Evaluation of 200 protected areas in Austria according to 10/30% goal of the EU Biodiversity Strategy

E.C.O. Institute for Ecology has been commissioned by WWF Austria to develop a practical methodology for assessing the management quality of protected areas in Austria and their contribution to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Based on international standards (e.g. IUCN, EU guidelines), E.C.O. draws up a comprehensive catalog of criteria and applies it to over 200 protected areas. The analysis shows deficits in legal protection, management plans and monitoring. E.C.O. thus makes an important contribution to the national implementation of the EU's 30% and 10% conservation targets and creates a well-founded assessment basis for future protected area planning and reporting as part of the EU pledge process.