A new data paper published in Scientific Data presents a comprehensive dataset on conservation targets for European terrestrial mammals. Developed by researchers from the Global Mammal Assessment (GMA) Lab at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin” of Sapienza University of Rome, with methodological input inspired by research from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Vienna, the dataset is a valuable tool for guiding conservation strategies across Europe.
The objective of the study was to establish a framework for setting conservation targets, expressed both in terms of population size (number of individuals) and geographic extent (square kilometres), to be achieved by 2030 in order to reach Favourable Conservation Status for terrestrial mammals. This status, defined by the EU Habitats Directive—one of Europe’s cornerstone conservation laws—represents the conditions under which a species can maintain long-term viability in its natural habitat.
Achieving and maintaining the Favourable Conservation status is especially critical for species that are rare, endemic to Europe, vulnerable to environmental change, or at risk of extinction, therefore priorities in Europe. Using models of population growth and range expansion, the paper sets conservation targets for 81 priority terrestrial mammal species across 27 EU Member States and 9 biogeographic regions.
“This approach makes the targets flexible enough to meet different policy and societal needs,” explains Alessandra D’Alessio, PhD student at Sapienza University and first author of the paper. “This flexibility increases the likelihood of public and political support, which is especially important for managing the conservation of charismatic species, such as large carnivores, often at the center of human–wildlife conflict in Europe.”
The targets proposed in this study can guide practical conservation actions across Europe—from mitigating threats to strengthening national and EU-wide legislation aimed at reducing habitat loss and unsustainable exploitation.
“For bats, which make up the majority of Europe’s priority mammal species,” adds Michela Pacifici, Tenure Track Researcher at Sapienza University and co-senior author of the study, “these targets can help direct conservation measures such as restoring native woodlands that offer foraging and roosting habitats”
Furthermore, the dataset can support one of the key goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: expanding the European network of protected areas.
“These targets can be the basis to develop protection targets guiding the expansion of protected areas network in Europe ” says Carlo Rondinini, Professor of Zoology at Sapienza University and co-senior author of the paper. “This is essential to meet the EU’s commitment to protect at least 30% of the continent’s land by 2030.”
This work was carried out as part of NaturaConnect, a Horizon Europe project that supports the design and implementation of a coherent Trans-European Nature Network. The dataset therefore contributes directly to the EU’s ambitious biodiversity goals.
Reference
D’Alessio, A., et al. (2025). 2030 conservation targets for European terrestrial mammals using the favourable conservation status concept. Scientific Data, 12, 591. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04878-0
Contacts
- Alessandra D’Alessio Department of Biology and Biotechnology
- Michela Pacifici Department of Biology and Biotechnology
- Carlo Rondinini Department of Biology and Biotechnology
