Int. Biodiversity Day: The next few weeks will be decisive

Biodiversity is bad - also in Austria. Humans are primarily responsible for the decline and extinction of wild animals and plants. The state is now de facto determining how things will continue in terms of biodiversity for the next decade: In the next few weeks and months it will be decided how the EU's agricultural billions will be distributed in Austria in the future. The National Biodiversity Strategy 2030 is also currently being drawn up. So politicians now have the chance to set the course for more biodiversity in Austria. Naturschutzbund President Roman Türk is convinced: "Both strategies must interlock and do everything possible to stop the biodiversity crisis." And appeals: "Agriculture and nature conservation must work together so that people, nature and agriculture have a future."

1) Common Agricultural Policy

Around a third of all animal and plant species in Austria are on the Red List of Threatened Species. Of the approximately 500 biotope types occurring in Austria, around half are threatened with complete destruction, classified as endangered or endangered. The losses in agricultural land are particularly dramatic.

The measures envisaged in the current draft of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will not be enough to stop the loss of biodiversity in agricultural land. Farmers will only opt for additional environmental and nature conservation services if a fair income can be achieved for this. The Naturschutzbund therefore appeals to Federal Minister Köstinger to take concrete control measures and to adequately support land managers both in the ecological, natural production of food and in the creation and maintenance of a colorful and species-rich cultural landscape.

2) National biodiversity strategy

The announced Biodiversity Strategy 2030 aims to preserve and promote the diversity of species and habitats. In order for it to become more than just another piece of paper, it needs an action plan and binding force, sufficient technical basis and appropriate resources. The Nature Conservation Association appeals to BM Gewessler to get the hang of it, not to soften ambitious goals and, above all, to implement the strategy with determination. The announced biodiversity fund is a good start to provide resources for this.

Ultimately, all of Austria must pull together if we want to reverse the trend: The federal government is responsible for the implementation of the European Green Deal, the federal states have legal responsibility for nature conservation and, above all, the landowners, whose (welfare ) Willingness and acceptance the future of biodiversity depends to a large extent.