Event on “Achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy: The vital role of the EU’s Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories”
Tuesday 24th June 2025 at 18:00 – 20:00 CEST
Organized at the European Parliament, Brussels (Room ASP 3H1)
Hosted by MEP André Rodrigues
With 2030 fast approaching, Member States have less than five years to achieve the environmental goals and commitments set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Decisive actions have been taken to bolster implementation, such as the entry into force of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Nevertheless, to avoid the shortcomings of the past, the implementation of these commitments on the ground needs to be upscaled.
A critical contribution to bending the curve of biodiversity loss and tackling climate change comes from the EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). As over 80% of Europe’s biodiversity is found in these regions, they are essential for achieving the EU’s biodiversity and climate action targets. From restoring marine and terrestrial ecosystems to eradicating invasive alien species, conserving threatened species, and promoting the sustainable use of ecosystem services, a plethora of projects are delivering benefits for people and nature.
In this context, since 2011, the BEST Initiative has supported biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, in the 9 EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and 25 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) through 153 grants.
This event will spotlight the work of the EU-supported BESTLIFE2030 Programme – set to fund over 200 conservation projects with nearly €25 million by 2030—by showcasing success stories, sharing lessons learnt with policymakers, and highlighting ongoing challenges and opportunities.
Agenda
Event moderated by Alberto Arroyo Schnell, Head of Programme and Policy, IUCN European Regional Office
18:00 – 18:15: Welcome and introduction
18:15 – 18:25: The role of the Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories in meeting the EU Biodiversity goals, by MEP André Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal)
18:25 – 18:30: Investing in impact: The EU’s commitment to biodiversity through the BESTLIFE2030 Programme, by Anne Burrill, Head of Unit LIFE Environment (Nature and Circular Economy), the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
18:30 – 18:35: From initiative to action: The evolution of BEST, by Boris Erg, Director of the European Regional Office, IUCN
18:35 – 18:45: Presentation of the policy brief: BESTLIFE2030 contributions to the EU Biodiversity Strategy, by Tommaso Demozzi, Biodiversity Policy Officer of the European Representative Office, IUCN
18:45 – 19:00: Voices from the field – 2 grantees representing the French Caribbean and Dutch Caribbean:
- Rona Dacourt presented by Julien Lorthios, Chargé de mission BESTLIFE2030 Antilles, Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)
- Michiel Van Nierop, presented by Caspar Verwer, Senior Expert Nature Conservation, IUCN NL
19:00 – 19:10: Mapping impact: A living map of EU Biodiversity action, by Erwin Jayson Amavassee, Programme Officer and Margaux Ysebaert, Communications Officer of the European Representative Office, IUCN
19:10 – 19:25: Voices from the field – 2 grantees representing the Pacific and Macaronesia:
- Clémentine Séguigne presented by Chloé Desmots, Project manager, National Committee IUCN FR
- Maria Teresa Asensio Elvira presented by Michelle Perello, CEO, Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation
19:25 – 19:55: Q&A session with the audience, including a reaction from MEP Catarina Vieira (Greens/EFA, Netherlands)
19:55 – 20:00: Closing remarks by Roxana Bucioaca, Portfolio Manager of the Protected and Conserved Areas team, IUCN and Cristina Romero, Programme Manager of the BESTLIFE2030 Programme for the European Representative Office, IUCN
