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The spatial extent of the MPA assessment areas was defined as the marine waters surrounding the EU countries whose outer limit is defined by the 200 NM boundary from the coast (possibly coinciding with formally recognised EEZ boundaries) or the equidistance (in cases of opposite neighbouring EU countries), or by the presence of a boundary defined by an agreed treaty. However, since no formal boundary of this map exists and since this limit coincides with the boundary of the maritime area (water column) submitted by EU Member States under MSFD Articles 8, 9 and 10 in the Eionet Central Data Repository (CDR) ), the decision was taken to use the MSFD Region/Subregion boundary shapefile assembled in 2013 by ETC/ICM (ETC/ICM, 2013), based on EU Member States reported data integrated with information from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) Maritime Boundaries (version 7) to delimit the MPA assessment areas
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The European inventory of nationally designated protected areas holds information about designated areas and their designation types, which directly or indirectly create protected areas. This is version 17 and covers data reported until March 2019.
The High nature Value Farmland (HNV) comprises hot spots of biodivsersity in rural areas and is usually characterised by extensive farming practices. This figure shows where the HNV are at higher risk due the pressure of agricultural intensification.
Healthy forests, soils, seas and other ecosystems form Europe’s ‘natural capital’, which is vital for our well-being and the economy. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) new analysis, published today, looks at how to measure the condition of Europe’s natural capital and provides a first overview of the state and trends of Europe’s ecosystems. The report also highlights the need for better data on the condition of ecosystems in Europe.
Maintaining 'natural capital', i.e. ecosystems and the services they provide, is fundamental to human economic activity and well-being. The need to conserve and enhance natural capital is therefore an explicit policy target in the EU's Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and its Seventh Environment Action Programme. Approaches to measuring the stocks of natural resources that yield benefits as natural capital have gained considerable traction in recent decades. By providing regular, objective data that are consistent with wider statistical data, natural capital accounting can provide the fundamental evidence base required for informing economic and environmental decision making that delivers on these ambitions for natural capital.
Article 17 dashboards providing summary of results for each Member State (national summaries)
The map shows the distribution of fragmentation classes across Europe. Classes represent the number of meshes per 1 000 km2. Light colours mean less fragmentation pressure and dark colours mean higher fragmentation pressure of urban and transport infrastructure expansion.
The raster file is the basis of the indicator for assessing landscape fragmentation due to urban and transport expansion. The computation is based on the method of Effective Mesh Density (seff). The Effective Mesh Density (seff) is a measure of landscape fragmentation, i.e. the degree to which movement between different parts of the landscape is interrupted by a Fragmentation Geometry (FG). FGs are defined as the presence of impervious surfaces and traffic infrastructure. The Effective Mesh Density gives the effective number of meshes (or landscape patches) per 1000 km2, in other words, the density of the meshes. The more FGs fragment the landscape, the higher the effective mesh density. The seff values are reported within the 1km sq regular LEAC grid.
Article 11 of the Habitats Directive requires Member States to monitor the conservation status of the habitats and species listed in its annexes. Article 17 requires a report to be sent to the European Commission every 6 years following an agreed format. These scoreboards provide information on timeliness of data delivery by Member States for the reporting 2013-2018.
The EEA, together with its European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and consultants from the European Commission, compile and process the reports from the Member States.
Reporting under the Habitats and the Birds Directives
Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. It is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive. This version covers the reporting in 2018.
Green infrastructure is a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas, which include other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. These include water purification, air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. This network of green (land) and blue (water) spaces can improve environmental conditions and therefore citizens' health and quality of life. It also supports a green economy, creates job opportunities and enhances biodiversity. To maximise the benefits it provides, GI should be an essential component of spatial and physical planning. Developing GI is a key step towards successfully implementing the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy. Target 2 of the strategy requires that ‘by 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems.’
Maintaining natural capital is vital for the function of our societies and people’s well-being. A new briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA), published today, analyses how to plan for green infrastructure and ecosystem restoration, which in turn can enhance biodiversity, support green economy and create job opportunities.
Natura 2000 sites, public forests and riparian corridors: The connectivity backbone of forest green infrastructure
The map indicates, from red to dark blue, the rating of corridors with an increasing number of ecosystem services (i.e. erosion control, crop pollination, water retention, and outdoor recreation) above the average ecosystem services delivery outside Natura 2000 areas at the national scale of Spain.
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/dm or scan the QR code.
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