21 February 2017, Luxembourg – Improvements are needed in the management, financing and monitoring of Natura 2000, the EU’s flagship biodiversity programme, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. While recognising that Natura 2000 plays an important role in protecting biodiversity, the auditors found shortcomings in management and a lack of… [Read more]
World Heritage supports millions, but threatened worldwide – at least 12 sites protected by EU laws at risk
Nearly half of all natural World Heritage sites are threatened by harmful industrial activities, according to a new WWF report. These sites provide vital services to people and the environment, but are at risk worldwide from activities including oil and gas exploration, mining and illegal logging. The report, produced for WWF by Dalberg Global Development… [Read more]
Record breaking number of EU citizens call to protect nature
520,325 people called on the European Commission to save Europe’s nature laws in a public consultation – by far the highest number of responses ever reached in the history of the EU. The public consultation formally closed at midnight on Sunday, July 26. In May, major environmental organisations launched the ‘Nature Alert’ campaign in response… [Read more]