--- title: "“SPAIN IS ONE OF THE RICHEST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE IN BIODIVERSITY.” 2010 Year of Biological Diversity." lang: "en" type: "noticia" updated: "2026-07-20" url: "https://www.fraternidad.com/en/spain-is-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-europe-in-biodiversity-2010-year-of-biological-diversity" translations: es: "https://www.fraternidad.com/es-ES/noticias/espana-es-uno-de-los-paises-mas-ricos-de-europa-en-biodiversidad-ano-2010-de-la-diversidad" ca: "https://www.fraternidad.com/ca-ES/espanya-es-un-dels-paisos-mes-rics-d-europa-en-biodiversitat-any-2010-de-la-diversitat-biologica" eu: "https://www.fraternidad.com/eu-ES/espainia-biodibertsitatean-europako-herri-aberatsenetakoa-da-2010-aniztasun-biologikoaren-urtea" gl: "https://www.fraternidad.com/gl-ES/espana-e-un-dos-paises-mais-ricos-de-europa-en-biodiversidade-2010-ano-da-diversidade-bioloxica" en: "https://www.fraternidad.com/en/spain-is-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-europe-in-biodiversity-2010-year-of-biological-diversity" zh-hans: "https://www.fraternidad.com/cn/xibanyashiouzhoushengwuduoyangxingzuifengfudeguojiazhiyi-2010-shengwuduoyangxingnian" --- ![Imagen Noticias](/sites/default/files/styles/style_1920x400/public/default_images/AdobeStock_71587395.jpg?itok=mOsqCscy) # “SPAIN IS ONE OF THE RICHEST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE IN BIODIVERSITY.” 2010 Year of Biological Diversity. 27/05/2010 General SEO/BIRDLIFE and WWF PRESENT THE 10 GOALS TO IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY Six months after the beginning of the International Year of Biodiversity, proclaimed by the UN, the two environmental organizations introduce the necessary objectives to stop the alarming loss of biodiversity, supported by a new action plan at European level. It is estimated that the current extinction rate is up to 1,000 times higher than the natural rate, which translates into between 18,000 and 55,000 species disappearing from the face of the earth each year. This loss is known as the Sixth Extinction, the first caused by human action. Forests currently occupy half the area they did just 8,000 years ago. In the past decade alone, there was a loss of forest area of ​​almost 100 million hectares per year, the equivalent of 5 million football fields. | ![Información destacada]() Spain is one of the richest countries in Europe in biodiversity, with 85,000 species of fauna and flora, 54% of the total European species. Unfortunately, Spain also suffers the same process that affects other places on the planet and in the last hundred years at least 17 animal and 24 plant species have become extinct. The species declared in danger of extinction have doubled in the last 25 years, affecting in many cases such emblematic animals as the Iberian lynx, the imperial eagle or the brown bear. | |---| | ![Fondos de la biodiversidad 2010]() | There are five main threats that cause this situation: the destruction and degradation of habitats, invasive species, overexploitation of resources, pollution and the effects of climate change. The EU committed to stopping the loss of our natural resources by 2010. However, to date, none of the proposed objectives have been achieved. Last March, the Environment Council adopted a new goal for the year 2020. Within this period, member governments must move towards sustainable economic growth that does not endanger our natural resources, recover currently degraded areas and guarantee the future of human beings, something that directly depends on the good health of the rest of the species and spaces on the planet. For SEO/BirdLife and WWF, it is very important that human activities and nature coexist in harmony and not as rivals. The 10 Goals to Improve Biodiversity * 1. Fully implement the Bird and Habitats Directives, including the designation of the Natura 2000 Network and the approval of conservation objectives and management plans for all sites in the Network, including marine ones. * 2. Fully and correctly apply the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives, as well as those of Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Liability and Environmental Crimes. * 3. Reform community sectoral policies so that they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, eliminating perverse subsidies, in particular, in agricultural and fishing policies. * 4. Approve new legislation on invasive alien species, soil protection, outermost regions and illegal logging of forests. * 5. Increase the proportion of the community budget dedicated to biodiversity. * 6. Deepen the valuation of ecosystem services, collecting the recommendations of the TEEB report (The Economic of Ecosystem and Biodiversity). Establish limits on the use of natural resources, energy and space, integrating the biodiversity goal into the EU 2020 Strategy. * 7. Achieve carbon neutrality and develop and finance ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation measures, both in Europe and in third countries. * 8. Reduce the ecological footprint of European countries, controlling the consumption of raw materials such as wood, fish and, above all, fossil fuels. * 9. Develop a sustainable land use strategy based on spatial planning, which avoids the fragmentation of habitats due to urbanization and the construction of infrastructure. * 10. Establish limits on the use of natural resources, energy and space, integrating the biodiversity net into the EU 2020 Strategy. [ Link](/es-ES/contenidos/2010-ANO-INTERNACIONAL-DE-LA-DIVERSIDAD-BIOLOGICA_2_125_5.html)2010 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY [Link](http://www.seo.org/)SEO/Birdlife Portal [Link](http://www.wwf.es/)WWF Portal "Your Mutual - Quality and Service, 365 days a year"