The European continent is home to a rich variety of habitats and species, both on land and in the ocean. However, centuries of human activities have taken a toll on Europe's biodiversity. Our nature has been transformed and greatly affected, and unless urgent and more ambitious measures are taken, the majority of Europe's species and habitats face an uncertain future.
Despite some progress, the majority of protected habitats and species are in poor or poor conservation status. Habitat destruction, resource overexploitation, pollution, climate change, introduction of invasive species, urban sprawl and landscape fragmentation are just some of the reasons behind this decline, affecting terrestrial and aquatic species, their habitats and ecosystem services.
The good news is that, thanks to ongoing efforts to mitigate certain impacts caused by pollutants, eutrophication and overfishing in marine ecosystems, some areas are showing signs of recovery.
There is also a growing awareness of the importance of biodiversity, which has already led to many initiatives and policies: the number and area of protected areas in the EU's Natura 2000 network are both increasing, and with new legislation such as the Nature Restoration Act, Europe wants to step up efforts not only to protect and conserve but also to restore European nature.
