Reclaiming strict protection via the European Green Deal

Strict protection is a fundamental component of any strategy for biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration. Most Western countries, however, currently fail to acknowledge its relevance in their conservation programs. The European Green Deal (EGD)—the climate neutrality strategy launched by the European Union (EU) in 2019—is a marked exception. By identifying strict protection as one of the key solutions to ensure ecosystem health, the EGD reasserts the importance of strict protection both at the regional and global level. However, its approach is far from perfect. To harness the full potential of strict protection, the EU must clarify the existing regulatory framework and strengthen its commitment to ecological sustainability