Marine protected areas in Europe's seas

The European Union has made progress in designating new marine protected areas, both as part of the Natura 2000 network and through complementary national designations. As a result, marine protected area coverage more than tripled, to 13.7%, between 2012 and 2023. However, further significant efforts are required to achieve the EU Biodiversity strategy target of protecting at least 30% of EU seas by 2030, while also ensuring that all protected areas are effectively managed. At present it appears unlikely that the target will be met.

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Metadata
DPSIR Response
Typology Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
UN SDGs SDG14: Life below water
Topics Biodiversity
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Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group Mikkel Schwartz
Layout
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Marine protected area coverage in EU Member States, 2012-2023", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. Marine protected area coverage in EU Member States, 2012-2023" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "74af9ea2-c409-4545-ac61-23cd1b16f8a1" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef" }, "bd42e23d-5ed1-4812-815d-96ddbab2069c": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "By 2023, several EU Member States had made significant progress in protecting their marine ecosystems through the designation of MPAs. Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have surpassed 30% coverage. Other countries such as Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Romania have expanded their networks of MPAs beyond 20%. Natura 2000 plays a very significant role in the MPAs networks in most countries, with complementary national designations adding to the network.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "By 2023, several EU Member States had made " }, { "children": [ { "text": "significant progress" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " in protecting their marine ecosystems through the designation of MPAs. Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have surpassed 30% coverage. Other countries such as Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Romania have expanded their networks of MPAs beyond 20%. " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000/designating-natura-2000-sites_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " plays a very significant role in the MPAs networks in most countries, with complementary national designations adding to the network." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "ceed96a8-eeb1-4f1e-bbe2-cec88477382a": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Progress in designating new MPAs could be observed in most Member States over the last 10 years; however, it has been slow in several countries. While it is important for Member States to continue working at national level to define new MPAs, it is also crucial to ensure cooperation across European regional seas. This will support the development of a coherent network of MPAs across the EU and achieve the joint target of protecting at least 30% of seas. 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As a result, marine protected area coverage more than tripled, to 13.7%, between 2012 and 2023. However, further significant efforts are required to achieve the EU Biodiversity strategy target of protecting at least 30% of EU seas by 2030, while also ensuring that all protected areas are effectively managed. At present it appears unlikely that the target will be met.", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The European Union has made progress in designating new marine protected areas, both as part of the Natura 2000 network and through complementary national designations. As a result, marine protected area coverage more than tripled, to 13.7%, between 2012 and 2023. However, further significant efforts are required to achieve the EU Biodiversity strategy target of protecting at least 30% of EU seas by 2030, while also ensuring that all protected areas are effectively managed. At present it appears unlikely that the target will be met. 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Marine protected area coverage in the EU, 2012-2023", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. Marine protected area coverage in the EU, 2012-2023" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "95e99eba-4c2a-47a0-a93b-e4f01789085e" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "styles": {} }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "6025ed71-9ab9-4ee4-a19d-614b143e0700": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Designating protected areas is essential to halt biodiversity decline. One target of the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030 is to legally protect and effectively manage a minimum of 30% of European Union seas by 2030. Target 3 of the CBD\u2019s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework also includes a similar coverage target of \u201cat least 30%\u201d.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Designating protected areas is essential to halt biodiversity decline. One target of the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " is to legally " }, { "children": [ { "text": "protect" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " and effectively " }, { "children": [ { "text": "manage" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " a minimum of 30% of European Union seas by 2030. " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Target 3" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/3" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " of the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "CBD\u2019s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.cbd.int/gbf" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " also includes a similar coverage target of \u201cat least 30%\u201d." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "809711b4-59e6-4f72-b35b-447feea860d8": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Over the last decade, the total area covered by marine protected areas in the EU has increased gradually, from 4.15% in 2012 to 13.7% in 2023. This is the result of both the expansion of the Natura 2000 network (a network of protected areas designated under the EU nature directives) and protected areas established through complementary national designations. It also includes protected areas designated under the Regional Seas Conventions (RSC) , namely the Barcelona Convention, HELCOM & OSPAR.