MISSION OF THE INTERGROUP

We are facing many challenges regarding biodiversity, sustainable hunting and wildlife management as well as climate change and rural development.

 

Since its first establishment in 1985, the Intergroup had the capacity to gain the active support of hundreds of MEPs from all parts of the political spectrum, and to promote excellent dialogue between decision makers and stakeholders on wildlife conservation, sustainable hunting as well as the sustainable management of the countryside and cultural heritage.

Strasbourg, 13 February 2020 – The “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” Intergroup held its constitutive meeting for the 2019-2024 parliamentary term. View here the Intergroup member list.

NEXT INTERGROUP EVENT

Next Steps for Wolf Conservation and Management in Europe

20 March 2024, 17:00– 18:30 CET | Online event

The event will address the European Commission’s recent proposal to amend the protection status of wolves under the Bern Convention. Using the latest scientific insights, including the increases in wolf populations, the discussion will focus on the future of wolf conservation and management in Europe.

Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, experts and relevant stakeholders will offer perspectives on the proposal, essential for striking a balance between conservation and management priorities within the legal frameworks.

Moderator
Alberto Arroyo Schnell
European Regional Office, IUCN

Speakers
MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido, Vice-President of the Intergroup

MEP Elsi Katainen, Vice-President of the Intergroup

MEP Herbert Dorfmann,  Member of the Intergroup

MEP Thomas Waitz

Keynote speech
Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Biodiversity, DG Environment, European Commission

Panel Debate
Dr. John Linnell, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Luiz Suarez, WWF Spain
COPA COGECA (TBC)

EU Agricultural Soils
Advancing Conservation, Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health

10 October 2023, 13:30– 15:00 CET | Online event

The EU agricultural soils meeting is designed to address sustainable soil management, with a special emphasis on advancing conservation and regenerative agriculture practices. By convening policymakers, experts, farmers, and stakeholders, the meeting aims to comprehensively tackle existing soil challenges.

The spotlight will be on innovative technologies, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders. Economic viability will be emphasized through the lens of cost-effective methods and benefits for farmers. Achieving policy alignment and seamless integration with related directives will be paramount.

The ultimate objective of the meeting is to establish a cohesive, long-term vision for the stewardship of EU agricultural soils. Moreover, the meeting will explore the challenge of effectively monitoring soil health.

It will explore strategies for providing soil testing services free of charge to land users, enhancing accessibility to crucial soil health data. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of promoting sustainable practices and informed decision-making.

Event on the Co-existence of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe

05 July 2023, 09:00– 10:30 CET | Online event

Large carnivore conservation is a complex topic involving diverse stakeholders. Conflicts surrounding these animals vary across the EU, influenced by socio-economic activities and natural conditions in different regions. From livestock predation to concerns about rural areas and traditional farming, a range of challenges exist.

Are you interested in finding solutions to conflicts arising from large carnivores in Europe’s rural areas?

This event, jointly organized by the NAT and ENVE commissions of the European Committee of the Regions, along with the Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside of the European Parliament, will explore proposals and exchange best practices for fostering coexistence between livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe.

Our event aims to strike a balance between protecting EU animal species under the Habitats Directive and finding potential solutions for conflicts related to large carnivores at national, regional, and local levels. Together, we can foster improved coexistence between livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe.

Satellite Use for Green Transition Monitoring

02 May 2023, 16:00– 18:00 CET | Online event

Satellite data has become an increasingly important tool for biodiversity conservation and management. It allows scientists and policymakers to monitor and track changes in the Earth’s ecosystems, including the distribution and health of plant and animal species.

Furthermore, satellite data can be used as an important tool for land managers to monitor the health, biodiversity, and productivity of their lands, which can reduce the need for chemical inputs and help to optimize crop yields.

Modern satellites with a range of sensors provide new and valuable perspectives. However, technological advances can bring their own problems or limitations. There is still room for improvement in this area.

The debate should  help identify and understand better the opportunities and future challenges around the use of satellite data to support a concrete transition toward sustainable management of European lands.

Climate-ready EU Forests

06 December 2022, 16:00– 18:00 CET | In-person event

The conference addressed the state of play of EU forest readiness to climate change. How to adapt European forests to new challenges caused by climate change and the increased presence of natural stressors?

There is currently an exponential production of legislation and strategies that address in whole or in part the management of European forests.

How to concretely improve management practices with a holistic approach that takes into account the entire spectrum of sustainability balancing it out with rising issues due to climate change?

