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Name: Polimeni Evangelia

Protection of flora and fauna in the EU

Species of wild flowers and

the animal populations form

part of European heritage.

Apart from the fact that they

represent non-renewable

genetic assets, they participate

in many natural functions

which ensure overallecological balances, such as

the regulation of the

development of undesirable

organisms, the protection of the soil against erosion and the regulation of aquatic

ecosystems. The genetic assets represented by all present-day animal and plant

species constitute a resource of ecological, scientific and economic interest of

inestimable value for the future of mankind. However, industrialisation,

urbanisation and pollution are threatening a growing number of wild species and

undermining the natural balances resulting from several million years ofevolution.

A Community Directive aims to protect natural and semi-natural habitats

and wild fauna and flora [Directive92/43]. It provides for the establishment of a

European ecological network of special conservation areas, "Natura 2000",

made up of sites which are home to types of natural habitats of species of

interest to the Community. TheMember Statesmust take appropriate steps to

avoid their deterioration or any other disturbances affecting the species.

A significant means of protecting wildlife threatened with extinction is torestrict and control rigorously international trade in plants and animals

belonging to such species and products made from them. Therefore, the

Community implements theConvention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),which aims at protecting 2.000species through the stringent control of international trade. However, the

relevant Community Regulation covers a wider field than the Convention,

dividing the species into four classes to be given protection, ranging from

statistical monitoring of trade to a total trading ban, depending on the degree of

the threat of extinction [Regulation338/97]. Special attention is given to re-exportation, control of commercial activities involving such specimens and

definition of the infringements, which Member States are required to penalise.

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For the protection of wildlife, the Community depends on the work of

international bodies, in particular theCouncil of Europe, directed towards

ensuring the protection of wildlife and the conservation of the characteristic

biotopes or ecosystems, in particular in wetlands, which are essential to such

life. It has signed as such all the European conventions for the conservation ofmigratory species and wild animals. Most important in that context is the

Ramsar Convention on Wetlandsof International Importance Especially as

Waterfowl Habitat [Recommendation75/66]. In 1982, the Community as such

signed theConvention on the Conservation of Migratory Speciesof Wild

Animals, known as the "Bonn Convention" [Convention, Decision 82/461and

Decision98/145], and the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife

and Natural Habitats, called the "Berne Convention" [Conventionand Decision

82/72]. Those three Conventions, together with theConventions for the

Conservation of Salmonin the North Atlantic Ocean [Conventionand Decision

82/886] and for theConservation of Atlantic Tuna [Conventionand Decision

86/238], which concern the conservation of fishery resources, were to provide

the framework for Community action in the field of the protection of flora and

fauna. The European Community's accession to theInternational Plant

Protection Conventionis intended to secure common and effective action to

prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to

provide appropriate measures for their control [Conventionand Decision

2004/597].

The situation of several plant species in Europe and elsewhere in the world is noless worrying, owing to the encroachment on the countryside by towns, soil

erosion and soil destruction and the abandonment of rural life by an ever-

increasing number of citizens. Thousands of hectares offorests are destroyed in

Europe each year by fires and pollution. To curb this problem, the nature and

biodiversity component of thefinancial instrument LIFE+[Regulation

614/2007, seesection 16.2] finances inter alia: the collection, analysis and

dissemination of policy-relevant information concerning forests and

environmental interactions; the harmonisation and effectiveness of forest

monitoring activities and data collection systems at regional, national,Community, Pan-European and global level; projects relating to the broad-

based, harmonised, comprehensive and long-term monitoring of forests and

environmental interactions; and projects for awareness-raising campaigns and

special training for agents involved in forest fire prevention initiatives.

The Community and its Member States are parties to theUnited Nations

Convention to combat desertificationin countries seriously hit, particularly in

Africa [Conventionand Decision 98/216]. The Community has signed together

with the Alpine countries theConvention on the protection of the Alps, whichaims at safeguarding the Alpine ecosystem and securing environmentally

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sustainable development for the populations [Conventionand Decision96/191

and Decision2005/923].

TheEuropean Unionis a party in theConvention on the Conservation of

Biological Diversity, which was drafted under the auspices of theUnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP)[Conventionand Decision93/626].

The objectives of this Convention are: the conservation of biological diversity;

the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the

benefits arising from genetic resources. Under this Convention, the Community

undertook to define its own strategy to promote biodiversity. The Commission

and theCouncilagree that this strategy should aim at preventing and attacking

the causes of reduction and loss of biological diversity and should be built

around four major themes: conservation and sustainable use of biological

diversity; sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources;

research, identification, monitoring and exchange of information; and education,

training and awareness [COM/98/42].

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Silver Birch (Betula pendula) birke

Zoom

The Silver Birch is a large tree growing to 20m with an initially narrow, later

rounded crown and relatively short branches. Produces yellow catkins in spring.

Striking white bark.

Application

Open country, afforestation, open fields, pioneer tree, tip afforestation, forage

for honey-bees, public areas, parks, roadside verges, backyards, private parks,

gardens

Native regions

Europe, Northern Asia, Siberia

Location parameters

Light: full sun to semi-shady, temperature: warm to cold, soil: dry to moist, soil

structure: firm to airy, soil depth: shallow to medium, compaction: to be

avoided, soil quality: medium, pH value: 5.0 to 7.0

Demands

Sun to slight shade, sprawling bent growth in strong shade; heat-tolerant, frost-

hardy; moderately dry to wet, tolerates flooding; acid to weak alkaline;

undemanding and adaptable; tolerates urban climates

Growth

Height of growth: 20m to 30m, spread: 3m, rapid growth potential, growth

habits: tree-like, conical, ovate

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Leaves

Sharply toothed or diamond-shaped leaves; 4-7cm, long, 3-5cm wide, leaf stem

1.5-3cm long. Double-toothed edge. Pale green, gently aromatic sheets, Leaves

are dull green above and pale green below, turning luminous yellow in autumn.

Flowers

Flowering period III-V, greenish or brown catkins, approx. 5cm long, before the

leaves starting in early May.

Fruits

Inconspicuous yellow-brown catkins produced from thin-skinned monocarpous

winged nuts, 2-3cm long.

Bark

White-grey or grey-black bark, with horizontal lenticular banding when young.

Purple-brown branches.

Roots

Intensive, compact and extremely shallow, main roots rise vigorously afterapprox. 5-10 years, extremely sensitive to compaction of the soil

Flowers

Flowering period III-V, greenish or brown

catkins, approx. 5cm long, before theleaves starting in early May.

Fruits

Inconspicuous yellow-brown catkins

produced from thin-skinned monocarpouswinged nuts, 2-3cm long.