Forest is one of the specific ecosystems portrayed in the '10 messages for biodiversity 2010' report. This baseline report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of biodiversity to be used by policymakers. This is one of the Commission’s new tools to combat biodiversity loss, unveiled during the Green Week conference in Brussels. The forest sector is in the spotlight of all these, including biodiversity a information platform and business forum.

The 5th in a series of  '10 messages for biodiversity 2010'  describes Europe’s forests that fulfil multiple functions for society and providing economic, social and environmental benefits, including serving as a key reservoir of biodiversity. Each message in the baseline report focuses on a short assessment of a specific ecosystem or issue related to biodiversity. There are facts and figures on the state and trends of the different biodiversity and ecosystem components. These are supposed to set a reference point for measuring and monitoring progress in the EU efforts of combating biodiversity lost from 2011 to 2020.

Forests as a key reservoir of biodiversity

The report recognizes that European countries are protecting and restoring their forest biodiversity mainly through protected areas and other management measures. Unsustainable forest management, fragmentation, airborne pollution and climate change are mentioned as major threats to Europe's forest biodiversity. Thus the Commission sees a challenge in ensuring consistency in actions between the International Year of Biodiversity and the International Year of Forests in 2011.

New platforms for biodiversity information

The baseline for biodiversity provides a framework to articulate linkages between species numbers, habitats status in main ecosystem types, including forests. The data will be updated each year. The current tool will be still developed. It is expected to be finalised before the end of the year, to coincide with the targets set by the forthcoming revised EU Biodiversity Policy. The baseline will also provide information on ecosystem services.

The Commission has also launched the Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE). It is a web portal concentrating and compiling information about nature and biodiversity to a single location. BISE comprises existing data as well as information about EU policy and legislation. The portal is designed to encourage greater cooperation and exchange of information about ongoing research in biodiversity as well.

Integrating biodiversity into business

Furthermore, the Commission promotes the development of the EU Business and Biodiversity Initiative through the B@B platform. The platform works with the business sectors, their associated national federations, Member State organisations and representatives of civil society. Forestry has been selected along with 6 sectors such as agriculture, food supply, tourism, as the priority sector to promote awareness of and engagement in biodiversity protection. 
CEPF will further explore the Commission’s initiatives in order to utilize these tools for promoting the abundance of biodiversity in Europe’s forests. Moreover, we will seek ways that enable to reward the role of forests owners and to recognize the benefits of sustainable forestry to society and biodiversity. We also encourage your feedback on these. 

Presented tools were developed in cooperation with the European Environment Agency.

More information available at the Green Week webiste.