The well-being of any society depends on healthy ecosystems that provide proper services. Therefore conservation of biodiversity rightfully should be the same level priority on the political agenda as socioeconomic issues. The assessment of 46 countries shows that in the Pan-European region this is still not the case.

The synthesis report was prepared using data collected in the national biodiversity assessments. The assessments were based on a uniform template developed by CEEweb that allowed for collection of data from different countries in a similar manner. CEEweb analyzed the data collected, crosschecked it through desktop research and prepared the synthesis report. The comments of experts to the drafts of the synthesis report were collected and integrated. Therefore it can be presumed that the information contained in the report reflects the state of biodiversity in these countries as of September 2009.

According to the survey, in Western Europe the most significant treat to biodiversity is ever-increasing consumption of natural resources and land. All Pan-European countries are facing or will soon face the same socio-economic drivers behind biodiversity loss. The most urgent common interest of all Pan-European countries is to reveal these drivers and find holistic policy tools in international cooperation to change their course. Only this can stop biodiversity loss and assure future well-being of all citizens in Pan-Europe.

Increased commitments and efforts are absolutely essential on national level in basically all fields related to biodiversity conservation that are covered by this assessment. Pan-European and subregional cooperation can provide an added value through experience exchange and common projects. Involvement of NGOs on a national level to implementation of both national plans and international agreements can be one factor of success to biodiversity conservation. Another factor would be the development of human and financial capacities for the planning and implementation of activities in biodiversity-rich countries of the region.

• The whole synthesis report can be downloaded in English (pdf, 816 KB)
• Presentation of the synthesis report can be downloaded in English (pdf, 1,5 MB)
  
• The collected national assessments can be downloaded in English (pdf, 873 KB)

Collecting Pan-European biodiversity assessments is realised with the financial support of the Federal Office of Environment of Switzerland (FOEN).