NaturaConnect & PONT Connect join forces in building a Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N)

The EU Horizon ‘NaturaConnect’ project brought main partners together in building a resilient ecological network of conserved areas across Europe for nature and people. The initiative aims to support countries in designing and developing a blueprint for a truly coherent Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) of conserved areas that protect at least 30% of land, with at least one third of it under strict protection, and to restore 20% of ecosystems to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Achieving these ambitious commitments under the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 would benefit from coordinated, integrated and biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning approaches to identify where conservation and restoration actions will be most effective and resilient. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) provides such a framework, but its outputs are often complex and need to be translated into actionable and interpretable information for decision makers.

Under ‘NaturaConnect’ the NaturaConnector (https://naturaconnector.iiasa.ac.at/) and PriorityCheck (https://prioritycheck.iiasa.ac.at/prioritycheck/), two interactive platforms, were designed to bridge this gap between science, policy and practice, specifically tailored to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in the terrestrial realm. Multiple spatial scenarios were produced reflecting different objectives and planning assumptions, allowing exploration of trade-offs and synergies across different scenarios. For the mediterranean biogeographic region the following key recommendations are derived:

• Expansion of protected areas to cover at least 30% of the land area is recommended to effectively conserve biodiversity.
• The mediterranean biogeographic region has significant potential for expanding strict protected areas.
• Connectivity between existing protected areas should be prioritised to enhance ecological networks and facilitate species movement.

https://zenodo.org/records/19170747?preview_file=infosheet_mediterranean.pdf

The ‘NaturaConnect’ closing event to share findings and to discuss the way forward took place on 22 September 2026 in Brussels. Mirjam de Koning, the PONT Executive Director, highlighted in the closing panel discussion the importance of ‘NaturaConnect’ tools for PONT Connect. Learnings from publications and the learning platform were used in the design of the PONT Connect strategy and implementation. Insights into effective transboundary cooperation in/around the Prespa region were shared with the audience emphasizing the importance of trust and long-term financing with local implementing partners. The figure below illustrates the importance of the protection of biodiversity and ecological connectivity in the PONT focus area for the benefit of both people and nature.

Figure: Scoping of the NaturaConnect harmonised solution focusing on the area of the solution outside existing protected areas. Those that potentially qualify as global Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are dark green.