The Economic Impacts of Biodiversity Policy for Improving the Climate Regulating Services Provided by EU Natura 2000 Habitats

The study estimates that the Natura 2000 network stored approximately 9.6 billion tonnes of carbon in 2010, with a monetary value between €607 billion and €1,130 billion. Forest habitats are identified as the most significant carbon sinks. The authors compare a 'Policy ON' scenario (improving conservation status and expanding protected areas) against a 'Policy OFF' scenario (inaction), finding that active policy interventions could generate economic gains of 1.71% to 2.86% by 2020. Specifically, increasing protected forest area by 10% is projected to provide €16 to 23 billion more in immediate benefits than focusing solely on qualitative site improvement.

• The Natura 2000 (N2K) network currently stores approximately 9.6 billion tonnes of carbon, which is equivalent to 35 billion tonnes of CO2. In 2010, this stock was estimated to be worth between €607 billion and €1,130 billion, depending on the carbon price used.
• Forest habitats are the primary carbon sinks within the N2K network, accounting for 52% of total sequestered carbon (about 5.2 GtC) and holding the highest economic value, between €318 billion and €610 billion in 2010.

APA

Ding, H., Markandya, A., & Nunes, P. A. (2012). The Economic Impacts of Biodiversity Policy for Improving the Climate Regulating Services Provided by EU Natura 2000 Habitats. Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201210170123511625838800.pdf

Chicago

Ding, Helen, Anil Markandya, and Paulo A.L.D. Nunes. The Economic Impacts of Biodiversity Policy for Improving the Climate Regulating Services Provided by EU Natura 2000 Habitats. Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2012. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201210170123511625838800.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ding |first1=Helen |last2=Markandya |first2=Anil |last3=Nunes |first3=Paulo A.L.D. |title=The Economic Impacts of Biodiversity Policy for Improving the Climate Regulating Services Provided by EU Natura 2000 Habitats |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=October 2012 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201210170123511625838800.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ding2012economic, author = {Ding, Helen and Markandya, Anil and Nunes, Paulo A.L.D.}, title = {{The Economic Impacts of Biodiversity Policy for Improving the Climate Regulating Services Provided by EU Natura 2000 Habitats}}, institution = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2012}, month = oct, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201210170123511625838800.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }