Six ways IUCN is driving action for biodiversity protection in food and agriculture systems across Europe – IUCN

Report on Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity in Europe: An SDG-Focused Analysis

Introduction: The Nexus of Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Development

Unsustainable agricultural practices are a primary driver of global biodiversity loss, a critical challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land). In Europe, where agriculture constitutes over 40% of the land area, this issue is particularly acute. However, a transition to sustainable agriculture presents a significant opportunity to restore nature and advance key societal priorities. This report outlines a framework for this transition, focusing on the inseparable objectives of environmental preservation and ensuring food security, which directly aligns with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified multiple pathways to achieve this balance, emphasizing principles that support a sustainable and resilient agri-food system.

A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Core Principles and Alignment with Global Goals

The IUCN’s Approaches to Sustainable Agriculture report identifies 14 distinct approaches that share fundamental principles for transforming the sector. These principles are central to achieving several SDGs:

• Reduction of Chemical Inputs: Directly supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by minimizing the release of pollutants into the environment.
• Improvement of Soil Health: A core target of SDG 15.3, which aims to combat desertification and restore degraded land and soil.
• Enhancement of Biodiversity: Contributes to halting biodiversity loss, a key objective of SDG 15.5.

Integrating these principles into agricultural planning is fundamental for creating a food system that nourishes both people and nature, thereby building resilient landscapes capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

Key IUCN Initiatives Driving Agricultural Transformation in Europe

The IUCN is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture. The following six initiatives demonstrate a comprehensive approach that integrates science, policy, and partnership, with a strong focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Developing Standardized Biodiversity Assessment Tools

   To effectively manage the impact of agriculture on ecosystems, robust measurement is essential. The IUCN’s “Assessing the biodiversity-agriculture nexus” report provides 12 standardized assessment methods. These tools create a common, science-based foundation for policymakers and businesses to monitor progress toward biodiversity targets outlined in SDG 15, enabling transparent and credible decision-making.

2. Promoting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Agriculture

   Guided by the IUCN Global Standard for NbS, the promotion of Nature-based Solutions aims to transform agriculture into a sector that benefits society, nature, and the economy. By integrating ecological principles such as wetland restoration and enhancing soil biodiversity, NbS makes farms more resilient to climate change, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action), while simultaneously enhancing wildlife habitats (SDG 15) and securing rural livelihoods (SDG 2).

3. Supporting EU Policy Implementation

   Effective policy is crucial for systemic change. The IUCN provides science-based recommendations to strengthen key European policy frameworks, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU Soil Monitoring Directive, and the Nature Restoration Regulation. This advocacy ensures that high-level commitments like the European Green Deal are translated into concrete actions on the ground, advancing targets related to soil health and habitat restoration under SDG 15.

4. Supporting Living Labs and Bottom-Up Approaches

   Through involvement in EU-funded Living Labs projects like Eco-ready, the IUCN fosters bottom-up innovation. These networks of pilot farmers implement and test climate-smart solutions, bridging the gap between research, policy, and practice. This approach ensures that sustainable innovations are practical and reflect farmers’ realities, contributing to climate action (SDG 13) and sustainable production patterns (SDG 12).

5. Protecting Pollinators and Enhancing Ecosystem Services

   Pollinators are vital for crop production, ecosystem health, and food security (SDG 2). IUCN Red List assessments provide critical data on the status of European pollinators, underpinning the implementation of the EU’s New Deal for Pollinators. This work is essential for tracking progress towards targets under the Nature Restoration Regulation, directly contributing to the goal of halting biodiversity loss as specified in SDG 15.5.

6. Building Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue and Partnerships

   In line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), transforming the agri-food system requires collaboration among all stakeholders. The IUCN facilitates dialogue between farmers, researchers, policymakers, businesses, and consumers to co-develop frameworks that are scientifically robust, socially equitable, and economically viable. These partnerships are essential for fostering shared responsibility and collective action to protect Europe’s biodiversity and build a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity in Europe addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis reveals connections to the following goals:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article directly links sustainable agriculture to the societal priority of “providing safe and healthy food for all,” which is a core component of SDG 2, focusing on ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: By identifying the reduction of “chemical inputs” as a core principle of sustainable agriculture, the article touches upon SDG 12, which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, including the environmentally sound management of chemicals.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article highlights the role of Nature-based Solutions in making farms “more resilient to climate change” and mentions “climate-smart solutions for a carbon-neutral Europe,” directly aligning with SDG 13’s call to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most central SDG in the article. The text is framed around the issue of “unsustainable agricultural practices” being a leading driver of “biodiversity loss.” It extensively discusses the need to preserve the environment, improve soil health, restore habitats, and protect pollinators, all of which are key elements of SDG 15.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article strongly emphasizes the importance of collaboration. It describes IUCN’s role in facilitating “multi-stakeholder dialogue and partnerships” that bring together farmers, researchers, policymakers, and businesses, which is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4 (under SDG 2): “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” The article’s entire focus on promoting “14 approaches to sustainable agriculture,” improving soil health, and making farms resilient directly supports this target.
2. Target 13.1 (under SDG 13): “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” This is addressed through the promotion of Nature-based Solutions that make farms “more resilient to climate change” and the implementation of “climate-smart solutions” in Living Labs projects.
3. Target 15.3 (under SDG 15): “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil…” The article’s emphasis on “improving soil health” and its support for policy frameworks like the “EU Soil Monitoring Directive” directly relate to this target.
4. Target 15.5 (under SDG 15): “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and… protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” This target is central to the article, which discusses halting biodiversity loss driven by agriculture and specifically mentions the protection of pollinators, which “face multiple threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.”
5. Target 15.9 (under SDG 15): “By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes…” The article describes IUCN’s work to “integrate biodiversity protection into every stage of agricultural planning and production” and to influence major policies like the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Nature Restoration Regulation.
6. Target 17.17 (under SDG 17): “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article exemplifies this target by describing how IUCN “facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogue and partnerships” and “helps bridge conservation and agricultural communities” to foster collective action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Biodiversity Assessment Methods: The article explicitly mentions the IUCN Europe report presenting “12 assessment methods for evaluating the impact of sustainable agriculture approaches on biodiversity.” These methods serve as direct indicators for measuring progress toward biodiversity targets (related to SDG 15.5 and 15.9).
• IUCN Red List Assessments: The article states that “IUCN Red List assessments for pollinators make an essential contribution to the knowledge base that underpins the implementation of the EU’s New Deal for Pollinators.” This serves as a specific indicator for tracking the status of threatened species and the effectiveness of conservation efforts (related to SDG 15.5).
• Policy Implementation and Monitoring: The article’s reference to supporting the implementation of the “EU Soil Monitoring Directive” and the “Nature Restoration Regulation” implies that data collected under these policies (e.g., soil health metrics, extent of restored habitats) are key indicators of progress (related to SDG 15.3 and 15.5).
• Adoption of Sustainable Practices: The work in “EU-funded Living Labs projects” with “networks of pilot farmers implementing climate-smart solutions” implies that the number of farms adopting these practices and the measurable outcomes (e.g., carbon reduction, improved resilience) are practical indicators of progress (related to SDG 2.4 and 13.1).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iucn.org