yoursay/ initiatives/12674-EU- Forest-Strategy- ?fbclid=IwAR0YS1Ah55gNy6OtxINd0iec JD7l6bV9QqXGfQ1AlB1XMEChT5t0zjCf saE.
Amendment 1207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Notes that nature conservation framework subject to weak implementation could potentially create a hostile environment for activists and conservationists and lead directly or indirectly to endangering their lives; together with the Commission expresses strong concerns that freedom of expression has come under threat by associations or federations clamping down on activists, NGOs and journalists militating for forests’ protection in the EU1a; underlines that this has recently resulted in murderous acts in the EU and is thus extremely serious and requires coherent communication from all the Commission DGs and citizens' representatives in support of proper implementation of the nature legislation; _________________ 1a reply of the Commission to a letter of MEPs, Ref. Ares(2020)6589550
Amendment 1211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Highlights its increased expectations related to the quality of impact assessments and calls on the Commission to analyse both cost of action and non-action in terms of immediate and long-term impact on environment and human health;
Amendment 1214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31b. Calls on and encourages the Commission, when revising the Renewable Energy Directive, to open articles and Annexes on the matters related to sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Green Deal; considers that there is a justified concern that subsidies emanating from roundwood used for energy purposes are part of business plans of some members of bioenergy industry and this needs to be revised and such energy completely excluded from the support schemes and renewable energy targets without delay; notes that energy use of residues with carbon payback time relevant for the EU climate targets will not be impacted by this change;
Amendment 1215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 c (new)
Paragraph 31 c (new)
31c. Recalls that targets for renewable energy set by the EU have resulted in a surge in the consumption of woody biomass1a;denounces a policy that allowed to make the Member States’2a forests, including in protected areas, a factory for wood pellets; and that awards subsidies to energy sources with higher CO2 emissions per unit of energy generated than coal, and to the lowest ranking use of wood in the wood use cascade; _________________ 1aJRC, 2018: Biomass production, supply, uses and flows in the European Union 2a Latvia and Estonia being the leading EU exporters of wood pellets from wood harvested including in protected areas, report Hidden inside a Wood Pellet (2020): https://media.voog.com/0000/0037/1265/fi les/Biomass_report_ENG%20_2020.pdf, as reported also e.g. by Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ jan/14/carbon-neutrality-is-a-fairy-tale- how-the-race-for-renewables-is-burning- europes-forests?fbclid=IwAR3aSO- uiYHuJLgs-FzcSYkYCtlTLE9GrFZc2-- QYvmZz2SGcGuikZKMZfo