In 2009, the Standing Committee set up a Group of Experts on European Island Biodiversity. Islands contain a very rich biodiversity developed as a result of their isolation.

However, that biodiversity is under particular threat because of islands' shortness of space, climate change, habitat destruction by building on the shore line and pollution. Islands are also very vulnerable to invasive alien species (IAS) which is the second cause of loss of species in the world.

The Group of Experts contributed to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity on islands, integrating the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) and promoting further work on IAS on islands in the seas surrounding Europe: the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black seas and the Arctic and East Atlantic Oceans.

The Group focused its work in the elaboration of a Charter on Biodiversity in European Islands, filling the knowledge gaps on threatened island biodiversity and on IAS on islands. It proposed best practices for island biodiversity monitoring and conservation, recommending eradication of some particularly harmful alien species and exploring the conservation potential of small uninhabited islands.

The Group fulfilled its mandate and is now on stand-by.

Moreover, a workshop on feral ungulates and their impact on island biodiversity in the Mediterranean and Macaronesian regions was organised on 23-24 March 2015 in La Gomera (Canary Islands, Spain) to examine how serious is the impact of feral ungulates in fragile island ecosystems and make proposals on how to better control those species so as to promote native biodiversity.

(Photo credit: Ivana d’Alessandro)

Documents

Reports of past meetings

Documents

  • Charter on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in European Islands - T-PVS/Inf(2011)08
  • Priorities for Conserving Biodiversity on European Islands - T-PVS/Inf(2011)09
  • International efforts to conserve biological diversity in islands - T-PVS/Inf(2009)01E
  • Compilation of National Reports on activities related to Biological Diversity on European Islands - T-PVS/Inf(2009)12E  
  • Toward a European information system on Invasive Alien Species in European islands -  T-PVS/Inf(2009)13E  

Recommendations

  • All Recommendations on European Island Biological Diversity:
    • Recommendation No. 6 (1986) of the standing committee on the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus Monachus), adopted by the Standing Committee on 4 December 1986
    • Recommendation No. 13 (1988) of the standing committee concerning measures for the protection of critical biotopes of endangered amphibians and reptiles (Adopted by the Standing Committee on 9 December 1988)
    • Recommendation No. 25 (1991) on the conservation of natural areas outside protected areas proper, adopted by the Standing Committee on 6 December 1991
    • Recommendation No. 26 (1991) on the conservation of some threatened reptiles in Europe, adopted by the Standing Committee on 6 December 1991
    • Recommendation No. 27 (1991) on the conservation of some threatened amphibians in Europe, adopted by the Standing Committee on 6 December 1991
    • Recommendation No. 34 (1992) on the conservation of the flora of the Macaronesian region, adopted by the Standing Committee on 4 December 1992
    • Recommendation No. 52 (1996) on habitat conservation for invertebrate species, adopted by the Standing Committee on 6 December 1996
    • Recommendation No. 57 (1997) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 5 December 1997, on the introduction of organisms belonging to non-native species into the Environment
    • Recommendation No. 60 (1997) on the implementation of the action plans for globally threatened birds in Europe, adopted by the Standing Committee on 5 December 1997
    • Recommendation No. 77 (1999) on the eradication of non-native terrestrial vertebrates, adopted by the Standing Committee on 3 December 1999
    • Recommendation No. 84 (2000) of the Standing Committee on the conservation of Western Milos and in particular the Milos viper Macrovipera schweizeri, adopted by the Standing Committee on 1 December 2000
    • Recommendation No. 91 (2002) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 5 December 2002, on Invasive Alien Species that threaten biological diversity in Islands and geographically and evolutionary isolated ecosystems
    • Recommendation No. 92 (2002) on sixteen new Action Plans for most threatened birds in the Convention's area, adopted by the Standing Committee on 5 December 2002
    • Recommendation No. 96 (2002) on conservation of natural habitats and wildlife, specially birds, in afforestation of lowland in Iceland, adopted by the Standing Committee on 5 December 2002
    • Recommendation No. 112 (2004) of the Standing Committee on hydroelectric dams at Kárahnjúkar and Nordlingaalda (Iceland), adopted by the Standing Committee on 3 December 2004
    • Recommendation No. 135 (2008) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 27 November 2008, on addressing the impacts of climate change on biodiversityRecommendation No. 143 (2009) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 26 November 2009, on further guidance for Parties on biodiversity and climate change
    • Recommendation No. 144 (2009) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 26 November 2009, on the wind park in Smøla (Norway) and other wind farm developments in Norway
    • Recommendation No. 145 (2010) of the Standing Committee adopted on 9 December 2010, on guidance for Parties on biodiversity and climate change in mountain regions
    • Recommendation No. 146 (2010) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 9 December 2010, on guidance for Parties on biodiversity and climate change in European islands
    • Recommendation No. 152 (2011) on Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change
    • Recommendation No. 153 (2011) on the Charter on the Conservation and Sustainable use of Biological Diversity on European Islands
    • Recommendation No. 159 (2012) on the effective implementation of guidance for Parties on biodiversity and climate change
    • Recommendation No. 165 (2013) on the implementation of twenty-one new or revised action plans for most threatened birds in the Convention's area
    • Recommendation No. 168 (2013) on the European Charter of Fungi-gathering and biodiversity
    • Recommendation No. 176 (2015) on the prevention and control of the Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytrid fungus
    • Recommendation No.178 (2015) on the control of feral ungulates in islands of the Mediterranean and Macaronesian Regions
    • Recommendation No.187 (2016) on communicating on climate change and biodiversity
    • Recommendation No.189 (2016) on the control of the American mink in Europe
    • Recommendation No.190 (2016) on the conservation of natural habitats and wildlife, specially birds, in afforestation of lowland in Iceland