The European Commission published on Friday 28 January the guidelines and criteria for the identification and designation of new protected nature areas in the EU, as well as the management of existing and future protected areas, as called for in the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.
This strategy, adopted in May 2020 as part of the European Green Deal, provides for the protection and restoration of at least 30% of land and marine areas. In addition, one third of this area must be subject...