Contents: Why is biodiversity important? -- The state of biodiversity in the EU -- The 2010 assessment of the EU biodiversity action plan. Objective 1 : to safeguard the EU's most important habitats and species -- Objective 2 : to conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU countryside -- Objective 3 : to conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU marine environment -- Objective 4 : to reinforce the compatibility of regional and territorial development with biodiversity in the EU -- Objective 5 : to substantially reduce the impact on EU biodiversity of invasive alien species -- Objectives 6-7-8 : to strengthen the EU's tole in combatting global diversity loss -- Objective 9 : to support biodiversity adaptation to climate change -- Objective 10 : to substantially strengthen the knowledge base.