ETC/BD Technical report 1/2022 / Ecological coherence: Transboundary forest corridors and planning - A case study for the TEN-N in Strasbourg area

01 Sep 2022

Theo van der Sluis (Wageningen Environmental Research, WEnR, NL)

The Biodiversity Strategy 2030 reinforces the importance of spatial connectivity. European conservation policy  requires more coherence between protected sites (including Natura 2000 areas), within countries and across Europe. The latter is difficult, seems to happen more occasional, e.g. within transboundary LIFE projects.

To get a better understanding of what is fostering or hampering transboundary cooperation with regard to transboundary connectivity and network coherence, a study was done in the Strasbourg transboundary area (France and Germany). The aim of the study was to provide insights on connectivity, but also to have a better understanding of the specific problems that are encountered in transboundary conservation:

  • How do countries define ambition levels for ecological networks or TEN-N and Green Infrastructures;
  • What hampers the development of TEN-N, at administrative levels;
  • How can cross-boundary networks be developed more effectively, in particular, what governance structures can stimulate transboundary cooperation;
  • What are ecological requirements for trans-European forest nature networks.