The European Commission will make safeguarding the timber industry in some parts of Europe a priority in 2009, commissioner for environment Stavros Dimas has said.

Biodiversity loss is impacting a range of social and economic areas across the continent, including agriculture, tourism and timber, Mr Dimas said in a speech to the European Parliament Environment Committee.

To combat this, he said the commission would prioritise the correct implementation of a number of policies and plans in 2009.

“The negative social and economic impacts of biodiversity loss and declining eco-system services are already being felt, and the continuation of economic activities such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, timber and paper industries in some parts of Europe is now at risk,” said Mr Divas.

“The European Commission will therefore prioritise the correct enforcement of Natura 2000 legislation and the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan.”

Natura 2000 is a Europe-wide network of protected areas and the Biodiversity Action Plan is the commission’s own policy adopted in 2006 to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Mr Dimas added that action to protect biodiversity would be underpinned by a commitment to improving the implementation of current EU environmental legislation.