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IUCN management categories: According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) a protected area can include any area of sea, lakes, rivers or land that has been identified as important for conservation of nature, and managed for this purpose. Some protected areas allow industry, extensive agriculture or fishing to occur within their boundaries, while others prohibit all of these activities.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Share of protected areas in selected ecosystems: Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Management of protected areas: The links below provide information, guidance, and best practice on management of protected areas.
Located in Environmental topics › Biodiversity › Europe's protected areas
Number and size of protected areas: About 1 096 800 km2 or 25 % of the EU 27 terrestrial land are protected under Natura 2000 or national designations or some combination of the two.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Distribution maps: Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Connectivity across national boundaries: Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Management: Located in Environmental topics › Biodiversity › Europe's protected areas
EEA reviews new findings from 2012, the Year of Water: Europe needs to work harder to protect its water resources from increasing pressures. This was one of the messages that emerged during 2012, ‘European Year of Water’. The European Environment Agency (EEA) also presented important findings in many other areas, including air, climate, biodiversity and chemicals.
Located in Press room › News
Nationally designated areas (CDDA): The European inventory of nationally designated areas holds information about protected areas and the national legislative instruments, which directly or indirectly create protected areas.
Located in Data and maps › Datasets
Protected areas in Europe - an overview: Protected areas today cover a relatively large part of Europe, with almost 21 % of the territory of EEA member countries and collaborating countries consisting of protected areas. In spite of this widespread presence of protected areas in all European countries, the topic has not received as much attention on a pan-European level as other environmental issues. We hope this report from the EEA the first we have compiled on the subject will go some way to redressing the balance. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of protected areas and aims to assist policymakers and the wider public in understanding the complexity of the current systems of protected areas.
Located in Publications