European Vulnerable Species And Habitats Under Threat
An assessment covering 2001-2006 of biodiversity determined that many of the 1,182 species and 216 habitat types protected under European Union (EU) law have not achieved good conservation status. Some indicators show that protective measures are impacting some habitat types and that some species are starting to recover.
Report findings conclude that grasslands, wetlands, and coasts are particularly at risk. Grasslands have been disappearing throughout the EU and the conservation status of agricultural habitats is significantly worse off than that of non-agricultural habitats. This is attributed to more intensive agriculture, land abandonment, and poor land management.
A significant number of habitat and species assessments were considered “unknown,” including 13% of regional habitat and 27% of regional species assessments. In addition, 57% of marine species and 40% of marine habitats were classified as “unknown.”