Natura 2000 and forests: assessing the state of implementation and effectiveness

Forests are of crucial importance for Natura 2000, the EU-wide ecological network of protected areas. Nearly 25% of the total forest area in the EU is part of the network, but knowledge about how Natura 2000 is implemented in forests, and its effects on biodiversity, forest management and other land uses across the EU is fragmented. The new What Science Can Tell Us Study from the European Forest Institute, ‘Natura 2000 and forests: Assessing the state of implementation and effectiveness’, bridges this gap in knowledge. It looks from policy, economic and ecological perspectives at the monitoring of forest biodiversity in Europe, as well as the challenges, achievements, effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of Natura 2000 in forests in the EU.