In 2011, the EU adopted its Biodiversity Strategy setting out 6 targets and 20 actions to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 (1).

Target 1 - Protect species and habitats: with the Birds and Habitats Directives, the EU has laws to ensure that species native to the EU and the habitats they depend on are protected. To prevent further loss and restore biodiversity in the EU, the Birds and Habitats Directives must be fully implemented in all Member States. This means reaching a favourable conservation status of all habitats and species of European importance and adequate populations of naturally occurring wild bird species. By 2020, the assessments of species and habitats protected by the EU nature law must show better conservation or a secure status for 100 % more habitats and 50 % more species, compared to recent assessments (EU 2010 biodiversity baseline) (1).

Target 2 - Maintain and restore ecosystems: aims to maintain and restore ecosystems and their services by including green infrastructure in spatial planning and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020. This will contribute to the EU's sustainable growth and help mitigate and adapt to climate change. It will promote economic, territorial and social cohesion and safeguard our cultural heritage (1).

Target 3 - Achieve more sustainable agriculture and forestry: The EU has already made efforts to integrate biodiversity into the development and implementation of other policies. However, given the benefits that biodiversity and ecosystem services bring to sectors such as agriculture and forestry, these efforts are still not sufficient. By 2020, there must be a measurable improvement, compared to the EU2010 biodiversity baseline, in the conservation of species and habitats depending on or affected by agriculture and forestry, and in the provision of their ecosystem services (1).

Target 4 - Make fishing more sustainable and seas healthier: The fishing sector depends on healthy marine biodiversity, but current fishing practices are not always sustainable. The EU strives to integrate biodiversity into the development and implementation of other policies. However, given the benefits that biodiversity and ecosystem services bring to many sectors, these efforts are still not sufficient. Target 4 requires that fishing is sustainable and that fish stocks are healthy. Fishing must have no significant adverse impacts on species and ecosystems so that all European oceans and seas can be ecologically diverse and dynamic, as well as clean, healthy and productive by 2020 (1).

Target 5 - Combat invasive alien species: Alien species are animals and plants introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found. Such species can become invasive in their new environment if they start spreading and causing serious damage to native species and ecosystems. Invasive alien species represent a major threat to Europe's native biodiversity and cause economic damage worth billions of euros every year. This threat and damage is likely to increase in the future unless decisive and coordinated action is taken to control the pathways of their introduction, prevent their establishment and spread, and manage already established populations (1).

Target 6 - Help stop the loss of global biodiversity:  The EU has pledged to meet the international 2020 biodiversity goals and objectives agreed to under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Target 6 requires that, by 2020, the EU steps up its contribution to avert global biodiversity loss by greening its economy and endeavouring to reduce its pressure on global biodiversity.