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Over the last decade, the total area covered by marine protected areas in the EU has " }, { "children": [ { "text": "increased" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " gradually, from 4.15% in 2012 to 13.7% in 2023. This is the result of both the expansion of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 network" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000/designating-natura-2000-sites_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " (a network of protected areas designated under the EU nature directives) and protected areas established through complementary national designations. It also includes protected areas designated under the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Regional Seas Conventions (RSC)" } ], "data": { "url": "https://water.europa.eu/marine/countries-and-regional-seas/regional-conventions" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", namely the Barcelona Convention, HELCOM & OSPAR. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "9c862379-b8c5-4e04-b15f-330588124c77": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 highlights the importance of building a truly coherent Trans-European network of protected areas through improving their connectivity. It will therefore be particularly important for the designation of new protected areas in EU\u2019s seas to ensure that these areas are defined based on sound scientific analysis ensuring ecological representativity, coherence and connectivity.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " highlights the importance of building a truly coherent Trans-European network of protected areas through improving their connectivity. It will therefore be particularly important for the designation of new protected areas in EU\u2019s seas to ensure that these areas are defined based on sound " }, { "children": [ { "text": "scientific analysis" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " ensuring ecological representativity, coherence and connectivity. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>figure instructions goes here</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/b1bfca638ab3437ea66f35166c1a8ea5" }, "d065707d-a4f3-46e1-8e6a-7806248d079e": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The conservation of coastal and marine areas is important for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring that ecosystems and their services are fully functional. Marine protected areas (MPAs) play a key role in conserving coastal and marine ecosystems, and provide significant economic and societal benefits supporting local livelihoods.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The conservation of coastal and marine areas is important for maintaining " }, { "children": [ { "text": "biodiversity" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " and ensuring that ecosystems and their services are fully functional. Marine protected areas (MPAs) play a key role in conserving coastal and marine ecosystems, and provide significant economic and societal benefits supporting local livelihoods. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "d7bc3a2f-dea4-4fbb-8f59-a4e6bcdfd3fa": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Although this trend is positive, further expansion will be needed to reach the target of legally protecting at least 30% of EU\u2019s seas by 2030. The current rate of designation must increase more than double compared to the progress made over the last decade.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Although this trend is positive, " }, { "children": [ { "text": "further expansion" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " will be needed to reach the target of legally protecting at least 30% of EU\u2019s seas by 2030. The current rate of designation must increase more than double compared to the progress made over the last decade. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "deb7e84d-d2c8-4491-90fa-3dc65fe02143": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "e9d756c1-d8e9-47e7-a86b-9672a71e0514": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Additionally, improving management effectiveness of individual marine protected areas and of their networks should become a major focus in the coming years. While no comprehensive information is available yet to provide an overview of how effectively managed European MPAs are, it will be essential to develop such indicators in the coming years to track progress in implementing targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. ", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Additionally, improving management effectiveness of individual marine protected areas and of their networks should become a major focus in the coming years. While no comprehensive information is available yet to provide an overview of how effectively managed European MPAs are, it will be essential to develop such indicators in the coming years to track progress in implementing targets of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030." } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "3e263ee5-10e4-43a8-8808-1729760d8a8e", "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d", "d065707d-a4f3-46e1-8e6a-7806248d079e", "6025ed71-9ab9-4ee4-a19d-614b143e0700", "809711b4-59e6-4f72-b35b-447feea860d8", "d7bc3a2f-dea4-4fbb-8f59-a4e6bcdfd3fa", "9c862379-b8c5-4e04-b15f-330588124c77", "e9d756c1-d8e9-47e7-a86b-9672a71e0514" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><strong>Assessment text remains at</strong> <strong>the relevant</strong> <strong>aggregate level</strong> <strong>(i.e.</strong> <strong>global, EU, sectoral)</strong> <strong>and addresses the following: </strong></p><ol keys=\"dkvn8,e367c,f4lpb,9j981,7ai6k,3g3pd\" depth=\"0\"><li>Explains in one or two sentences on the environmental rationale of the indicator, i.e. why it matters to the environment that we see an increase/decrease in the value measured.</li><li>Explains in one or two sentences the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional. More information on the policy objective and related references will be included in the supporting information section. Where there is no policy objective associated with the indicator, i.e. where the indicator addresses an issue that is important for future policy formulation, this text should explain instead why this issue is important.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any mismatch between what the indicator tracks and what the policy objective/issue is.</li><li>Qualifies the historical trend (e.g. steady increase) and explains the key reasons (e.g. policies) behind it. If there is a quantitative target it explains if we are on track to meet it.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any recent changes to the trend and why.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Describes what needs to happen to see adequate progress in future, for instance in order to remain on track to meet targets.</li></ol><p><strong>Please cite your work if</strong> <strong>necessary</strong> <strong>using the EEA citation style (i.e.</strong> <strong>EEA, 2020). A full reference list appears in the supporting information section.</strong></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "2000", "placeholder": "Aggregate level assessment e.g. progress at global, EU level..", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Aggregate level assessment" } }
