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10 messages for 2010 – Cultural landscapes and biodiversity heritage
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Key messages: 1) Diverse climatic conditions, varied geology and morphology and centuries of pre- and post-industrial land use created Europe's diverse mosaic of cultural and natural landscapes, rich in biodiversity. 2) Europe's landscapes have become highly fragmented and homogenised, threatening their biodiversity and affecting their multifunctional role. 3) By managing its multifunctional culture-historical landscapes and related biodiversity sustainably, Europe can secure valuable ecosystems services while preserving its cultural and natural heritage. 4) Various legal instruments and initiatives address European biodiversity heritage at the landscape level. Incorporating these into regional and local planning and involving local communities is necessary to secure Europe's biodiversity heritage and maintain multifunctional landscapes.
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Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains
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Europe's mountain areas have social, economic and environmental capital of significance for the entire continent. This importance has been recognised since the late 19th century through national legislation; since the 1970s through regional structures for cooperation; and since the 1990s through regional legal instruments for the Alps and Carpathians. The European Union (EU) first recognised the specific characteristics of mountain areas in 1975 through the designation of Less Favoured Areas (LFAs). During the last decade, EU cohesion policy and the Treaty of Lisbon have both focused specifically on mountains.
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Green tip - the tree
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Multimedia centre
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Green tip - the pond
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Multimedia centre
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10 messages for 2010 - Coastal ecosystems
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Key messages: 1) As an interface between land and sea, European coastlines provide vital resources for wildlife, but also
for the economy and human health and well-being. 2) Multiple pressures, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, climate change and overexploitation of fish stocks, affect coastal ecosystems. 3) Coastal habitat types and species of Community interest are at risk in Europe; two thirds of coastal
habitat types and more than half of coastal species have an unfavourable conservation status. 4) Integrated and ecosystem-based approaches provide the foundation for sustainable coastal
management and development, supporting socio-economic development, biodiversity and ecosystem
services. Coordinated action at the global, regional and local levels will be key to sustainable
management of coastal ecosystems.
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10 messages for 2010 — Mountain ecosystems
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European mountain regions provide essential ecosystem services for lowlands and host a great diversity of habitats and species, many adapted to specific extreme climatic conditions. Mountain ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable, and face severe threats from land abandonment, intensifying agriculture, impacts of infrastructure development, unsustainable exploitation and climate change.
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10 messages for 2010 - Agricultural ecosystems
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Within the framework of the CAP, the last 50 years have seen increasing attention to biodiversity, but
without clear benefits so far. With agriculture covering about half of EU land area, Europe's biodiversity is linked inextricably to
agricultural practices, creating valuable agro-ecosystems across the whole of Europe.
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Scaling up ecosystem benefits - a contribution to The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study
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The present report analyses options for scaling
up existing estimates of ecosystem service values
to larger geographical scales. It also presents a
case study of wetlands at the European level and
discusses the results and policy applications.
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10 messages for 2010 - Forest ecosystems
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Short assessment of the status of the European forest ecosystems
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10 messages for 2010 — freshwater ecosystems
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Freshwater ecosystems in Europe are rich in biodiversity but at risk. They provide essential ecosystem services to humans, such as cleaning water, preventing floods, producing food, providing energy and regulating freshwater resources...
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