Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Natural Environment Research Council
EASAC ECOSYSTEMS
SERVICES WORKING
GROUP
EASAC (The European Academies Science Advisory
Council) exists to provide high quality, independent and impartial
scientific advice to the EU institutions of governance, notably
the Parliament and Commission.
EASAC Council recently agreed to convene a working
group on ecosystems services and biodiversity and invited Alastair
Fitter FRS, Professor of Biology at the University of York, to
Chair the Group. The Working Group arises from a concern that
the value of bio-diverse ecosystems is failing to be recognised
in the processes of European policy development. In particular,
economic development, following the Lisbon agenda, is taking place
without regard to the importance of biodiversity in maintaining
the flow of services from the environment. In the long run, it
is considered that this will lead the EU away from the sustainable
future envisaged in EU treaty. The Working Group aims to evaluate
the importance of ecosystems services in Europe and the role of
biodiversity in maintaining them. It will then provide advice
on the measures needed to maintain the value of these services
in future. It takes its frame of reference from the UN Millennium
Assessment of ecosystems and human well-being and will focus on
key elements of the European dimension.
The Working Group consists of members of European
Academies of Science and plans to deliver its report during the
German Presidency of the EU.
MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM
ASSESSMENT (MA) FOLLOW-UP
GROUP
Following discussions by the MA Oversight Committee,
it was decided that ICSU, UNESCO, and UNU will take the lead on
the development of a report on the gaps in scientific understanding
at the global and sub-global levels identified through the MA
process. A 15-member committee, chaired by Hal Mooney of Stanford
University, has been established. The terms of reference are available
at: http://www.icsu.org/5_abouticsu/STRUCT_Comm_Adhoc_MEA.html
November 2006
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