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Indicator Assessment
Since the adoption of the Habitats Directive in 1992 and the creation of the Natura 2000 network, the cumulative area of the network has steadily increased in EU Member States. In 2019, the network covered an area of 1 358 125 km2, encompassing nine biogeographical regions.
The coverage of terrestrial Natura 2000 areas was 784 994 km2 in 2019, which is 18 % of the EU’s land area. This is more than the global biodiversity target for protected areas, which aims to conserve at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas by 2020 (Aichi Target 11).
Within the legal framework of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, each Member State is required to contribute to the creation of Natura 2000 by designating sites in proportion to the natural habitat types and the habitats of species of European interest present within its territory.
Since the Natura 2000 network was set up in 1992, its cumulative area has steadily grown, encompassing nine biogeographical regions. Terrestrial and marine sites of Community importance (SCIs), proposed SCIs and special protection areas (SACs) designated under the Habitats Directive now cover 1 068 197 km2, while Special Protection Areas (SPAs), created under the Birds Directive, cover 854 465 km2 (Figure 1). Many sites are designated under both Directives. When taking into account this overlap, the Natura 2000 network covers an overall area of 1 358 125 km2.
Natura 2000 has stimulated a remarkable increase in the area protected in Europe and in 2019 the network covered 18 % of the combined terrestrial area of the 27 EU Member States plus the United Kingdom, with around 28 000 sites. This is above the global biodiversity Aichi Target 11, which aims to conserve at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas by 2020.
As of end 2019, 14 Member States — Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain — had designated more than 17 % of their land area as Natura 2000 sites (see Natura 2000 Barometer for more information).
There are various benefits from having Natura 2000. Common methodology and criteria adopted across the EU for setting up sites ensure better ecological coherence than if the network were organised within each Member State only. This is beneficial, for example, to migratory species and makes it easier to designate sites that cross national borders.
An important feature is that Natura 2000 sites are not necessarily pristine areas, stripped of human impact. Their aim is not to exclude economic activity. In fact, around 40 % of their total area is farmland, with forests making up almost 50 %. The main objectives of Natura 2000 sites are to avoid activities that could seriously disturb the species or damage the habitats for which the site is designated and to take positive measures, if necessary, to maintain and restore these habitats and species in order to improve conservation. While this approach encourages sustainable management, the network can still be subject to significant pressures, such as the intensification or abandonment of traditional, extensive farming practices or even land abandonment, in particular in areas with natural constraints. Natural, old-growth forests are also subject to management intensification, and their unique biodiversity and structural features are irreversibly lost. Management of the sites is therefore a decisive factor in achieving the conservation aims; however, we currently lack comprehensive information on how efficiently these sites are managed. Incorporating Natura 2000 objectives into spatial planning is crucial. In particular, maintaining or improving connectivity between sites is of utmost importance.
Note: More information about progress in designating marine protected areas is provided in the EEA indicator, Marine protected areas in Europe's seas (MAR 004).
This indicator shows the current status of implementation of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) by EU Member States. It does this by showing trends in spatial coverage of special protection areas (SPAs) designated under the Birds Directive, sites and proposed sites of Community importance (SCIs) and special areas of conservation (SACs) designated under the Habitats Directive, as well as the net area of the Natura 2000 network.
The net percentage of Natura 2000 areas helps to evaluate progress in reaching Aichi Target 11.
The units used in the indicator are the square kilometre (km2) for area.
Context description
The establishment of designated sites under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives is a direct response to concerns over biodiversity loss. An indicator of the change in coverage of these sites is a valuable indication of commitment to conserving biodiversity and reducing its loss.
The Habitats and Birds Directives aim to conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora within the European Union. Member States are required to propose sites for protecting the habitats and species listed in the Annexes to the Directives.
Under the Birds Directive, Member States designate special protection action areas (SPAs). The sites designated under the Habitats Directive include proposed sites of Community importance (pSCIs), sites of Community importance (SCIs) and special areas of conservation (SACs). The Natura 2000 network is composed of SPAs, pSCIs, SCIs and SACs. Once the lists of SCIs have been adopted, Member States must designate them as SACs as soon as possible and within six years at most.
Global Aichi biodiversity target 11:
By 2020, at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
2020 EU biodiversity targets — Target 1: Fully implement the Birds and the Habitats Directives
Action 1: Complete the establishment of the Natura 2000 network and ensure good management.
Trends in proposals for sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives
The sum of the area (km2) of each site is registered in the annual versions of the Geographic Information System (GIS) Natura 2000 database and grouped per year of proposal/designation.
The figures relating to the total area of Natura 2000 sites have been obtained through GIS analysis. This avoids any risk of double counting sites that have been designated under both Directives. The calculation of the Natura 2000 area has only been available since 2011. Since 2005, the area calculation for SPAs and SCIs has also been based on GIS data, but before this date tabular data were used.
Information is collected from national authorities by DG Environment and processed by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD). Further improvements on data flows are under discussion.
No gap filling is used in this indicator.
No methodology references available.
No uncertainty has been specified
No uncertainty has been specified
The main disadvantage of this indicator is that it only covers EU Member States.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/sites-designated-under-the-eu-3/assessment or scan the QR code.
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