Delivering the Nature Restoration Law for rural stakeholders and biodiversity

27 September 2022, 16:30– 18:00 CET [Online event]

The conference discussed opportunities and challenges for the ambitious EC proposal on binding restoration targets. The proposal, unveiled on 22 June 2022, aims at putting in place time-bound obligations for ecosystem restoration together with an overarching EU target. The aim is to cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 with nature restoration measures, and eventually extend these to all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

The event was chaired by MEP Álvaro Amaro (Portugal, EPP), President of the Intergroup, with introductory remarks by MEP Maria Noichl (Germany, S&D), MEP Christine Schneider (Germany, EPP), MEP Alexandr Vondra (Czechia, ECR).

Hosted by
MEP Álvaro Amaro, President of the Intergroup

Introductory remarks
MEP Maria Noichl, AGRI Committee Member
MEP Christine Schneider, ENVI Committee Member
MEP Alexandr Vondra, ENVI Committee Member

Keynote speech
Mr. Stefan Leiner
Head of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Health Unit, European Commission

Speakers

Heidi Kruger
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland

Annegret Larsen
Soil Geography and Landscape Research
Wageningen University & EGU Biodiversity Task Force

Ariel Brunner
Deputy Director and Head of Policy, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia

Max Freiherr Von Elverfeldt
President Familienbetriebe Land und Forst

Jurgen Tack (Moderator)
ELO Scientific Director

Livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe: Discussing a way forward

28 June 2022, 16:30– 18:00 CET [Online briefing session]
FACE Video

FACE Video

Posted by FACE on Tuesday, 13 April 2021

This online briefing session was organised by the “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” Intergroup in conjunction with the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and chaired by MEP Simone Schmiedtbauer.

It aimed at bringing together a variety of stakeholders to discuss a way forward for livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe. Existing conflicts range from livestock predation to wider concerns about Europe’s rural areas and traditional farming practices.

The topic has been on the EU policy agenda for many years but has resurfaced on the European Parliament’s policy agenda in 2022. Amongst the key approaches to managing conflicts is to develop a constructive dialogue with stakeholders.

Is Africa being heard? Hunting, Conservation and Livelihoods

26 APRIL 2022 – 16:00-18:00 CET
Stanhope Hotel – Rue du Commerce 9, 1000 Brussels

Image courtesy of NACSO/WWF Namibia

The goal of the event is to bring together European and African decision-makers, with stakeholders from across the spectrum, to understand the leadership of African countries in the management and conservation of their wildlife and the role that local communities play.

The panel will consist of a broad range of stakeholders, representing different views on the subject, in particular African representatives, European Commission, NGOs and scientists.

The event will discuss key African conservation approaches including sustainable use for which hunting is an important activity. The voices of local communities will be represented, which are at the forefront of preventing poaching and enhancing community and incentive-based conservation.

The purpose of the conference is to help attendees and their agencies and organisations understand:

  • The ways in which African communities lead and must be allowed to lead;
  • How the EU and the rest of the world can assist African governments and local communities in that leadership;
  • Strategies to avoid that could interfere and harm African countries’ efforts;
  • The lessons that we can learn from Africa.

Advanced confirmation of your participation is required via the webform above. For further information, do not hesitate to contact communication@face.eu

HOSTED BY
MEP Álvaro AMARO
MEP Juan Ignacio ZOIDO

KEYNOTE SPEECHES
Hon. Minister Pohamba SHIFETA
Namibia Minister of Environment, Forestry & Tourism
Mr. Jorge RODRIGUEZ ROMERO
Deputy Head of Unit, DG Envi
European Commission

PANEL DISCUSSION
Ms. Ivonne HIGUERO
CITES Secretary-General
Dr. Ali A. KAKA (Moderator)
IUCN Regional Councillor
Dr. Dilys ROE
Chair of the IUCN SULi
Dr. Rodgers LUBILO, PhD
Chairman of Community Leaders Network of Southern Africa

EU Forest Strategy for 2030
Reflecting European forests’ multifunctionality

08 February 2022 – 16:00-17:30 CET [online event]

After the parliament has passed a resolution on the forest strategy recommending to ensure that forests can continue to play a multifunctional role.

The Intergroup started to reflect on the main issues and objectives of the strategy already in October 2020. Already at that time, several key elements were mentioned as the need to foster the socio-economic dimension of forestry, the active role of forest managers to maintain forest ecosystems and the need to reward their stewardship.

