Protected areas: a key element of Europe's sustainable future
Europe's protected areas play a key role in
protecting biodiversity. But they are also a critical component of the
continent’s economy, contributing over EUR 15 billion a year in jobs, food, and
other services for the people of Europe. 2012 marks both the 20th anniversary of
the most important international multilateral agreement on Biodiversity, the
UN's Convention on Biological Diversity and of the most important EU piece of
legislation on nature and biodiversity, the EU's Habitats Directive. As today,
22 May, is international biodiversity day, it provides an ideal opportunity to
examine the state of protected areas today and the many benefits they
provide.
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