Matches and mismatches between national and EU-wide priorities: Examining the Natura 2000 network in vertebrate species conservation

摘要: Abstract The Natura 2000 (N2k) is a network of protected areas, established to implement the Birds and Habitats Directives European Union (EU) with goal conservation irrespective national boundaries. We provide first assessment whole terrestrial N2k using spatial prioritizations, high-resolution vertebrate species distribution data. First, we quantified species' representation in network, compared it against outcomes hypothetical optimal planning scenarios at EU, member state, biogeographical levels. Second, examined configuration sites same-sized top priority based on three scenarios. found that covered all directive species, coverage was significantly better than random allocation sites. observed substantial differences between taxa, followed by fact succeeded covering threatened non-directive species. current closer allocations done states' or levels EU-wide allocation. Furthermore, overlapped more they were evenly distributed across EU allocations. Finally, scenario well ranges habitats following approach taken Directive. Our results show despite being moderately successful, there effectiveness be gained from state collaboration via potential expansions complementary policies.