Now the strategy has been unveiled, it is time to follow up. The Agriculture Ministers adopted recently their conclusions and stressed there must be a “balanced vision on the different dimensions of sustainability,” they emphasized the need to strengthen the socio-economic goals & clearly define the “newly introduced concepts & terms”.

The Webinar intends to continue this discussion and find out how to support further the multifunctional role of European forests.

We will try to identify the current assets and flaws of the strategy. How to build a balanced policy that takes into account all the realities around forest management?

European Biodiversity Conference

Soil Strategy: Where to go? A chance to make it work at a local level?

07 December 2021 – 15:00-17:45 CET [in person]

The European Biodiversity Conference was organised by ELO under the auspices of the European Parliament Intergroup Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside, and took place at the NH Brussels EU Berlaymont in an hybrid mode.

The EU context of the Green Deal combined with CAP, Farm to Fork and 2030 Biodiversity Strategy is putting the soil strategy under the spotlight. The EU aim is to address soil- and land-related issues in a comprehensive way and to help achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, one of the commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference was the opportunity to launch AgriLife : the first-ever pan-European Label process and alliance to reward and encourage farmers at the center of biodiversity while promoting quality production through best practices. It draws a common methodology based on scientific criteria to assess the agro-biodiversity conditions of European territories and farms. It converges actions of the Biodiversity EU strategy, the revised Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the recommendations of the “Green Pact for Europe” to provide the means and legal framework to support nature, land and biodiversity restoration. Therefore, AgriLife anticipates movement towards regenerative agriculture, promotes innovation & aims at ensuring the economic and social viability of agribusinesses.

Combatting the greatest threat to wolves in Europe: Illegal killing

07 September 2021 – 16:30-18:00 CET [online]

The conservation and recovery of large carnivores, especially the wolf, in Europe will mainly depend on their acceptance and tolerance by people that share their everyday space with them.

Local communities must be supportive of conservation and management and plans.

The event of the “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” Intergroup on “Combatting the greatest threat to wolves in Europe: Illegal killing” discussed the importance of social acceptance in the conservation and management of Europe’s wolves and how to improve coexistence with local and rural communities.

EU decision-makers and scientists were asked to consider how we can promote better co-existence with wolves, in particular, to prevent illegal killing.

This online event was organised by the Intergroup in conjuction with the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE).

Dynamic of Agriculture for a Lively Countryside

22 June 2021 – 16:00-18:00 [online]

New emerging trends, cultural evaluation, and the effect of climate change are shaping the future of rural areas and farmers’ communities, everywhere in Europe.

The New Green Deal, the CAP, Farm to Fork strategy might offer an opportunity for enlarging the potential for the agri-food sector to engage in diverse activities in the rural sector. Regenerative farming is a path for a more sustainable future with various business opportunities.

The Intergroup would like to explore ways and remedies for the agriculture and farming profession to thrive and face the future challenges to improve EU sustainability.

The long-term vision for rural areas will need to take into consideration the future diversity of farming and how to nurture it in rural areas. The Last JRC study farmers of the future explains that “this future diversity has the potential to contribute to the resilience of farming in the EU and thus to food security, but it also raises several questions and will have implications for future policies”.

The challenges that lie ahead are diverse and complex, and perhaps require an equally diverse and complex plan of action.

EU Nature Restoration Targets: State of play and next steps

13 April 2021 – 15:00-17:00 [online]

The European Commission’s EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy proposes ambitious restoration targets, which also refers to legally binding targets for restoring nature. The measure constitutes a central element for the success or failure of the 2030 strategy.

As the non-legally binding target of restoring 15% of degraded ecosystems set up in the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy was not achieved, the European Commission (EC) estimates that a legally binding target could make a difference to improve the situation.

This event discussed the EC’s proposed approach and, in particular, the choice of opting for a binding target and evaluate the missing elements to improve the health and resilience of European rich ecosystems.

Hunting under the Birds Directive: An open debate on the state of play

25 February 2021 – 16:00-18:00 [online]
How to Share With Just Friends

How to share with just friends.

Posted by Facebook on Friday, December 5, 2014

The event comes at a time when the latest status of Europe’s huntable birds is published by FACE drawing on the State of Nature report, and the European Commission steps up its focus on adaptive harvest management for the Turtle Dove.

This event also comes at an important political moment as the European Commission is defining its targets for the EU Biodiversity Strategy implementation and stepping up implementation and enforcement of EU environmental legislation.

