Title: The costs and socio-economic benefits associated with the Natura 2000 network

Authors: Sonja Gantioler; Matt Rayment; Patrick ten Brink; Andrew McConville; Marianne Kettunen; Samuela Bassi

Addresses: Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Quai au Foin 55/Hooikaai 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium ' ICF GHK, 3 The Crescent, Plymouth, PL1 3AB, UK ' Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Quai au Foin 55/Hooikaai 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium ' Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), 15 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9BU, UK ' Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), C/O Finnish Environment Institute, PL 140, FIN-00251 Helsinki, Finland ' Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Quai au Foin 55/Hooikaai 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Abstract: The EU's Habitats and Birds Directives form the basis of efforts to conserve Europe's biodiversity, with the implementation of a network of protected areas – Natura 2000 – lying at their heart. Implementation of Natura 2000 involves substantial capital investment and requires resources for on-going management and monitoring activities. The network can also deliver a variety of socio-economic benefits, resulting from a range of provisioning, regulating and cultural services, each of which supports human well being. While there is still a lack of quantitative and monetary data for the socio-economic benefits associated with Natura 2000, there is evidence that the benefits to society are larger than the costs of managing and investing in the network. This paper reviews evidence of the costs and benefits of Natura 2000 and makes the proposals regarding future work that would improve understanding of these at a local, regional, national and EU level.

Keywords: sustainable society; protected areas; Natura 2000 network; EU birds and habitats directives; cost and socio-economic benefits; economic valuation; financial resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2014.057894

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2014 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.135 - 157

Published online: 25 Oct 2014 *

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