The State of Nature report provides an important snapshot of the current situation as regards conservation status and trends for species and habitat types protected under the two EU nature Directives. From this it is clear that, while there is still a long way to go, the Directives are managing to ‘hold the line’ in terms of biodiversity conservation in the EU. This is reflected in the fact that a number of protected species and habitats are beginning to show modest signs of improvement. These positive trends, illustrated by success stories from across Europe, provide a first indication that the legislation may well be starting to have an impact and that targeted conservation action, if taken on a large enough scale, can deliver substantial results on the ground. However, the overall EU status of species and habitats has not significantly changed over the last six years. Many habitats and species are still in an unfavourable conservation status and are continuing to deteriorate. Further major efforts will be required if the EU is to meet the targets set in its Biodiversity Strategy for 2020.

The recovery of the Brown Bear in the EU

Large carnivores are often used as flagship species for nature conservation. To some they symbolise wild nature, to others they are seen as a major threat to lives and livelihoods. This, combined with the fact that they require large territories, makes their conservation particularly challenging.

In 1992 the Brown Bear was listed as a strictly protected species under the Habitats Directive and some 750 Natura 2000 sites have been designated for its conservation across the EU. Thanks to these concerted actions, the species is now showing signs of recovery over much of its range and its overall population has increased to some 17,000 individuals.

However, the low social acceptance of their presence remains a major issue. In 2012, the European Commission launched a new Large Carnivore Initiative to encourage an active dialogue with all relevant stakeholders and to explore ways to promote the continued coexistence of humans and large carnivores in the EU.

Reporting under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives2007–2012

The State of Nature

in the EU

Print: ISBN: 978-92-79

-47626-6, doi: 10.2779/032587, KH-01-15-316-EN

-C — PD

F: ISBN: 978-92-79

-47629-7, doi: 10.2779/559

058, KH-01-15-316-EN

-N

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Union, 2015

© European Union, 2015Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium

Cover: European Otter © Andy Rouse / naturepl.comInside spread: Dunes © David Kjaer / naturepl.com

The Central European

population of the

Eastern Imperial

Eagle is steadily

increasing.

© Bence M

ate / naturepl.com

“We will have to wait a little while longer to witness the full fruits of all our hard labour, but much of the groundwork has now been laid, enabling us to concentrate wholeheartedly on ensuring that the Natura 2000 network – one of Europe’s greatest success stories – is managed effectively for the benefit of all”.

Commissioner Vella

Further information: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm

17%

23%

18%

42%

UnknownFavourableUnfavourable – inadequateUnfavourable – bad

Birds’ population status and trends

UnknownSecureNear Threatened, Declining or DepletedThreatened

16%17%

52%

15%

16%20%

52%6%4%

UnknownSecureNot secure – increasingNot secure – stableNot secure – decliningNot secure – uncertain/unknown

2%

UnknownFavourable Unfavourable – improvingUnfavourable – stableUnfavourable – deterioratingUnfavourable – unknown trend

17%

20%

23%

14%

22%

4%

Conservation status and trends of habitats

UnknownFavourableUnfavourable – inadequateUnfavourable – bad

7%

16%30%

47%

Habitats Directive species’ conservation status and trends

© Peter Cairns / naturepl.com

Reporting under EU nature legislationThe EU Birds and Habitats Directives form the cornerstones of Europe’s biodiversity policy. Every six years, Member States are asked to report back to the European Commission on the conservation status of some 2,000 species and habitat types protected under the two EU Directives, in order to see how well they are faring across the EU. The results for the period 2007–2012 were published in May 2015 in the Commission’s ‘The State of Nature’ report. Some of the key findings are presented below.

Other species• Almost a quarter (23%) of the species protected under the Habitats

Directive have a favourable conservation status at EU level. • But, at the same time, over half are unfavourable. In particular, many

species living in freshwater habitats, such as migratory fish, are declining to a worrying extent.

• Proportionally, more mammal species have a favourable conservation status compared to those that are unfavourable – bad. Large carnivores such as the Brown Bear, in particular, are showing signs of recovery across parts of their range, thanks to their strict protection under the Habitats Directive.

• Vascular plants are also doing better than the average with over 26% in a favourable conservation status. This is most likely the result of increased site protection via the Natura 2000 network.

Habitat types • Habitat types on the whole have a worse conservation status and

trend than species. • Across the EU, only 16% of the habitat assessments are favourable,

while more than two-thirds are unfavourable.• Of those that are unfavourable, 30% are still deteriorating.

Grasslands, wetlands and dune habitats are of particular concern.• On the other hand, heathland, scrub and sclerophyllous scrub (e.g.

maquis) habitats are doing better than the average.• Forests and freshwater habitats are predominantly unfavourable

but stable.

Pressures, threats and regions• For terrestrial ecosystems, the most frequently reported pressures

and threats are agriculture (including both intensification and abandonment) and the modification of natural conditions (e.g. hydrology).

• The most important pressures and threats for marine ecosystems are the use of living resources (especially for species), followed by modification of natural conditions (especially for habitats) and pollution.

• Overall, the Alpine region stands out as the one that has the most species and habitats in a favourable conservation status.

• By contrast, both the Atlantic and Boreal regions show the highest proportion of unfavourable – bad assessments.

Birds• Over half (52%) of the bird species present in the EU are considered

to have a secure population status.• Amongst those that are unfavourable but increasing, are several

species, such as the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Roseate Tern, or White-headed Duck that have been the focus of targeted conservation action at EU level.

• Species listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive, for which the designation of SPAs is a key measure, have on the whole a much better breeding population trend compared to other species.

• However, huntable species listed on Annex II show the highest percentage of species with a decreasing long-term breeding population trend.

16%

30% 4%

10%7%

33%UnknownFavourableUnfavourable – improvingUnfavourable – stableUnfavourable – deterioratingUnfavourable – unknown trend

16%20%

52%6%4%

UnknownSecureNot secure – increasingNot secure – stableNot secure – decliningNot secure – uncertain/unknown

2%

UnknownSecureNear Threatened, Declining or DepletedThreatened

16%17%

52%

15%

UnknownFavourableUnfavourable – inadequateUnfavourable – bad

7%

16%30%

47%

© D

avid Kjaer / naturepl.com