More than 80% of EU's protected habitats in poor state

According to the EEA's latest briefing, some 81% of protected habitats, 39% of protected birds, and 63% of other protected species are in a poor or bad state.

More than 80% of protected habitats across the EU are in a bad state, with a combined area around half the size of Spain in need of restoration.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) said nature is becoming increasingly stressed across Europe because of a lack of ecosystem restoration combined with human pressures such as pollution, land degradation and resource overuse.