23 Amendments of João FERREIRA related to 2015/2137(INI)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the diversity of plant species and varieties traditionally cultivated by small and medium-sized farms and family farms is of huge importance in terms of both responding to the various needs and uses in rural communities, and reducing crop vulnerability to adverse weather, pests and diseases;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas a worsening has been recorded in key factors for biodiversity loss, such as the alteration of habitats, excessive exploitation of natural resources, the introduction and propagation of invasive exotic species and climate changes, and this is cancelling out the positive effects of the steps taken to halt the loss of biodiversity;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. having regard to the importance of monitoring the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy and assessing its practical results, achievements and shortcomings, adjusting it where necessary while involving policy-makers and voluntary organisations in this process;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the general trend with regard to biodiversity continues to be cause for serious concern, and that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without substantial additional efforts; points out that biodiversity is important for its own sake but also because of its link to society and because it provides a wide range of ecosystem-related services on which we depend, such as food, freshwater, pollination, and protection against natural and man-made disasters; urges the Commission to adopt a Community approach to the prevention of natural and man-made disasters; observes, at the same time, that targeted efforts genuinely produce results and that there is therefore great potential for improvement;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Deplores the fact that nature and economic development are again in opposition; is convinced of the need to embed nature more in society, the economy and enterprise; deplores the fact that, in Europe, around a quarter of wild species are at risk of extinction and many ecosystems are degraded, giving rise to severe social and economic damage for the EU;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights the importance of halting and reversing rural flight and encouraging people to stay in rural areas, bearing in mind that several species and habitats that are of high conservation value and are protected by EU legislation depend on agri-environmental systems in which human presence is a key factor; to that end, advocates increased support for small and medium-sized farms and for family farms that use extensive farming practices which promote good conservation of natural resources;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it vital to recognise that investing in biodiversity is essential from a socioeconomic point of view; welcomesnotes and is closely following methods to measure the economic value of biodiversity, such as The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB); considers that these instruments, despite possible shortcomings, can raise awareness, improve the use of available resources and result in better decision- making;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the importance of halting and reversing the reduction in species diversity and crop varieties, leading to an erosion of the genetic basis on which animal and human nutrition depends; considers it necessary to reject any kind of attempt to patent life, plants and animals, genetic material and essential biological processes;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Advocates the need to promote the use of traditional agricultural varieties specific to certain regions and rejects the homogenisation/specialisation of agricultural production, flowing from successive CAP reforms;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Considers it essential for the precautionary principle to be applied effectively, for the GMO species already introduced to be withdrawn, and for independent and impartial studies to be carried out on GMOs and their impact on the environment and on human and animal health;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for ‘greening’ practices to be geared to agricultural diversity in the various Member States, taking into account, for example, the specific situation of Mediterranean countries, which is not addressed by the proposed thresholds in relation to the diversification of crops and land of ecological importance; oak groves, permanent crops (olive groves, vineyards, orchards) and rice growing are some examples of practices that should be compatible with ‘greening’, given the high ecological and conservation value that some of these agricultural systems may have;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Draws attention to the potential threat to biodiversity posed by the growing demand for agri-fuels and the increasingly intense pressure on developing countries to produce them, through the conversion and degradation of habitats and ecosystems such as wetlands and forests, inter alia;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy should create the conditions required for effective locally based management – the best system for guaranteeing the necessary environmental sustainability – which, proceeding on the basis of predetermined general objectives, should enjoy a broad measure of independence and freedom of action, enabling it to provide the most appropriate means of achieving those objectives, taking into account specific local, regional, and national characteristics;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Stresses that there are still large gaps in knowledge regarding the state of marine ecosystems and fishery resources; calls for an increase in EU funding for marine research and for greater EU co- financing to enable Member States to acquire biological data for the purposes of the CFP;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate more closely to combat illegal fishing, without encroaching in any way on the powers of competent authorities;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Commission to draw up an accurate list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union, on the understanding that such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and that it should allow both for the importance of emerging species with the potential to cause damage and for the fact that an invasive species in one Member State might be a native species in another; stresses the importance of regularly updating this list, and of carrying out additional risk assessments for species, so that the legislation on invasive alien species can act as a powerful lever;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Member States to monitor imports of exotic species into their territory and to report regularly on them to the Commission and other Member States; calls for greater restrictions on imports and private possession of endangered species, including primates, reptiles, and amphibians;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recognises that biodiversity is affected directly and indirectly by the liberalisation of international trade; considers it essential that the impacts in question should be properly assessed and avoided;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Maintains that the Union should assume greater responsibility for protection of the natural resources in the Natura 2000 Network, especially in terms of its financing;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Points out that Member States are finding it difficult to manage areas included in the Natura 2000 network because there is no specific financial instrument for the management of Natura 2000 sites to complement the inclusion of biodiversity in sectoral policies;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Takes the view that the Commission has to understand the importance of protected areas and recognise that these urgently require greater investment in order to make the EU’s biodiversity strategy effective; believes that the regulations implementing EU funds in the period from 2014 to 2020 should allocate a substantial proportion to the management of natural resources and biodiversity, bearing in mind that protected natural areas are a source of services and assets of fundamental importance to the economy as a whole;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Expresses its disappointment at the funding being proposed for the LIFE programme, which fails to reflect the remarkable success of the programme; considers that the challenges in terms of biodiversity and nature conservation are such that the budget of the nature conservation fund must be increased from 0.23% to 1% of the total EU budget;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Considers that a tracking system should be set up in order to record the beneficial and adverse effects that EU funds have on the climate and biodiversity;