This indicator measures the extent of terrestrial protected areas, comprising nationally designated protected areas and Natura 2000 sites. A nationally designated area is an area protected by national legislation. The Natura 2000 network comprises both marine and terrestrial protected areas designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives with the goal to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status for habitat types and species of EU interest. The EU biodiversity strategy aims to protect at least 30 % of land and sea in Europe including both nationally designated sites and Natura 2000 sites. Data provided by the Member States to the European Commission – Directorate General for the Environment (Natura 2000) and the European Environment Agency (nationally designated areas) are consolidated at least yearly by the EEA.

This indicator estimates the area at risk of severe erosion by water such as rain splash, sheet-wash and rills (soil loss greater than 10 tonnes per hectare and year). This area is expressed in square kilometres (km2) and as a percentage of the total non-artificial, erodible area in the country. The numbers are estimated using soil erosion susceptibility models. Data are taken from the JRC’s soil erosion database.

The indicator is a multi-species composite index, which integrates the abundance and the diversity of a selection of common bird species associated with specific habitats. Rare species are excluded. Three groups of bird species are represented: common farmland species (39 species), common forest species (34 species) and all common bird species (168 species; including farmland and forest species). The indices are presented for EU-aggregates only and with smoothed values. The European Bird Census Council and its Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme programme delivers data from 26 Member States. MT is not covered.