A public consultation on the European Commission Communication on halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 - and beyond has been launched in December 2005.

The Communication was adopted back in 1998 with the aim of anticipating, preventing and attacking the causes of significant reduction or loss of biodiversity at the source within and beyond the territory of the European Union.

The consultation suggests a number of ‘Key Challenges’ and supporting ‘Key Delivery Measures’ to 2010 and beyond, and seeks stakeholders’ opinion on the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for prosperity, security and quality of life. Also, the consultation calls for case studies which demonstrate the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Responses to the consultation will be taken into consideration by the Commission in its further development of the Communication.

The internet consultation will be open until 6 February 2006.

 For more information on biodiversity, please see the European Community Biodiversity Clearing-House Mechanism