Plant Invasions of Protected Areas in Europe: An Old Continent Facing New Problems

摘要: Europe has a particularly long history of land protection measures, and is the region world with largest number protected areas, which grown rapidly over last decades. This was to large extent due Natura 2000 programme European Union focused on extending existing network legally areas other habitats conservation value. As result, 120,000 nationally designated sites (the most in world) 21 % continent area (1,228,576 km2) currently enjoys some form legal protection. Despite these impressive statistics, effectiveness protecting biodiversity constrained by habitat fragmentation factors. generally high awareness importance Europe, invasive alien species are not perceived as pressing problem public. contrast fact that many them have serious impacts ecosystem functioning areas. Among these, Ailanthus altissima, Fallopia taxa, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera Robinia pseudoacacia considered top invaders managers Surprisingly, continent-wide rigorous data distribution abundance lacking there an urgent need for collating checklists using standardised criteria record their status. With exception very few regions such information missing, or incomplete, based varying scattered grey literature unpublished reports. To put management more scientific basis collection curation better priority; this could be done instruments EU convenient platform. found means web survey reported here, well aware seriousness threats imposed plant but efforts lack resources, both staff financial, translated into practical guidelines.