By Attila Lenti, Eszter Kelemen, Karmen Czett, Carla Klusmann, György Pataki, Davide Geneletti, Sonja C. Jähnig, Twan Stoffers, Esther Chinweuba, Myriam Dumortier, Nikita Sharma, Jiska van Dijk, Marie Vandewalle, Kati Vierikko, and Ágnes Zólyomi.
In this study, we examined the challenges that make it difficult to implement biodiversity policies in Europe, specifically the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Although the EU has set ambitious goals to protect biodiversity, we found many obstacles to achieving those goals. By understanding these challenges and the way they are linked, we can contribute to finding solutions to make implementation easier.
To conduct our research, we reviewed earlier studies on this topic and talked to experts who work in biodiversity and policy both at the European and national level. The studies helped us sort these challenges into different thematic categories, then the experts confirmed their validity while providing additional information.
We found several obstacles to protecting biodiversity in Europe. For instance, important knowledge is not always available to help make informed decisions. Citizens and smaller interest groups often struggle to make their voices heard in policymaking. There are also times when funding is not enough or not well distributed, making it hard to effectively protect and restore biodiversity. Additionally, different EU and national policies can conflict with each other, which makes conservation efforts more difficult. Protected areas are not always managed as well as they should be. A lack of clear and long-term plans for protecting animals and plants sometimes causes important species to be ignored by managers and policymakers, with economic interests taking precedence over nature conservation. Lastly, our political and economic systems frequently focus on short-term financial gains rather than the long-term protection of the environment and biodiversity.
We found that the current economic and political system cause the most significant challenges. However, we can achieve important improvements acting on the accessibility of knowledge. It’s important for scientists and policymakers to work together to combine different types of knowledge, including local and traditional insights. This collaboration helps improve understanding of how policies affect people and the environment, which is essential for successful implementation. However, for these efforts to be effective, policymakers need to ensure that processes are transparent and open to participation from all stakeholders.
Relational Thinking 