Land is For Ever

The EU has formally committed to halt biodiversity loss in the EU by 2020. To realize this objective, the EU has adopted a comprehensive biodiversity strategy, the centerpieces of which are EU nature legislations, especially the Birds Directive (1979) and the Habitats Directive (1992). Those directives form the legal basis for the Natura 2000 network, Europe’s nature protection network.

Much of European biodiversity is found on the 60% of Europe’s acreage which is privately owned. Because protecting biodiversity comes at an opportunity cost to private landowners, the EU nature conservation goals cannot be accomplished without the engagement of private landowners. Thus, there is need for government intervention to promote biodiversity conservation on private land. Historically, government regulation to achieve nature conservation objectives has not been well received by private landowners. Therefore, most EU Member States have created a range of voluntary programs whereby landowners and land managers can receive payments and other benefits for participation in land management contracts for conservation purposes.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE programme under grant agreement. LIFE17PREBE001