GEO-6 Assessment for PAN-EUROPEAN

reaching out to the entire pan-European region. For the EU, a dedicated Biodiversity Strategy for 2020 has been put in place linked to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (CBD 2014), but a larger number of environmental and conservation policies have been in place for some time to sustain biodiversity including habitats directly. A central role here has been played by the Habitats and Bird Directives (Gantioler et al. 2010; Gaston et al. 2008; Donald et al. 2007), now supplemented by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as a Directive on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Similarly, regional conventions have also shown significant, mainly positive impacts, such as the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, the European Landscape Convention, the Alpine Convention, the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR). For the Arctic regions of Europe, important efforts take place under the auspices of the Arctic Council, in particular with regard to its biodiversity program “Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna” (CAFF). Other conservation concerns are addressed by EU policy, for example, the illegal trade of wildlife products by the so-called EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, as illegal trade still severely affects biodiversity, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and African regions.

Establishment of protected areas and their networks is one of the essential policy responses to habitat loss and fragmentation and a key means of reducing biodiversity decline and loss (Juffe-Bignoli et al. 2014; CBD 2014; EEA 2012b). By number of sites, the Natura 2000 network is the most extensive network of protected areas in the world (EEA 2012b) (More...61). For an improved European approach towards protected areas, implementation of the Natura 2000 network can be counted as an overall success, now comprising more than 27 000 sites and covering 18 per cent of the terrestrial area of the EU Member States and 4 per cent of EU marine waters. Benefits from Natura 2000 beyond biodiversity conservation include a wide range of ecosystem services provided by the network, such as water

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quality, flood control, cultural services and increased values for tourism and recreation (Gantioler et al. 2010; EC 2013e, 2015b).

Also across the entire pan-European region, there is a relatively steep increase in the area that is protected according to international and national agreements and legislation. As shown in Figure 2.4.5, at the pan-European scale high percentages of Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites are currently protected. A relatively steep increase started in the 1980s,

Figure 2.4.5: Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites fully covered by protected areas in the pan-European region, 1900-2010

20 25 30 35 40

15 10 5 0

Year 100

20 40 60 80

0 Year Source: Brooks et al. 2016

GEO-6 Assessment for the pan-European Region

% AZE sites completely covered by protected areas

% IBA sites completely covered by protected areas

1990 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 1990 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

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