Transboundary governance models of biodiversity protection: case studies for an enhanced protection of natural resources in Europe

The degradation and loss of the world’s biodiversity, spanning terrestrial and marine ecosystems, underscores the need for enhanced conservation efforts that extend beyond the mere designation of national protected areas. Transboundary governance models, designed to halt ongoing biodiversity loss and guarantee effective preservation of ecosystems and their biodiversity, offer alternative modes of biodiversity management. Consequently, the TRANSNAURE project strives to improve knowledge about these alternative models for biodiversity conservation by conducting a comparative analysis of four European case studies on transboundary cooperation. These case studies encompass cooperation between Spain and Portugal, Italy and Slovenia, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as Finland, Sweden and Norway.

In addition to thorough desk research, the project places significant emphasis on involving stakeholders. This involvement serves as a pivotal element not only in the initial development of the project’s methodology but also in identifying shared challenges and effective strategies for safeguarding biodiversity. Against this backdrop, the project aims to formulate policy recommendations that enhance the efficacy of transboundary biodiversity governance. The recommendations, therein, are intended to support policy-making, within the study areas as well as on an European and international scale, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.