Environmental problems – An overview - Environmental Deterioration and Contamination: Problems and their Management - page 31

and followed by the United Nation's program, were the initiators toward the protection
of biodiversity at European level (Bern Convention, 1981 and Convention on Biologi-
cal Diversity, 1993). They support national policies and planning for the conservation
of wild flora, fauna and their natural habitats, as well as promote education.
In addition to the frameworks, new policies were created in Europe on the man-
agement of natural resources such as biofuels and marine resources, as well as on the
sustainable use of natural resources (Strategy on Sustainable Use, 2005), the fauna and
flora, and forests as well as genetically modified organisms.
The list of the European Regulations on fauna and flora, reflecting the social atti-
tude, is long and expresses fear of losing ecosystem services and emotional commitment
to some selected species.

- Natural habitats (Natura 2000);

- Conservation of wild birds;

- Endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES, 2012);

- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources;

- Conservation of migratory species—Bonn Convention (2003);

- The keeping of wild animals in zoos;

- Protection of laboratory animals;

- Protection of animals used for experimental purposes;

- Protecting cetaceans against incidental catch;

- Protection of certain seal species;

- International Dolphin Conservation Programme;

- Whaling;

- Protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from bottom fishing;

- Destructive fishing practices in the high seas and the protection of ecosystems;

- Use of alien and locally absent species;

- Humane trapping standards;

- Convention on the Protection of the Alps;

- Ban on trade in cat and dog fur;

- Trade in seal products;

- Combating invasive species (2008).

The world-wide Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA, 2013) is an interna-
tional work program launched by UN Secretary General and designed to meet the
needs of decision makers and the public for scientific information concerning the con-
sequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and options for responding to
those changes. MA published the assessment results on biodiversity, desertification,
wetland and water, human health and business and industry in six Synthesis Reports
edited and published by the World Resources Institute (WRI, 2013) and World Health
Organization (WHO, 2013) in 2005 (WRI 1-5, 2005 and WHO, 2005). A short
summary is given here of the main findings:

- Over the past 50 years humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and exten-

sively than ever before in human history. It has resulted in irreversible losses in
earth ecosystem diversity;