Memo: Protecting biodiversity in the 10 new Member States – Natura 2000 network making progress

The biodiversity of the ten new Member States which joined the EU in 2004 is particularly rich. It is crucial for the EU to protect it in order to halt biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010. Significant progress has been achieved in implementing EU nature protection legislation in those countries but important gaps remain. Almost 11% of the territory of the new Member States taken as a whole is protected under the Birds Directive and over 12% has been proposed for protection under the Habitats Directive, as part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network of high value nature areas. However, the percentages range from less than 3% in Malta and 8% in Poland to more than 25% in Slovakia under the Birds Directive and from about 4% in Poland to more than 31% in Slovenia under the Habitats Directive.