Natura 2000
This layer maps the Natura 2000 network — the European Union's coordinated network of protected sites for rare and threatened species and habitats.
Category: Transition risks · Sensitive areas · Protected areas Coverage: Region (European Union) Format: Boundary polygons Used in risk analysis: Yes — gates Sensitive areas
What it shows
This layer maps the Natura 2000 network — the European Union's coordinated network of protected sites for rare and threatened species and habitats. Sites within or near a Natura 2000 area carry elevated nature-related risk because they are formally recognised for their conservation importance, and activities affecting them can trigger regulatory, reputational and ecological concerns.
How it is built
The layer is drawn directly from the official Natura 2000 network. Natura 2000 designates core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, together with some rare natural habitat types, across the 27 EU member states on both land and sea. The network covers roughly 18% of the EU's land area and about 6% of its marine territory. The layer represents these designated sites as polygons suitable for intersecting against site locations.
How to read it
This is a designation layer rather than a graded score. A site that falls within, or close to, a Natura 2000 polygon is flagged as intersecting a protected area of EU conservation importance. The absence of a polygon means no Natura 2000 designation applies at that location. The layer is used for overlap and proximity screening.
Source
Natura 2000 network (European Union designated protected sites).
Comparison with the WWF Risk Filter Suite
This layer maps to the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter "Protected/Conserved Areas" theme (BRF S14_1). WWF relies on the global World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA, via UNEP-WCMC/IBAT). Natura 2000 is a regional designation that extends and localises that coverage across the EU, providing the detailed European protected-area footprint that complements WWF's global WDPA-based indicator.
Risk analysis
A site is flagged on a dimension by combining a proximity trigger (this layer) with an activity trigger (the entity's ENCORE pressure/service). Proximity only → Potentially material; proximity and the matching ENCORE pressure/service is material → Very material; neither → Not material.
| Dimension | ENCORE service / pressure | Proximity trigger (this layer) | Activity trigger (entity) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensitive areas | Sensitive area disturbance | Site overlaps / is near the feature | impact ratio ≥ 10%; “Disturbances (e.g noise, light)” pressure ≥ 4; “Introduction of invasive species” pressure ≥ 4; “Area of freshwater use” pressure ≥ 4; “Area of seabed use” pressure ≥ 4; “Area of land use” pressure ≥ 4; “Other biotic resource extraction (e.g. fish, timber)” pressure ≥ 4; “Volume of water use” pressure ≥ 4; “Emissions of non-GHG air pollutants” pressure ≥ 4; “Generation and release of solid waste” pressure ≥ 4; “Emissions of toxic soil and water pollutants” pressure ≥ 4; “Emissions of nutrient soil and water pollutants” pressure ≥ 4 |
Generated from darwin/layers/layer-natura-2000.toml and risk_indicator_pairs.toml (develop).