ETC BE Report 2024/4: Approaches to identify terrestrial priority areas for achieving the 30% and 10% protection target in the EU
19 Dec 2024
Piero Visconti, Louise O’Connor, Jutta Beher
A key component of the EU Biodiversity Strategy is the development of a truly coherent and resilient Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N), defined as a ‘’strategically planned network of protected sites and corridors, building on the existing Natura 2000 network and other protected areas, as well as natural and semi-natural areas that build on other green infrastructure’’ (European Environment Agency 2020).
The realisation of the TEN-N will depend on national and sub-national initiatives for designations of protected areas and recognition of Other Effective Area-Based conservation measures, but its benefits for biodiversity will depend on how individual elements contribute to addressing protection gaps of under-protected habitats and species at the EU level.
This report demonstrates an approach to produce EU-wide analyses of conservation priorities that spatially reflect the ambition of Targets 1, 2 and 4 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 across all Member States. It illustrates how Member States and the European Commission can make use of TEN-N scenarios such as those proposed here, to enable an iterative process of identification and designations of protected areas of Community importance.
Prepared by:
Lead authors: Piero Visconti (IIASA), Louise O’Connor (IIASA), Jutta Beher (IIASA)
EEA project manager: Brian MacSharry and Ana Tejedor (EEA)
Coordination: Claudia Neitzel (NIVA)
Language Check: Shane Hume (LESP)
Layout: Oda Ellingsen (NIVA)
