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Environmental information systems
Many naturally occurring forest habitats and forest species in Europe are protected by the EU Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, known as the Nature Directives. The Natura 2000 network of protected sites has been established within the legal framework of these directives. The overall objective of the Nature Directives is to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status of species and habitat types within the EU. The conservation status is a way to provide an overview of the habitat and biodiversity status and its components. The EEA provides regular updates of the conservation status of habitats in the EU, see “Habitats and species: latest status and trends”.
Forests inside Natura 2000 network
Approximately 39% of the EU27 land surface is covered by forests (159 million ha in 2020)1
Natura 2000 protects a 23% share of the total EU27 forest area (37 million ha)2,3
Habitats
Forests are the dominant protected habitat type in Europe.
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About 34% (almost 50 million ha) of the protected habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive are forests. This is more than any other habitat type (grasslands, dunes, and bogs, mires and fens habitats). Approximately 60% of these Annex I forest habitats are temperate forests and 25% are boreal and Mediterranean (overlap between groups is possible).
The vast majority of the Annex I forest habitats do not meet their conservation targets. It should also be noted that most commercial forests are not classified as an Annex I habitat and are often not suitable for protected species.
Most of the protected forest habitats in the EU28 do not have a good conservation status.
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About 14% of the Annex I forest habitats are in a good conservation state, whereas about 85% are in an unfavourable conservation state. However, this is a deterioration from the mid-term assessment in 2015 when 16% of habitats had a good conservation status.
Among EU forest habitats not in good status in 2018, the share of assessments showing a deteriorating conservation status is larger than the share showing an improved status.
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Of the Annex I forest habitats that are not in good status, about 13% are improving. This is higher than for other habitat types within the Natura 2000 network. However, about one third of the forest assessments are deteriorating (27%) and 19% are unknown.
Species
The European Union’s Habitats Directive and Birds Directive include a variety of species protection requirements. Some of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species are protected because core areas of their habitats are designated under the Natura 2000 network.
Forest birds
Forests are home to many bird species that all fulfil essential functions. They help spread seeds, regulate insect populations, control small mammal populations, and offer food for many species. Birds that are scavengers help decompose dead animals. The cavities constructed by some birds, such as woodpeckers, serve as shelter also for other animals. The trend in the status of common forest bird species has been relatively stable over the past 30 years. And while this is much better than the trends for birds living in other habitats, this does not mean that no further action needs to be taken.
The majority of forest birds in the EU are in good conservation status
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Over 60% of the forest bird species have a good conservation status, while over 20% have an inadequate to unfavourable conservation status.
Other species
The latest report on the state of nature in the EU presents results from 6-yearly reporting under the nature directives for the period 2013-2018.
The percentage of assessments of forest species (other than birds) which have a good status is 30%, but poor and bad assessments amount to 59%. Trends were considered as improving for 6% of forest species, while for 27% of species trends are deteriorating.
As there is some time gap between data being reported by Member States, and the processing into results for the whole Union, reporting on the data for the period 2019-2024 is expected in 2026.
References
1 Global Forest Resources Assessment database provided by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
2 Natura 2000 Barometer, European Environment Agency (EEA)
3 Land cover and change statistics 2000-2018, European Environment Agency (EEA)