Biodiversity is fundamental to both planet and people. It provides us with clean air and water, food and medicines. But biodiversity is in crisis. Only 23% of species and 16% of habitats under the EU Nature Directives are in good health.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable agriculture and climate change are leading drivers of biodiversity loss in the EU. In May 2020, the European Commission released the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030. This strategy, along with the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, is a potential game changer for EU nature, food and farming policies. The strategies propose a new wave of essential and long overdue targets on protected areas, restoration of nature, organic farming and the reduction of agricultural chemicals.

The EU Birds and Habitats Directives are the cornerstones of EU biodiversity policy, underpinning the world’s first and largest international network of protected areas, Natura 2000. It covers about 18% of the EU's land and over 9% of its seas.

But Europe’s ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating and climate change is only making things worse. To bend the curve of nature loss, protecting remaining natural places, while key, will not be sufficient. Member States must start bringing nature back on a large scale with the newly adopted EU Nature Restoration Law.

As the first European-wide law to set legally-binding nature restoration targets, it provides a historic opportunity to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises simultaneously. 

WWF has been advocating for this law for many years, most recently with our #RestoreNature campaign. Despite unprecedented attacks by conservative and right-wing politicians and vested interests, the law was adopted in June 2024, a huge victory for Europe’s nature, climate action, citizens and future.

On the other hand, the EU's role in protecting biodiversity does not stop at its borders - it is also one of the biggest importers of wildlife species and wildlife-derived commodities in the world. Some of these are illegally imported and traded within the Union, with devastating impact on the environment, but also security, governance, the economy, and ultimately human lives. WWF, therefore, works on strengthening the EU and Member States’ response to wildlife crime. 

WWF is committed to protecting all of Europe’s unique wildlife and biodiversity. We work to ensure that the EU and its Member States:
 

• Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives and support the required financing;
• Implement the Nature Restoration Law through robust National Restoration Plans;
• Effectively enforce all EU laws on nature protection and restoration;
• Properly and consistently integrate biodiversity protection into key economic sectors through agriculture, water, infrastructure and development, and climate and energy policies;

Following the Nature Restoration Law’s adoption, WWF is calling for a dedicated Nature Restoration Fund. We are also working to ensure the European Parliament and the European Council support the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and its implementation, along with sufficient financial support.

Finally, WWF is advocating for strong EU leadership at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 globally.

There are many beautiful natural areas and species in Europe. Among them are the wolf, the lynx, the bear and the loggerhead turtle. They are all protected under the EU Birds and Habitats Directive but major threats still exist. Learn about Europe's most iconic beauties of nature and how you can help protect them.