For the protection of forests and their abundant biological diversity it is necessary that climate and biodiversity protection and energy politicy work in closer concert. At the informal EU Environment Minister's meeting in Brodo (Slovenia) Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel noted: "If we do not acknowledge the interdependencies between these different policy fields we will not achieve our targets." According to Minister Gabriel a priority should be given to the development of standards for the use and promotion of bioenergy. "We need legally determined sustainability criteria for bioenergy. If there are clearly determined requirements to be followed it will be possible to achieve a positive climate record and prevent negative impacts by combining favourable crop sites with efficient technologies."
At the end of the meeting Minister Gabriel drew attention to the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 9) which is due to take place in Bonn in May 2008. He referred to the conference as an important milestone towards achieving the global 2010 biodiversity target which was adopted in 2002. Minister Gabriel said: "Since the loss of biodiversity is progressing at an alarming rate it is understandable that the expectations for this conference are very high. The EU has always played a constructive role in the past and has already made considerable headway towards achieving the global biodiversity targets." The Minister stressed that it was now necessary to find ways and means to provide and mobilise funds for the designation and sustainable management of protected areas. Minister Gabriel canvassed support for his proposal for a "Life Web Initiative", a platform which would bring together voluntary commitments of states for the establishment of new protected areas and pledges for funds from donors.