The 2020 European Biodiversity Conference

Tuesday 8, December 2020 – 14 :00  – 16:00 [online]

European Biodiversity Conference – Farming for biodiversity.
Scaling up good management practices: What’s missing?

The EU Green Deal leads us to rethink policies in a wide spectrum of sectors, notably food and agriculture. The 2020 State of Nature in the EU report and the latest Court of auditors’ study Biodiversity on Farmland proves that EU policy instruments to stop biodiversity losses in agricultural areas are not sufficient and/or not effective enough and implemented appropriately.

The diagnosis is not questionable; however, the remedies are.

Coexisting with Large Carnivores:
Next steps in conservation and management

18 November 2020 – 16:00-18:00 [online]

The conference “Coexisting with Large Carnivores: Next steps in conservation and management”, organised by the “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” Intergroup, discussed the next steps in EU’s policy framework on large carnivores and the related challenges and solutions towards improving coexistence. With reference to the recently published State of Nature 2020 report, it is essential to find workable solutions to mitigate the conflicts between human interests and large carnivores in line with EU law.

Many stakeholders are awaiting the Commission’s revised guidance on ‘strict protection’ to better understand how conservation and management priorities can be correctly applied towards achieving long-term coexistence with large carnivores in Europe’s densely populated and multifunctional landscapes.

What to expect from the next EU Forest Strategy ?

27 October 2020, 16:30 – 18:30 [online]

The next EU Forest Strategy will be at the core of the EU Green Deal implementation. It is scheduled for 2021 but already forestry management is being discussed as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

In terms of biodiversity preservation, old-growth forests have been put forward in particular. The European Commission is aiming at implementing a closer to nature type of management to contribute to biodiversity protection.

The European Parliament just adopted The European Forest Strategy – The Way Forward own-initiative report with a large majority asking it to ensure that forests can continue to play a multifunctional role.

Forests are suffering: they are hot, they are thirsty, they are sick. Faced with the magnitude of this crisis, foresters are helpless. How can the EU answer the challenges ahead? 

“Farm to Fork” Strategy: Ensuring a healthy balance
between Europe’s food systems and biodiversity conservation

29 September 2020 – 16:30-18:00 [online]

The conference discussed opportunities and challenges for the “Farm to Fork” Strategy, one of the main pillars of the EU Green Deal recently unveiled by the European Commission.

On 20 May 2020, the Commission accompanied its Communication on the “Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system” with an Action Plan of 27 legislatives and non-legislative measures, to be taken forward in a timespan from 2020 to 2024.

Although it will be for the concrete initiatives to detail the content of the measures, the strategy already sets a number of steps to be taken and certain targets to be achieved. The strategy states that a shift to a sustainable food system can bring environmental, health and social benefits, offer economic gains and ensure biodiversity targets are met. As underlined in the strategy, the transition into a sustainable food system needs to be supported by a consistent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that must be aligned with the objectives of the Green Deal.

During the conference, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), European Commission officials and relevant stakeholders provided their views on the ambitious path to a sustainable food chain which will require necessary nature conservation actions.

Land managers and hunters, in particular, will shared their expectations on how to effectively implement the “Farm to Fork” Strategy which is aimed at establishing a new and better balance of nature, food systems and biodiversity, and at the same time to increase the EU’s competitiveness and resilience. Halting the biodiversity loss and conserving nature and wildlife will be crucial as well as the role played by rural actors in making this great transition happen.

EU Biodiversity Strategy reloaded: Making sure it works

30 June 2020 – 16:30-18:00 [online]

The conference discussed opportunities and challenges for the ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030. The strategy, which was recently unveiled by the European Commission, sets a framework for Europe to meet global commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), European Commission officials and relevant stakeholders provided their views on the EU’s 10-year plan to tackle the biodiversity crisis over the next decade.

The European Parliament, Council and Member States are expected to put in place consistent EU policies supporting the Commission in this ambitious and urgent programme.

The new EU biodiversity strategy sets ambitious objectives such as:

  • increasing the area of land protected in the EU to 30% (from 26% currently)
  • strictly protecting one third of all protected areas (10%)
  • a new EU Nature Restoration Plan
  • 30% of species and habitat with Favourable Conservation Status by 2030
  • improving implementation and enforcement of existing EU environmental legislation.

 

To provide space for wild animals, plants, pollinators and natural pest regulators, the European Commission also considers urgent the need to bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-diversity landscape features.

PAST INTERGROUP EVENTS

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