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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
Conventions at the global level: Environmental policy instruments important for the establishment of protected areas in Europe.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Policy framework
Nationally designated areas (CDDA): The European inventory of nationally designated areas holds information about protected sites and about the national legislative instruments, which directly or indirectly create protected areas
Located in Data and maps › Datasets
Protected areas: a key element of Europe's sustainable future: Europe's protected areas play a key role in protecting biodiversity. But they are also a critical component of the continent’s economy, contributing over EUR 15 billion a year in jobs, food, and other services for the people of Europe. 2012 marks both the 20th anniversary of the most important international multilateral agreement on Biodiversity, the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity and of the most important EU piece of legislation on nature and biodiversity, the EU's Habitats Directive. As today, 22 May, is international biodiversity day, it provides an ideal opportunity to examine the state of protected areas today and the many benefits they provide.
Located in Articles
Management: 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
Directives of the European Union: Environmental policy instruments important for the establishment of protected areas in Europe.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Policy framework
Average size of terrestrial nationally designated areas (in km2) in different regions of the world: * EEA-39 includes the 32 EEA member countries and seven collaborating countries (http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-andmaps/ figures/political-map-of-eea-member-and-collaborating-countries).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Complementarity between national designations and international networks: The system of protected areas in Europe is complex, and in many cases, there is a complementarity and overlap between different designation‑types at various levels.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Europe's protected areas › Facts and figures
Key message 3 — SOER synthesis: Nature and biodiversity — Europe has established an extensive network of protected areas and programmes to reverse the loss of endangered species. However, widespread alteration of landscapes, degradation of ecosystems and loss of natural capital mean that the EU will not meet its target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. To improve the situation we must prioritise biodiversity and ecosystems in policymaking at all scales, particularly addressing agriculture, fisheries, regional development, cohesion and spatial planning.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › … › The European environment – state and outlook 2010: Synthesis › Key messages