Publicatie noua: Natura 2000 - successful, flexible, modern - Facts and findings

NATURA 2000 provides us with the best achievement of Europe in protecting biodiversity. Since its creation, nearly 20 percent of Europe’s territory has been included in the network of NATURA 2000.

Including now about 25.000 sites in all 27 Member States, NATURA 2000 is seen as the cornerstone of the EU’s biodiversity work and represents one of the world’s most modern and ambitious approaches to halt the loss of biodiversity.

NATURA 2000 sites maintain and provide a number of ecosystem services crucial for human well-being. Some sites preserve habitat types that provide important services: wetlands crucial for water purification and retention, peat bogs important for carbon storage and forested mountain areas that help prevent ero-sion and landslide. The sites can also function as ‘refuges’ and breeding places for local biodiversity like pollinating insects, game animals and fish.

First successes:
NATURA 2000 is the cornerstone of EU’s biodiversity work. Although the overall trend in halting the loss of biodiversity is continuing, there are positive trends for some species. The recovery of some of the large carnivores is also an encouraging indicator.

Flexible management:
NATURA 2000 allows adjustments in conservation objectives and management plans which is needed to address – for example – the future impact of climate change.

Modern assessment of impacts:
NATURA 2000 does no look at the type of a project, but only its actual impact on the site in need of protection. It guarantees ecological sustainability while allowing for economic development.

Download the full report for more information.

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