2010 will be a major milestone for biodiversity policy both in the EU and globally. It will be the year of the full evaluation of the delivery to the EU Biodiversity Action Plan and as well the UN International Year for Biodiversity. Thus it is time to take a stock on where we are and to start framing the post-2010 biodiversity vision and preparing the strategy for the period being ahead of us. The European Commission organizes a major conference on 'Biodiversity Protection – Beyond 2010' on 27-28 April 2009 in Athens, Greece convening all the main actors engaged in the development and implementation of EU biodiversity policy together with international institutions and globally recognized experts. For more information, follow the link to the event of the conference, or visit the website of the EC DG Environment: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/policy/index_en.htm

On 4/2/2009 the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works posted on its website the draft National Strategy for Biodiversity for consultation by the ministries, stakeholders and all interested citizens. Comments and observations on the draft Strategy can be submitted until 31 May 2009 (total time of 3 months consultation) to the Division of Environmental Planning - Department of Management of Natural Environment, 36 Trikalon str., GR 11526 Athens, and Mrs. Tryfon by post, FAX: 210-6918487 (Ms Tryfon account) and e-mail: e.trifon@dpers.minenv.gr.

The MedWet Web Information System (MedWet/WIS) is now o­nline offering access to the newly updated MedWet tools for inventory, assessment and monitoring of wetlands. The MedWet/WIS has been designed to support the effort of Mediterranean countries towards the creation of a common knowledge base for  Mediterranean wetlands. The system offers stakeholders from a variety of bodies including policy makers, wetland managers and researchers access to information o­n the location, ecological characteristics and socio-economic importance of wetland ecosystems. By offering differentiated degree of access rights to different user groups the system ensures regulated use of data o­n wetlands while the system ensures safe exchange of information through the MedWet Inventory Data Sharing Protocol.

The MedWet Web Information System has been developed in the framework of the MedWet CODDE project co-funded by the INTERREG III C Sud Programme.

In the framework of the implementation of the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC), the submission of the 2^nd national report (reporting period: 2001 – 2006) to the European Commission, through the IT Tool, has been completed. More...

The first phase of work ended with the launch of the EEA technical report “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010: Proposal for the first set of indicators to monitor progress in Europe”.
At the meeting in Paris on 4th July, the SEBI 2010 coordination team discussed options for the substance and organizational structure of the next phase of work. It was agreed that the current groups should be closed since their work is substantially completed and three new working groups should be established with chairs and coordinators involved in the first phase of work to provide continuity into the second phase of work.

• The three new working groups
  
  
• Nomination form to express your interest in participating in one of the three new working groups (experts from non governmental organizations and international organizations)

In the framework of the 2nd National Report on Implementation Measures taken under the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) in Greece, the public consultation on the Draft Report will take place from 28 September until 22 October 2007. Researchers are encouraged to submit their comments here.

The newly implemented and much advanced GBIF Data Portal was officially launched on 2 July 2007, at the CBD SBSTTA meeting in Paris.