Initiative for biodiversity and environment in EU ORs and OCTs

Initiative for biodiversity and environment in EU ORs and OCTs


IUCN – The world conservation unionRegional Office for EuropeNational Committees of France and the Netherlands WWF – World Wide Fund for natureEuropean Policy OfficeWWF France

BirdLife InternationalLPO (BirdLife France)

UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum(representing also UK Committee for IUCN)

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)

Who are we ?

Who are we ?


Mike Pienkowski

UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum

Jean-Philippe Palasi

IUCN – The world conservation union

• Invited by the European Commission (DG Dev)

• Relations with OCTA and the environment committee (Greenland and French Polynesia)

• The fundamental reason, our common interest for the environment

The environment is crucial to economies, quality of life and security in OCTs.


Why are we here ?

Why is environment so crucial for OCTs ?

• Unique natural richness on limited space

• More species and habitats than Europe

• Major ecosystems, high level of endemism

• Crucial for health, food, well being, security, economy, poverty alleviation, tourism.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia



• Importance of major ecosystems : coral reefs

• About 10% of the world reefs in OCTs

• Great cultural importance

• Key to fishing activities

• Local productions (pearl...)

• Tourism

• Lagoon and shoreline protection

New Caledonia



• Importance of major ecosystems : mangroves

• Important nurseries for fish

• Filter coastal pollution

• Goods and services generated (valued an average 900 000 $ per square km)

• Shoreline protection (waves power - 75%)



• Importance of the natural land vegetation and soil

• High endemism, potential for research (medecines, cosmetics)

• Main reservoirs for water (St-Helena, Montserrat, New Caledonia...)

• Prevention of erosion

Mayotte



• Importance of fisheries

French Polynesia

Tristan da Cunha


Greenland


• The value of services provided by nature generally exceeds global GDP

• The situation is even more extreme for islands

• OCTs have exceptionally rich and diverse ecosystems

• Many OCTs habitats and species occur nowhere else in the world

• OCTs nature is of major importance to the world

• OCTs ecosystems are also key to culture, economy and security

• OCT ecosystems and species are the basis of many vital activities such as fishries and the tourism industry


19 endemic reptiles species

Cayman islands

22 endemic bird species

UK Overseas Territories

Ascension frigate

Major ecosystems - Amazing biodiversity

Rapa island


Unique concentration of species on an island smaller than central Paris


Mayotte

17 sea mammals species

New Caledonia



ENDEMIC SPECIES

133 plants7-9 fresh water fishes

0 reptiles1 bird

0 mammal

2551 plants21 fresh water fishes

61 reptiles23 birds

6 mammals

3500 plants350 fresh water fishes

42 reptiles9 birds

7 mammals

at the same scale

New Caledonia :New Caledonia :

British Antarctic Territory (BAT)

British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)

Falklands

ArubaDutch Antilles

Bermuda

Sth. Georgia and Sth Sandwich Islands (SGSSI)

Greenland

St Pierre & Miquelon

Mayotte

French Southern & Antarctic Lands (TAAF)

New Caledonia

Wallis & Futuna

French Polynesia

Overseas Countries and Territories


Pitcairn

St Helena

Tristan da CunhaAscension

AnguillaBritish Virgin Is.Turks & CaïcosCayman Is.Montserrat

Overseas Countries and Territories


What are the threats ?

• Habitat destruction, loss of natural ecosystems


Habitat destruction, loss of natural ecosystems

Evolution of natural ecosystems since human beings arrived

New Caledonia

Habitat destruction, loss of natural ecosystems

Distribution of natural ecosystems

Réunion



• Over-exploitation

• Invasive species




• Over-exploitation

• Invasive species

• Pollution

• Climate change

Climate change brings risks of unprecedented scale for all OCTs

- in itself (sea level rise, storms, culture and quality of life, etc)

- by combining with other threats (invasive species, loss of ecosystems...)


Bleaching coral reefs

Antilles


Hurricane IvanCayman Islands


What can we do ?

Many efforts are already being made

• Building sustainable development strategies e.g. Ecotourism : Turks & Caicos (communities and local NGO), Montserrat


What can we do ?


• Achieving sustainable exploitation of resources e.g. Fisheries in South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, and around the TAAF


What can we do ?


• Reducing the impacts of invasive species e.g. French Polynesia, TAAF, South Atlantic Islands


What can we do ?


• Reducing pollution e.g. Bora Bora, French Polynesia


What can we do ?


• Cooperating regionally on major ecosystems e.g. Coral Reef Initiative South Pacific (CRISP)


What can we do ?


• Promotion of renewable energy e.g. Wind power Ascension island


What can we do ?

OCTs, member states and the EU must build on these efforts and extend them

• Use and value EU commitments

- 2010 target to halt the loss of biodiversity

- OCTs association decision

- EC biodiversity communication


What can we do ?



• Use and value member states international commitments (CBD)


What can we do ?




• Improve the protection of ecosystems

- by taking ecosystems into account in every project

- by reinforcing specific protection and management tools, with coherent framework and adequate funding


What can we do ?







• Raise the regional position of OCTs


A major potential for regional cooperation

OCTs


OCTs Outermost Regions (ORs)


OCTs Outermost Regions (ORs) ACP

What can we do ?







• Increase opportunities for regional cooperation

• Raise your international position


What can we do ?



- raise awareness at EU and international levels about your unique ecological heritage but also the scale of risks to anticipate


Biodiversity in European Development CooperationParis, 19 - 21 sept.

What can we do ?



- raise awareness at EU and international levels about your unique ecological heritage but also the scale of risks to anticipate

- set up exemplary policies, with the adequate means, on ecosystems managements and green technologies

- push the EU towards an acceleration of its action on the international scene on crucial issues for OCTs (oceans, climate change)

- make sure the voice of OCTs is heard



Documents

Initiative for biodiversity and environment in EU ORs and OCTs