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Supporting information
Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for data collection" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "u" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 network" } ], "data": { "url": "https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " is based on the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "1979 Birds Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A31979L0409" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " and the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "1992 Habitats Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31992L0043" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". The European database of Natura 2000 sites consists of a compilation of the data submitted by the Member States of the European Union. This European database is generally updated once a year to take into account any updating of national databases by Member States. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "However, the release of a new EU-wide database does not necessarily mean that a particular national dataset has recently been updated. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The data for the nationally designated protected areas inventory are delivered by the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Eionet partnership countries" } ], "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/68518a58c620439ca665e2f175776321" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "\u00a0as spatial and tabular information. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The same geographical area may be designated several times under different legislation. When producing area statistics on protected areas, nationally designated protected areas and Natura 2000 datasets are overlayed to avoid double counting of overlapping site designations in the datasets. To streamline the management of the complex spatial vector data from Natura 2000 and Nationally Designated Areas the data were combined into a single dataset. This unified dataset was transferred to the EEA-JEDI data cube as a 10m gridded \u201cdimension\u201d. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The reporting guidelines with full details on the methodology are available from:\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/cdda" } ], "data": { "url": "http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/cdda" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "\u00a0and\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/natura2000/" } ], "data": { "url": "https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/natura2000/" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "To ensure a comprehensive coverage of EU waters, protected areas designated under the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Regional Seas Conventions" } ], "data": { "url": "https://water.europa.eu/marine/countries-and-regional-seas/regional-conventions" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", including the Barcelona Convention, HELCOM and OSPAR were included using the latest available data from the databases published by these conventions." }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for indicator calculation" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "u" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "As the terrestrial protected area indicator is already calculated within the JEDI systems, the same methodology was adopted for calculating the marine protected areas indicator. To achieve this, the relevant data was first transferred to a data cube, consolidating all necessary information:" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "In the next step, the protected area coverage wascalculated individually for each country. If multiple countries reported protected areas within the same marine region, these areas were assigned to both countries. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Next, a second statistic was calculated to assess the coverage of protected marine areas within the EEA marine assessment areas for the EU. Since individual countries do not need to be considered in this case, no overlaps were accounted for, and the results accurately reflect the percentage of protected areas." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "All calculations were performed using Azure Databricks. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "f4bcb719-84b5-4ec4-8588-2898acd2df8c", "title": "Natura 2000 (vector) - version 2023", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/6fc8ad2d-195d-40f4-bdec-576e7d1268e4?activeAccordion=1091667%2C1095296", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" }, { "@id": "32770166-36c3-4497-913e-05894bac7aae", "title": "Nationally designated areas for public access (vector data) - May 2024", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/f60cec02-6494-4d08-b12d-17a37012cb28?activeAccordion=1092248", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" }, { "@id": "ecba004c-3f44-429d-ac95-3f26962dc9f4", "title": "EEA marine assessment areas - version 3.0, Oct. 2022", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/940c7194-ce7b-45ba-ad22-0d47cc2b5c9e?activeAccordion=1083811", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" }, { "@id": "031f6b22-0deb-4e29-8439-a53e00589f40", "title": "EEA coastline for analysis (polygon) - version 3.0, March 2017", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/af40333f-9e94-4926-a4f0-0a787f1d2b8f?activeAccordion=945677", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" }, { "@id": "58088b65-7c75-4c3a-9802-0c59a9b448ec", "title": "EEA Marine waters for analysis - INTERNAL VERSION, Oct. 2022 (includes sensitive data)", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/8586cc6f-6f93-4a19-941d-57f1f6d44bdf?activeAccordion=1083812", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" }, { "@id": "dbfdfc43-8aff-4efa-a1de-4f14e72ce334", "title": "OSPAR