Data from: Spatial prioritisation of EU’s LIFE-Nature program to strengthen the conservation impact of Natura 2000

1. Despite advances in conservation efforts within Europe during recent decades, assessments highlight a need for adequate financing mechanisms to support the Natura 2000 network; the centrepiece of the EU´s Biodiversity Strategy. Besides the need for greater investment (currently only covering a fifth of the estimated cost of the network), better planning for this investment could help better achieve conservation goals. 2. We demonstrate a method that could be used to identify priority Natura 2000 sites, and species therein, that could guide investment in the future. We first used the lists of key species associated with each Natura 2000 site to map the distribution of all priority species covered by the Birds and Habitats Directives. We then used Marxan software to prioritise allocation of conservation funds among all Natura 2000 sites, while trying to mimic the observed conservation effort implemented under the LIFE Program, the main financial tool of the EU´s Biodiversity Strategy, in the period 1992-2013. 3. Some Natura 2000 sites show exceptional value, holding species that either do not, or only very rarely, occur elsewhere in the network. These priority sites were concentrated mainly on islands and in the south western, eastern and northern extremes of Europe´s mainland thus reflecting patterns in species richness and endemism. 4. We found a poor relationship between the priorities identified here and the way funds had been distributed in previous LIFE-Nature Programs. 5. Policy implications. We propose that prioritisation exercises like the one shown here could be used to inform a top-down EU regulation mechanism by providing lists of site and species priorities that better reflect European conservation needs. These recommendations, performed at continental scale, could then help guide LIFE project proposals from the Member States and fill the current gap in the coverage of priority species. This top-down control mechanism could be integrated in the current system of budget distribution, rather than replacing it completely, to enhance the efficiency of conservation investment in the EU and achievement of continental goals.18-Jan-2018

1. 尽管近几十年来欧洲境内的保护工作取得了一定进展，但相关评估仍指出，需建立完善的融资机制以支持**自然2000网络（Natura 2000）**——欧盟生物多样性战略的核心组成部分。当前的投入仅能覆盖该网络估算成本的五分之一，除了需要扩大投资规模外，优化投资规划也有助于更好地达成保护目标。
2. 本研究提出了一种可用于识别优先自然2000站点及其内物种类群的方法，可为未来的保护投资决策提供指导依据。我们首先依托与每个自然2000站点相关联的关键物种名录，绘制了《鸟类与栖息地指令（Birds and Habitats Directives）》所涵盖的全部优先物种的分布图谱。随后，我们使用**Marxan软件**对所有自然2000站点的保护资金分配开展优先级排序，同时尽可能模拟1992-2013年间欧盟生物多样性战略的主要融资工具——**生命计划（LIFE Program）**所实施的现有保护投入模式。
3. 部分自然2000站点具备极高的保护价值，其所承载的物种要么在该网络的其他区域完全不存在，要么仅极为罕见地出现。这些优先站点主要集中在岛屿以及欧洲大陆的西南、东部和北部边缘区域，这与物种丰富度和特有性的分布格局高度契合。
4. 本研究确定的保护优先级与此前**生命-自然计划（LIFE-Nature Programs）**的资金分配方式之间仅存在较弱的关联性。
5. 政策启示：我们提出，可将本研究这类优先级排序工作应用于欧盟自上而下的监管机制中，通过提供更贴合欧洲保护需求的站点与物种优先级名录，为该机制提供决策支撑。此类在大陆尺度上开展的研究建议，可用于指导欧盟成员国提交生命计划项目提案，填补当前优先物种覆盖范围的缺口。这一自上而下的管控机制可整合至现有的预算分配体系中，而非完全取代原有体系，以提升欧盟保护投资的效率并助力大陆级保护目标的实现。
2018年1月18日