Thanks to the Natura 2000 programme, the European Union has managed to establish the world’s biggest network of protected areas. According to Eurostat, the EU contains more than 27,000 terrestrial and maritime zones.
With the help of additional national directives, the total protected surface in Europe amounts to 1.1 million square kilometres. This represents about a quarter of the EU’s surface.
Data compiled by Eurostat in 2021 shows that Luxembourg protects 52% of its surface, which puts it at the very top of the EU ranking. Bulgaria and Slovenia come in second with about 41%.
“The main goal is to favour the preservation of biodiversity all while staying aware of ecological, economical, social, cultural, and regional expectations”, states the Luxembourgish maintenance plan for the Natura 2000 programme. “It contributes to the general objective of sustainable development, and in certain cases, the preservation of biodiversity may require human action.”
The Environment Administration has a website dedicated to the country’s protected areas. Notable examples include the Bettembourg forest and the Barrier Lake.
Three countries that are commonly known for their vast green spaces actually do very little to protect specific zones: Ireland and Sweden only protect 14% of their surface, followed by Finland with 13%.
