Forest and Natura 2000

Europe’s diverse forest ecosystems are vital for the conservation of the EU’s rich but increasingly threatened biodiversity. Forests make up about half of the Natura 2000 Network. In general, forests are in a better state of conservation compared to other key habitat groups like grasslands and wetlands.

AREA OF FOREST INSIDE NATURA 2000 SITES IN 2020

Share of forest inside Natura 2000 in 2018, %

Click on the map area to get information on forest area (ha and %), and on the forest area inside and outside Natura 2000.

Source: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018 provided by European Environment Agency (EEA) and Copernicus Land Monitoring Service

Forest inside and outside Natura 2000 sites in 2018, %

 


The forest habitats that are protected (Annex 1) are:

  • Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles
  • Thermophilous Fraxinus angustifolia woods
  • Bog woodland
  • Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)
  • Riparian mixed forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia, along the great rivers (Ulmenion minoris)
  • Salix alba and Populus alba galleries
  • Southern riparian galleries and thickets (Nerio-Tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae)
  • Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests
  • Atlantic acidophilous beech forests with Ilex and sometimes also Taxus in the shrublayer (Quercion robori-petraeae or Ilici-Fagenion)
  • Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests
  • Medio-European subalpine beech woods with Acer and Rumex arifolius
  • Medio-European limestone beech forests of the Cephalanthero-Fagion
  • Sub-Atlantic and medio-European oak or oak-hornbeam forests of the Carpinion betuli
  • Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests
  • Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines
  • Old acidophilous oak woods with Quercus robur on sandy plains
  • Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica
  • Castanea sativa woods
  • Olea and Ceratonia forests
  • Quercus suber forests
  • Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests
  • Forests of Ilex aquifolium
  • Acidophilous Picea forests of the montane to alpine levels (Vaccinio-Piceetea)
  • Alpine Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra forests
  • Subalpine and montane Pinus uncinata forests (* if on gypsum or limestone)
  • (Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines
  • Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines
  • Endemic forests with Juniperus spp.
  • Mediterranean Taxus baccata woods

Sources:Extracted from Natura 2000 Barometer provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)Extracted from Land cover and change statistics 2000-2018 provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018 provided by European Environment Agency (EEA) and Copernicus Land Monitoring ServiceAdministrative Units/Statistical Units provided by GISCO Eurostat; © EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries