Permanent grasslands in agricultural areas are important for biodiversity – especially pollinators. Researchers in Belgium found irregular, curved mowing patterns had positive effects on pollinators compared to conventional block cutting, and suggest promoting this approach.
Biodiversity
Description:
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth — from genes and species to ecosystems. It is essential to the health of the planet and underpins human well-being, economic prosperity, food security, and climate resilience. The EU places biodiversity at the heart of its environmental and sustainability policies, notably through the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which aims to restore nature, protect ecosystems, and reverse biodiversity loss.
Key Objectives of EU Biodiversity Policy:
– Protect at least 30% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030
– Restore degraded ecosystems across the EU
– Support sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
– Strengthen governance and enforcement of environmental laws
– Promote biodiversity in urban areas
Sub Items:
– Nature restoration – Large-scale actions to rewild, reforest, and recover natural ecosystems
– Protected area
– Natura 2000 and other networks for conservation
– Conservation of fish stocks
– Sustainable marine biodiversity management / Marine pollution
– Tackling plastics and chemicals harming ocean biodiversity
– Forest biodiversity
– Preventing deforestation and degradation
– Biodiversity monitoring
– Tracking species and habitats with scientific tools
– Pollinators and ecosystem services
– Ensuring the survival of bees and other key species
– EU Ecolabel
– Recognizing products and services with lower environmental impact
– Endocrine disruptors and chemicals legislation
– Reducing pollutants that threaten biodiversity
– International ocean governance
– Protecting biodiversity beyond national borders
Related EU Institutions & Tools:
*European Environment Agency (EEA)
*Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV)
*LIFE Programme – EU’s funding tool for nature and biodiversity projects
*Green Deal – Biodiversity as a pillar of the EU’s sustainable growth strategy
Why It Matters ?
Biodiversity is not just about nature—it supports jobs in tourism, agriculture, fishing, and pharmaceuticals. A rich biodiversity also acts as a natural barrier against climate change, pandemics, and food crises.
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It is presenting a proposal on how to integrate the landmark international Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement into EU law.
The meeting with environmental, business, and financial stakeholders in Brussels will discuss the role of nature credits as tools to finance nature restoration.
Protected wetland areas provide cultural ecosystem services which can be overlooked in management decisions. This study considers how combining both ecological and visitor-orientated goals can enhance management planning in a wetland reserve in Italy.
Biharugrai Halgazdaság, located in Hungary’s Southern Great Plains, has revitalised its historic fishpond system with European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) investments. As Hungary’s second-largest fishpond system operator, the company combines ecological sustainability with economic growth.
Talks in Brussels with the UN Environment Programme centred on advancing a competitive circular economy and enhancing water resilience.
