Preventing harmful effects of human made noise on biodiversity

Preventing the harmful effects of anthropogenic noise on biodiversity is a new policy briefing from the Horizon Europe PLAN B project - Tackling Noise and Light Pollution for a Sustainable Tomorrow, in collaboration with the AquaPLAN - Aquatic pollution from light and anthropogenic noise - project. The briefing provides strategic guidance for the European Union to take steps towards addressing noise pollution, recognising its adverse environmental impacts, and promoting science-based regulation. It highlights that:
• Noise pollution significantly impacts biodiversity across terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments.
• Current noise assessment frameworks are largely anthropocentric and should better reflect species-specific sensitivities, seasonal patterns, and ecological contexts.
• Natural soundscapes are an integral part of healthy ecosystems and must be explicitly recognised in environmental policy.
The document calls for:
• A biodiversity orrientated approach to noise mapping and assessment.
• Stronger use of the Environmental Noise Directive instruments to protect nature.
• Recognition of noise as a form of envirionmental pollution  at all regulatory levels.
• The preservation and promotion of quiet wilderness and Natura 2000 areas