The European Court of Justice has ordered Germany to implement the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and to better protect species-rich grassland. The judges upheld a lawsuit brought by the EU Commission. NABU welcomes the verdict.
Plants like daisies, meadow longhorn beard and meadow sage have a hard time – and have been doing so for years. According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Germany is not complying with the obligations of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Directive because it does not adequately protect flower-rich meadows in Natura 2000 areas. Hay meadows and mountain hay meadows, which are important for pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, have an unfavorable state of conservation in Germany. As well as the protective measures to take action against it. Due to unsustainable agricultural practices in various protected areas, the areas have been significantly reduced or have disappeared completely. Now Germany has to deliver, otherwise there will be high fines. After a letter of formal notice in 2019 and a reasoned opinion the following year, the EU Commission filed a lawsuit in 2021 (EU News December 2, 2021).
The NABU – who had already pointed out the abuse in a complaint to the EU Commission in 2014 – welcomed the verdict. Due to the conversion of grassland into arable land as well as excessive fertilization and frequent mowing, a number of lowland and mountain hay meadows have been lost since 2006: 18,000 Hectares. After this “alarming wake-up call for better nature conservation”, the organization called for a binding and federally coordinated action plan to preserve threatened habitats in protected areas with binding and specific goals and measures. The federal and state governments must now decisively counteract the loss of species in protected areas in Germany and provide the necessary financial resources. In EU agricultural policy, there must be “attractive remuneration” for social services such as the protection of species-rich meadows.
DNR managing director Florian Schöne prompted LinkedIn “Clear guidelines for mowing or fertilization on FFH grassland as well as attractive, unbureaucratic support for agriculture, combined with qualified advice.”
Not the first violation of EU nature conservation law
Germany was already condemned by the ECJ in September 2023 for violating EU nature conservation law in its fauna-flora-habitat protected areas (EU News September 21, 2023). The ECJ found three deficiencies: The inadequate legal protection of 88 of the 4,606 areas of community importance (Natura 2000 areas). Likewise, detailed conservation goals for protected species and habitats per area were missing for these 88 areas. In addition, Germany has not established the necessary conservation measures for 737 of the 4,606 areas of community importance. [jg]
NABU: ECJ ruling against Germany: “Alarming wake-up call for better nature conservation”
