Copenhagen, 8 Apr 2025
This briefing describes how the value of nature can be viewed differently by different societal groups. It highlights the need for more collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society to strengthen and scale up efforts to encourage greater engagement with nature. The briefing supports the implementation of the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 and Nature Restoration Regulation.
Key messages
- A number of factors affect society’s impact and perspectives on nature from economic trends to individual actions.
- Some societal groups value nature primarily for the resources and services it provides; others emphasise its role in enhancing human well-being or cite nature’s intrinsic value.
- Seven key factors can be identified to encourage wide and continued societal engagement in protecting nature such as ensuring evidence-based decision making and clear and efficient collaboration with stakeholders.
This briefing is underpinned by a report from the EEA’s European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC BE). The report is based on a literature review and various detailed case studies that were compiled during 2023 and 2024.
The importance of protecting biodiversity
The ongoing focus on protecting and restoring nature is important for ensuring healthy ecosystems, a sustainable economy and human well-being. While challenges remain due to pressures from industrial activities and societal demands, political agreements like the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provide a framework for action. These need to be implemented through more concrete policy instruments, such as the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation, sectoral policies (e.g. the EU’s common agricultural policy) and the LULUCF Regulation.
Although past efforts have brought some success, broader trends indicate the need for more decisive action. In the EU, 81% of protected habitats, 39% of protected birds and 63% of other protected species are in a poor or bad state (EEA, 2020). Recognising the critical role biodiversity plays, the UN underscores its global importance by identifying its loss alongside climate change and pollution as the ‘triple planetary crisis’. The One Health concept, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), also highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. In response, the EEA is actively working across One Health dimensions in cooperation with other EU agencies: One Health | European Environment Agency’s home page
An effective combination of government action as well as business and individual engagement is necessary to construct a future where biodiversity thrives alongside human development, re-building our connection to nature in a way that is mutually beneficial.
Addressing biodiversity loss through government action
A range of EEA publications and other reports have examined the factors that influence the effectiveness of government measures in supporting nature and environmental sustainability. The European Green Deal’s combination of environmental targets across policy areas exemplifies how coherence between agriculture, climate and nature conservation policies can be promoted. These approaches emphasise inclusivity, cross-sectoral integration and flexibility to address systemic interdependencies effectively (EEA, 2024b).
Progress is possible through integrated approaches, such as implementing agro-ecological principles in farming and achieving efficient resource use via a circular economy. These approaches value nature as a vital partner in addressing societal needs while minimising impacts. Initiatives highlighted in EEA’s briefings, such as Solutions for restoring Europe’s agricultural ecosystems and the importance of restoring nature in Europe, demonstrate actionable steps to support conservation efforts across landscapes.
The EEA publications mentioned above underscore the importance of integrating nature-based solutions into societal and economic frameworks (EEA, 2024a). Figure 1 provides an overview of how different approaches can be combined to protect Europe’s environment.
Source: EEA