Posted on February, 09 2017

New WWF report shows EU protected areas at risk due to lack of proper implementation of EU laws, series of wrongdoings by member states, and legal actions started by the Commission. It also illustrates the importance of nature protection and sustainable development going hand in hand.

The European Commission recently confirmed that the EU Birds and Habitats Directives were Europe’s strongest conservation legislation and committed to further improve their effectiveness. WWF’s new report “Preventing paper parks: How to make the EU nature laws work” offers a good overview of the main problems on the ground and effective solutions to put them right.

The report shows what it takes to ensure “Full and Effective Implementation” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and therefore we call on the European Commission and Member States to step up their efforts by addressing the following priorities:

• Complete the designation of marine Natura 2000 sites;
• Develop conservation measures and management plans for all Natura 2000 sites
• Increase investment in Natura 2000; and
• Strengthen enforcement across Europe