EU Biodiversity Corridors

Protected Areas and the ecological connections between them are the backbone of biodiversity and conservation, because they provide wild species with suitable spaces to reproduce, rest and feed, and guarantee the so-called nature continuum, therefore the ability to provide ecosystem services.

Today the most important areas for ecological connectivity are trapped in a matrix caused by anthropic impact which leads to a decrease in their biological value.

Furthermore, EU-funded research projects on ecological connectivity often end with a set of maps and recommendations that are only in a few cases actually implemented on the ground

The EU biodiversity strategy "Bringing nature back into our lives" approved by the European Parliament has two important objectives to be achieved by 2030: the target of improving conservation status and the protection of 30% of the EU territory (of which 10% are strictly protected areas).

The EU explicitly mentions the Trans-European Nature Network, which should be strengthened and enhanced. To achieve the improvement of the status of 30% of the species and habitats mentioned in the Habitats Directive, it is highlighted how necessary and urgent it is to identify important nodes of the ecological network and all its connectors, to protect them accordingly.

How we intend to achieve it

We worked to draw a map of priority solutions for connecting existing protected areas in Europe, of which the Natura 2000 network constitutes the backbone. This objective is achieved by improving the connectivity of fragmented environments, developing ecological corridors, taking into account the general landscape and the state of degradation of biodiversity. This is done on a scientific basis, identifying the best opportunities to increase connectivity and strengthen the network. These biodiversity corridors will be defined taking into account the need to intervene in harmony and balance with the surrounding areas experienced by humans with their activities.

Starting from the general vision of the detailed, rigorously scientific maps created, a European network of the main biodiversity corridors has therefore been identified which can act as guidelines, and therefore also offer a political utility that can be used in the Nature Restoration Law. In particular, this extraction is a real "connectivity skeleton" (centrality) which can guarantee the resilience of biodiversity even in the event of extreme events, climatic upheavals, etc., but which is also achievable (which therefore does not remain a mere theoretical map hypothesis, impossible to implement), and on which the priority areas of intervention were also identified (gap analysis).

This project has therefore allowed us and will allow us to develop:

1. A comprehensive analysis of the current trans-European natural network
(state of the art and systematisation of all existing studies).

2. A new map at the European scale
with identification of priority areas of intervention for conservation and barriers in the ecological network.

3. Contextualisation of the results and proposals for intervention
intervention on selected pilot sites, with the development of technical guidelines for the transfer of activities throughout the entire trans-European ecological network.

4. Socio-economic analysis
to define the costs and benefits of habitat restoration, conservation and management actions.

5. An evaluation of financing options
for interventions in the identified sites, and involvement of national and international institutions for the identification of the most suitable legislative instruments to give concrete application in individual countries.

The context in which we move

Our Aim

How we intend to achieve it

This project has therefore allowed us and will allow us to develop:

Our Partners

Project Data