New research shows how climate change is reshaping protected area management, though more funding and scientific knowledge are needed to facilitate the process.

The Natura 2000 network, the world’s largest network of protect areas, aims at protecting important species and habitats across the European Union. Its traditional approach to conservation has focused on maintaining ecosystems in their historical conditions, but in a world characterised by a changing climate this may not be possible anymore, requiring adapting the conservation strategies.

Researchers conducted a large-scale survey across Europe aimed at Natura 2000 protected area managers, to investigate how they perceive and address the effects of climate change on biodiversity. The survey was conducted as part of the Biodiversa+ Scenarios for Protecting European Avian Redistributions (SPEAR) project focused on bird conservation, which involved partners from several European countries.

Managers’ perceptions vary between regions

The findings show that over half of the managers already perceive climate change as a threat to biodiversity, with the majority of them already accounting for the impacts of climate change when planning management practices. Managers are particularly concerned about warming and changes in precipitations.

“Climate change is not equally perceived as a threat throughout Europe, for example managers in the Mediterranean region are more concerned than managers in the Boreal region, where for example Finland is located,” says the study’s first author, Doctoral Researcher Giorgio Zavattoni from the University of Turku, Finland.

Managers who perceive that their protected areas are vulnerable to climate change are also more likely to implement adaptation strategies.

“It was encouraging to see that over half of the managers consider the effect of climate change in their conservation management strategies, not only by trying to resist its effect but also by dynamically adapting to climate change and acknowledging that it transforms ecosystems,” says Professor Jon Brommer from the University of Turku.

European Commission’s new guidance strengthens adaptation strategies

This study came out at the same time as the European Commission published a new guidance on Natura 2000 and climate change, which is dedicated to strengthening adaptation strategies. The Commission notice clarifies legal flexibilities in the Birds and Habitats Directives, needs for strategic planning, and identifies practical adaptation measures.

“This guidance is welcome, because our study points out that many protected area managers are eager to learn more about the implementation of adaptation strategies,” says Dr Elie Gaget from the research institute Tour du Valat, France.

“However, managers also flagged the lack of scientific knowledge and financial resources to implement cost-effective climate adaptation strategies,” adds Gaget.

This study highlights the urgent need for researchers to take an increasingly important role in aiding managers by producing actionable knowledge, while also funding and capacity building support are strongly needed.