Natura 2000 network’s contribution to good status

Almost one fifth of the European Union’s (EU) land area and around 10 % of its marine area are covered by the EU Natura 2000 network (around 28 000 sites), making it the world’s largest network of protected areas. Around 60 % of the network’s terrestrial area are forests, grasslands and heathlands. See the EEA’s Natura 2000 barometer for further official statistics.

Nationally protected areas in Europe have significantly increased thanks to the Natura 2000 network, but stronger management and conservation measures are needed to effectively boost the potential of the network.

According to our latest assessment, the Natura 2000 network shows positive effects for many species and habitats. For example, bogs, mires and fens, which are better covered by Natura 2000, have a better conservation status than habitats that are less or marginally covered. Land use changes are more marked outside the network. The dominant change across land cover classes within the Natura 2000 network was conversion of pastures and mosaic farmland into arable land and permanent crops.

Despite the positive impacts, the full potential of the network has not yet been realised. Extra efforts are needed to strengthen management plans and monitoring to achieve effectively managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas. Addressing the knowledge gaps would ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the role of Natura 2000 network.