EP - Achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy: The vital role of the EU's Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories
“Achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy: The vital role of the EU’s Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories”
Tuesday 24th June 2025 · 18:00 – 20:00 CEST
Organised at the European Parliament, Brussels (Room ASP 3H1)
Hosted by MEP André Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal)
With 2030 fast approaching, Member States have less than five years to achieve the environmental goals and commitments set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Decisive actions have been taken to bolster implementation, such as the entry into force of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Nevertheless, to avoid the shortcomings of the past, the implementation of these commitments on the ground needs to be upscaled.
A critical contribution to bending the curve of biodiversity loss and tackling climate change comes from the EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). As over 80% of Europe’s biodiversity is found in these regions, they are essential for achieving the EU’s biodiversity and climate action targets.
Since 2011, the BEST Initiative has supported biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of ecosystem services across the nine EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and 25 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)—areas renowned for their exceptional endemism, diverse ecosystems, and the deep ties between nature and local communities.
The BESTLIFE2030 Programme is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
This event is organised with the support of the S&D Group.
AGENDA
Event moderated by Alberto Arroyo Schnell, Head of Programme and Policy, IUCN European Regional Office
18:00 – 18:15: Welcome and introduction
18:15 – 18:25: The role of the ORs and OCTs in meeting biodiversity goals – MEP André Rodrigues
18:25 – 18:30: Investing in impact – Anne Burrill, Head of Unit, LIFE Environment, CINEA
18:30 – 18:35: The evolution of BEST – Boris Erg, Director, IUCN
18:35 – 18:45: Policy brief: BESTLIFE2030 contributions – Tommaso Demozzi, IUCN
18:45 – 19:00: Voices from the field – 2 grantees (French & Dutch Caribbean)
19:00 – 19:10: Mapping impact – Erwin Jayson Amavassee & Margaux Ysebaert, IUCN
19:10 – 19:25: Voices from the field – 2 grantees (Pacific & Macaronesia)
19:25 – 19:55: Q&A session with the audience incl. MEPs:
- MEP Catarina Vieira
- More MEPs (tbc)
19:55 – 20:00: Closing remarks – MEP André Rodrigues, Roxana Bucioaca, Cristina Romero
Staff
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