Natura 2000 - Current Status

Current Status

Natura 2000 protects around 18% of land in the EU countries, and it can be considered almost completed in the EU terrestrial environment. There are still some issues which should be solved, but in general the process to construct Natura 2000 has been very positive. During the process, the European Commission has warned several EU member states over non-compliance with the EU nature directives (Habitats and Birds Directive), in particular in relation with the insufficiency of the Natura 2000 network, e.g. the European Commission started an infringement procedure against Poland in April 2006.

Natura 2000 is currently being also enlarged in the marine off-shore environment. The process was expected to be close to completion by 2012.

In respect to wilderness and wild land areas, the European Commission is currently developing guidelines on the relation between Natura 2000 and these areas. Members of the European Parliament in the plenary session of 3 February 2009 backed a report calling for further protection of Europe's wilderness. "The report also calls for more European funding to protect existing sites and "re-wild" ones that are currently being used by humans or agriculture. At present 13% of the forest zone of the EU is designated as Natura 2000 sites under the existing Birds and Habitats directive."

• Sign identifying a Natura 2000 listed site in Belgium.

• Coarse woody debris in the "Hallerburger Holz" in Nordstemmen, Germany

• The Foloi oak forest in Greece is a Natura 2000 protected area.

• Castro Verde Natura 2000, Portugal.

• Natura 2000 locality in Slovakia.

• Näverkärr in Bohuslän, Sweden, is a Natura 2000 area.

• Natura 2000 (Oder - north) locality in Poland.

• Natura 2000 (Oder - north) locality in Poland.