Coinciding with “Green Week 2006 – Biodiversity is life” (Brussels, 30 May – 2 June) held by the General Directorate for the Environment of the European Commission ( a target=’_blanck’ href=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/home.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/home.html ), the Executive has adopted a Communication that defines a new EU political strategy to combat the threats to which biodiversity is now exposed. The document – extending in scope to 2010 – provides for an Action Plan whose measures will be implemented under the responsibility both of the Union and of the member states. The Plan is subdivided into four main chapters: biodiversity in the EU; the EU and biodiversity in the world; biodiversity and climate change; and knowledge base”. To these are added 10 principal objectives: “most significant habitats and species; measures relating to rural regions in the broad sense; marine environment; improvement of compatibility of regional development with nature; reduction of the impact of invasive alien species; effective international governance; measures in favour of biodiversity in international development; reduction of negative repercussions of international trade; adaptation to climate change; and reinforcement of the knowledge base”. According to the new approach to biodiversity adopted at the EU level and shared by the UN, the issue is connected with the “circulation of goods and services linked to the ecosystem (foodstuffs, fuels, fibres, air quality, water quality, soil fertility, nutrients cycle, and tourism)”. The Strategy therefore plans the close interaction with the trade policies and development policies of the poor countries, “essential custodians of world biodiversity”. a target=’_blanck’ href=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/current_biodiversity_policy/biodiversity_com_2006/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/current_biodiversity_policy/biodiversity_com_2006/index_en.htm
