The implementation of Natura 2000 in forests
A trans- and interdisciplinary assessment of challenges and choices
Source: Maryna / Adobe Stock
Natura 2000 forms the backbone of EU biodiversity conservation policy, with forests representing around 50% of its protected area. This study highlights five key challenges to implementation in forests – from balancing biodiversity and timber use to climate change and funding gaps – and proposes five policy pathways, stressing that a combination of approaches is needed to ensure success.
Natura 2000 is central to EU biodiversity conservation, yet limited attention has been given to its implementation in forests, which make up half of the protected network. Drawing on social and natural science data and an inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue among scientists and stakeholders, this paper identifies five major challenges: balancing biodiversity conservation with timber production, integrating scientific and local perspectives, addressing climate change, insufficient or ineffective funding, and conflicts with other sectoral policies. To tackle these, five policy pathways are outlined: improving communication and transparency, strengthening the role of conservation science, integrating citizens in policy design and implementation, developing robust funding strategies, and moving towards an integrated European land use and conservation policy. The study concludes that the combined application of all pathways is necessary to make Natura 2000 implementation in forests a success.
- Implementation
- Legal & Regulatory
- Social & Stakeholder
- Landowners & Practitioners
- Planners & Implementers
- Policy Actors