Uniqueness of Protected Areas for Conservation Strategies in the European Union

Abstract

Protected areas (PAs) constitute major tools in nature conservation. In the European Union (EU), the Birds and Habitats Directives are the most important policies for conservation strategy, legally preserving Europe’s characteristic, rare, endemic and threatened biota. We used occurrence data for species listed in the directives’ Annexes to assess the uniqueness of major PAs in the EU (National Parks, Biosphere Reserves); this is important for preserving the EU’s focal species. We developed a novel, multifunctional approach to calculate different metrics of conservation value that represent different components of species diversity within the PAs, involving inventory diversity, deviation from the species–area relationship, species rarity and differentiation diversity. Applying it, we found that individual PAs frequently vary considerably in their scores on different components, which are often disconnected from PA size. PAs around the EU periphery, often containing few species, are key to conserving species that are rare in the EU. Because our analysis focuses on EU priority species and includes different components of diversity, it allows more appropriate estimation of conservation value inside PAs in context of the EU than recent, high-profile, global-level research. We offer tools to evaluate, and information to regulate, the representativeness, persistence and efficiency of PAs.

Contrasting human influences and macro-environmental factors on fire activity inside and outside protected areas of North America

“…Effectively managed protected areas (PAs) have been recognized as critical instruments in nature-conservation policy [1]. The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines a PA as a distinct geographic unit that is recognized and managed for the long-term conservation of nature along with the associated ecosystem services and cultural values.…”

“…The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines a PA as a distinct geographic unit that is recognized and managed for the long-term conservation of nature along with the associated ecosystem services and cultural values. However, PAs are under threat globally because of cumulative stresses from land-use changes, resource extraction, recreational activities, invasive species, and climate change [1][2][3][4][5]. In consequence, the effectiveness of PAs in achieving their conservation goals is questioned across the globe [6].…”

Realising the potential of Natura 2000 to achieve EU conservation goals as 2020 approaches

“…CR = Critically Endangered; EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable; NT = Near Threatened; LC = Least Concern; NE = Not evaluated; DD = Data deficient. Only species listed as CR, EN, VU and NT were considered threatened [29][30][31] .…”

Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies

“…The World Network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) comprises 701 sites in 124 countries as of 2019 [1] covering a surface area of over five million square kilometres [2]. Within the Europe Union, BRs are cornerstones of the network of protected areas (PAs) for nature conservation, along with national parks [3] and the Natura 2000 (N2000) sites [4] ("The aim of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, listed under both the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) and the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)" https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm. Natura 2000 sites are designated as either Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the protection of endangered species of wild birds under the terms of the EU Birds Directive or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the terms of the EU They further stated that "the mere existence of a city or a town in a Biosphere Reserve is not sufficient to call it an Urban Biosphere Reserve".…”

“…Batisse [16] contends that "size of each BR constitutes a fundamental issue" and that it should be linked to factors for managing genetic diversity. A study of EU PAs-including UNESCO biospheres and N2000 sites-found that conservation value was often disconnected from the size of PA and declined due to the presence of other factors: poor management effectiveness, growing human pressures and insufficient governmental support [3]. However, a review of N2000 sites found that size was a significant predictor of land cover changes in the past two decades, with changes higher in smaller N2000 sites [74].…”