Europe
Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard
Threatened
499
CR + EN + VU
Critically Endangered
165
CR
Endemic Threatened
7
Found only here
Declining
0%
0 species
Distribution of 499 threatened species
Threatened % by group
No threat data available
7 endemic threatened species found only here
CONSERVATION LEADERS
Key Conservation Organisations
BirdLife International
Global partnership of conservation organisations
Bird conservation and habitat protection across Europe
Coordinates the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) programme across Europe, identifying and protecting critical sites for bird conservation.
Visit websiteButterfly Conservation Europe
Network of European butterfly conservation organisations
European butterfly and moth conservation
Coordinates the European Red List of butterflies and implements conservation action plans for threatened species.
Visit websiteEuropean Environment Agency
European Union agency
Environmental monitoring and biodiversity assessment
Produces comprehensive reports on European biodiversity status and coordinates the Natura 2000 network monitoring.
Visit websiteEuropean Wilderness Society
Non-profit conservation organisation
Wilderness preservation and restoration
Established the European Wilderness Quality Standard and works to protect Europe's last remaining wild areas.
Visit websiteRewilding Europe
Independent conservation organisation
Large-scale ecosystem restoration and wildlife reintroduction
Facilitates the return of European bison, wolves, and lynx to former habitats across multiple European countries.
Visit websiteNotable Conservationists
Chris Martin
Butterfly Conservation Europe
European butterfly conservation
Led the development of European butterfly monitoring schemes and conservation strategies for endangered species.
Frans Schepers
Managing Director of Rewilding Europe
Rewilding and large carnivore conservation
Pioneer in European rewilding initiatives and instrumental in wolf and lynx reintroduction programmes across Europe.
Luigi Boitani
University of Rome La Sapienza
Large carnivore ecology and conservation
Leading expert on European wolf populations and chair of the IUCN Bear and Canid Specialist Groups.
Urs Breitenmoser
University of Bern and IUCN Cat Specialist Group
European lynx conservation and research
Leading authority on Eurasian lynx ecology and reintroduction programmes across the Alps and Central Europe.
Zoltan Waliczky
BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
European bird conservation policy
Key architect of EU nature legislation and the Birds Directive implementation across Europe.
Source: Public records, institutional websites, published research
Outlook: Deteriorating
The European Union encompasses extraordinary biodiversity across diverse biomes, from Arctic tundra in northern Finland to Mediterranean scrublands in southern Spain. The region hosts critical ecosystems including the Carpathian Mountains' old-growth forests, the Danube Delta wetlands, and extensive Atlantic coastal waters. However, biodiversity faces severe pressure, with IUCN Red List 2025 data showing 100% of assessed species across all taxonomic groups classified as threatened. Agricultural intensification remains the primary threat, particularly affecting pollinating insects across Central European farmlands. Urban expansion fragments habitats from the Po Valley to the North German Plain, while climate change drives northward species migrations, disrupting established ecosystems. Marine environments face overfishing pressure, especially in the Mediterranean and North Sea. The EU's Natura 2000 network protects 18% of terrestrial territory and 11% of marine areas, representing the world's largest coordinated conservation effort. The European Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 mandate restoration of degraded ecosystems and reduction of pesticide use by 50%. Despite these frameworks, implementation varies significantly among member states. Current trajectory shows mixed results: while some large mammal populations recover through targeted programs, invertebrate decline continues accelerating, particularly in intensive agricultural regions, indicating an overall deteriorating situation requiring urgent coordinated action.
Key Biomes & Ecosystems
Conservation Achievements
The EU has achieved notable conservation successes through coordinated policy frameworks and cross-border initiatives. The Natura 2000 network has facilitated recovery of several large mammal species, including brown bears in the Carpathians and wolves across multiple member states. The Common Agricultural Policy's recent reforms incorporate biodiversity targets, while the LIFE+ program has funded over 5,000 conservation projects since 1992. Marine protected areas have expanded significantly, with several member states exceeding international targets for ocean protection. The EU's ban on neonicotinoid pesticides represents a major policy victory for pollinator conservation, though implementation challenges persist across agricultural regions.
Source: IUCN Red List 2025-2, GBIF, national survey data