Working Paper: Conservation Targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2023

This is the 2nd milestone report of the 2023/24 Charlemagne Prize Academy Fellow, Dr. Verónica Relaño, in which she examines the role of biogeographical processes and seminars.

Executive Summary:

In 2020, the European Commission launched the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 titled "Bringing Nature Back into Our Lives," aiming to protect nature and reverse ecosystem degradation. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 outlines two main ambitious goals: i) Legally protect at least 30% of the EU's land, including inland waters, and 30% of the sea; and ii) Ensure at least 30% of species and habitats under the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive are in a favorable condition or show a positive trend.

The Natura 2000 network is central to these efforts, spanning all 27 EU Member States and covering over 18% of the EU's land area and approximately 9% of its marine territory. Established under the Birds and the Habitats Directives, it consists of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for other habitats and species.

Member States are required to submit pledges demonstrating how they will meet protected area and conservation status targets, which are then reviewed by the European Commission and European Environment Agency (EEA). This process plays a critical role in aligning efforts with the Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

Analysis of conservation status across various regions shows a wide range of conditions. In the Atlantic marine region, for instance, countries like Denmark and France have a significant portion of habitats and species with unknown or unfavorable statuses, indicating a need for improved monitoring and management strategies. The Mediterranean, Baltic, and Black Sea regions present similar challenges, with a mix of favorable, unfavorable, and unknown statuses, often requiring transnational collaboration for effective conservation.

For the last two years, the European Commission organised the biogeographical process and Natura 2000 seminars, designed to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among Member States and stakeholders, facilitating consistent management practices under the umbrella of the Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

Despite these efforts, the challenge remains in understanding how well or poorly the EU is progressing toward achieving national, European, and global conservation targets. This is due to the majority of countries not submitting their pledges or not making public their submissions. This challenge, along with the reasons for missing submissions, will be explored in a forthcoming report.