New White Paper Highlights the Value of Europe’s Nature Directives

SafeNet would like to highlight a recently published white paper from Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership, entitled Safeguarding Europe’s Biodiversity Legislation: Scientific Evidence in Support of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives under the 2026 Stress Test.

The white paper was developed with contributions from experts involved in the BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub, BiodivProtect-funded projects, and members of Biodiversa+’s advisory and stakeholder communities. It provides an independent, science-based contribution to the ongoing discussion surrounding the European Commission’s 2026 stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Drawing on scientific evidence and policy experience, the white paper concludes that the Directives remain fit for purpose and continue to deliver important ecological, social and economic benefits. Rather than identifying a need for weaker safeguards, the authors highlight a range of implementation challenges, including funding, governance, monitoring, policy coherence and cross-border cooperation. They also point to opportunities to improve effectiveness while maintaining strong protection for Europe’s biodiversity.

These themes are highly relevant to the SafeNet project. Effective conservation relies not only on ambitious policies, but also on robust scientific evidence, reliable monitoring, and a better understanding of how biodiversity responds to management decisions across Europe’s forests and landscapes.

For those interested in learning more, you can read the white paper and available complementary resources:

• White Paper: Safeguarding Europe’s Biodiversity Legislation: Scientific Evidence in Support of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives under the 2026 Stress Test
• Summary for Policymakers
• Press Release

The European Commission’s public consultation on the stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives remains open until 10 August 2026, offering stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to the discussion on the future implementation of these cornerstone pieces of EU nature legislation.

On World Nature Conservation Day, this white paper serves as a timely reminder that conserving nature requires both strong knowledge and strong collaboration. As SafeNet continues its work to improve the evidence base for forest conservation across Europe, we are pleased to share resources that support informed dialogue on the future of biodiversity protection.