Transboundary nature conservation

Natura 2000 is the largest network of conservation areas in the world, covering 17 per cent of the whole European Union territory and 4 per cent of the European seas. But extent is not the only attribute of the Natura 2000 network. Furthermore, Natura 2000 is also a ‘coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation’. ¹ Coherence is the core concept behind Natura 2000 network and also the key to understanding the challenges of transboundary nature conservation in Europe. As we shall see, the transboundary character of nature conservation in Europe requires coherence, to be present in three moments: in the design of the network, in the legal regime applicable and in the day-to-day management.