Restoration efforts required for achieving the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives

Countries of the European Union (EU) have signed up to conservation targets under the Nature Directives. If achieved, the Habitats and Birds Directives will result in no net loss of biodiversity, and will ensure the sustainability of much of Europe’s rich biodiversity. The continent is home to unique biomes from the Mediterranean to the Alps and Arctic Tundra, and these harbour a wealth of biodiversity. However, it is also the most developed area in the world, and over half of species and two thirds of habitats are threatened with extinction.

By 2020, EU countries must implement the Nature Directives. A key component of achieving targets under the Directives is the “maintenance and restoration of ecosystems and their services”. Restoration of degraded habitats is critical to realising the Directives, and as such, substantial restoration measures will have to be implemented in the near future if the planned targets are to be achieved. It is thus important to assess progress towards this target.

The aim of this study is to measure progress towards meeting restoration targets, and to provide an overview of current practices and approaches used by countries of the EU to identify restoration needs and set objectives and priorities. This will highlight achievements to date and best practices, but also data gaps and inconsistencies, and will enable the first evaluation of how countries contribute to current and potential conservation. These data will then be used to evaluate which species and habitats are given conservation priority, and which are falling shy of the targets. This will highlight priorities for meeting the 2020 targets, and will also indicate whether objectives set by each country are likely to meet the targets.

This project is funded by the European Commission so will have significant policy relevance and implications. This study will thus assist the Commission in gathering and structuring all relevant information and evidence related to restoration efforts implemented under the Nature Directives. The database developed during this project will have many potential uses for Nature policies and conservation research, and will be made publicly available.