The inquiry comes after Wales failed to meet the 2010 biodiversity target set as part of the UK government's commitment to the Earth Summit.

BBC: Sustainability committee

Marine areas are to receive special attention by governments as part of renewed efforts to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 of ensuring that 10% of marine areas are protected by 2020.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

The purpose of inquiry is to establish why Wales, along with every other country, failed to meet the 2010 biodiversity target set as part of the UK government's commitment to the United Nations' Earth Summit.

BBC: Sustainability committee

Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said the Commission was committed to a new target of halting biodiversity loss by 2020.

BBC: Biodiversity debate

We have increased protected area coverage from 3% terrestrially in the early 1980s to nearly 13% now, and the Biodiversity Convention has set a terrestrial target of 17% by 2020.

FORBES: Conservation International: Stemming the Tide of Environmental Crises, Part One

However, biodiversity and ecosystem services are declining at an unprecedented rate and the world failed to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

He told MEPs the target was "highly ambitious" and that future legislation would take biodiversity into account.

BBC: Biodiversity debate

Despite the failure to meet the 2010 target, according to the CCW, its existence has stimulated important action to safeguard biodiversity in Wales.

BBC: Sustainability committee