Marine Protected Areas Network (version 2023)", "link": "https://odims.ospar.org/en/submissions/ospar_mpa_2023_01/", "organisation": "OSPAR Commision" }, { "@id": "b620cc3e-c7fd-47df-8ac0-933b494deaf9", "title": "HELCOM MPAs (2022-12-05)", "link": "https://metadata.helcom.fi/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/d27df8c0-de86-4d13-a06d-35a8f50b16fa", "organisation": "Helsinki Commission (HELCOM)" }, { "@id": "5bf38b79-b363-45a5-be6b-8df2360fe80a", "title": "Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs), (2019 edition, version 2)", "link": "https://www.mapamed.org/", "organisation": "Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC)" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator illustrates the changes in the share of marine protected areas in the EU-27 Member States over time. It also distinguishes between protected areas designated as Natura 2000 sites, other national designations, and those designated under Regional Sea Conventions. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated\u00a0ecosystem services and cultural values." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "Percentage" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "The indicator is a headline indicator for monitoring progress towards the goals of the 8th " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Environment Action Programme (8th EAP)" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/environment-action-programme-2030_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". It will contribute mainly to monitoring progress towards the 8th EAP biodiversity-related priority objective set out in Article 2(e), to be met by 2030: \u2018protecting, preserving and restoring marine and terrestrial biodiversity and the biodiversity of inland waters inside and outside protected areas by, inter alia, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and improving the state of ecosystems and their functions and the services they provide, and by improving the state of the environment, in particular air, water and soil, as well as by combating desertification and soil degradation\u2019" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "data": { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EU, 2022, Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a general Union Environment Action Programme to 2030, OJ L 114, 12.4.2022, p. 22&#x2013;36.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EU, Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a general Union Environment Action Programme to 2030", "uid": "MVsXJ", "zoteroId": "HYCFJYPW" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": ". The European Commission\u2019s communication on 8th EAP monitoring specifies that this indicator should monitor progress towards meeting the target to legally protect at least 30% of the EU\u2019s sea area by 2030" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "data": { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EC, 2022, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions&#xA0; on the monitoring framework for the 8th Environment Action Programme: measuring progress towards the attainment of the programme&#x2019;s 2030 and 2050 priority objectives, COM(2022) 357 final.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EC, 2022, Communication from the Commission to the", "uid": "6djIT", "zoteroId": "DIT5NBNY" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The indicator is included in the " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://dopa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/kcbd/EUBDS2030-dashboard/?version=1" }, "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity Strategy dashboard" } ] }, { "text": ". The " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" }, "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 " } ] }, { "text": "contains specific targets for protected areas to be delivered by 2030, including expanding the current network, in line with the following targets:" } ], "type": "p" }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "" } ] }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 to legally protect a minimum of 30% of the EU\u2019s land area and 30% of the EU\u2019s sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as part of a true trans-European nature network;" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 to strictly protect at least a third of the EU\u2019s protected areas, including all remaining EU primary- and old-growth forests;" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 to effectively manage all protected areas, defining clear conservation objectives and measures, and monitor them appropriately." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator directly tracks progress towards achieving the 30% target for protecting the EU\u2019s seas. The indicator is used by several EU monitoring mechanisms, such as the EU biodiversity dashboard and for the " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/sustainable-development-goals/sdg-monitoring_en" }, "children": [ { "text": "EU\u2019s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) monitoring" } ] }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Other relevant EU policy instruments include the " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/oceans-and-seas/eu-marine-strategy-framework-directive_en" }, "children": [ { "text": "EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)" } ] }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "At the global level, targets for protected areas have been adopted as part of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.cbd.int/gbf" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", including " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Target 3" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/3" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of the world\u2019s marine area." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The indicator is also used for monitoring progress towards SDG14 in the European context. " } ], "type": "p" } ]
Frequency of dissemination 1
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": " " } ] }, { "children": [ { "text": "Due to differences in data resolution, variations in coastline delineations may occur, potentially leading to minor inaccuracies near coastal regions. For instance, small sections of terrestrial protected areas might be mistakenly included in the marine area data. " } ], "type": "p" } ]
Settings
Short name marine-protected-areas-in-europes-seas
Versioning enabled yes
Contents