New study, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Murcia, on the effectiveness of protected area networks in protecting biodiversity. Researchers used data on bat distributions in peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands to test whether species of Annex II of the Habitats Directive are better represented in the Natura 2000 network than the remaining species. These would be the logical situation since this network was designed to provide protection for the species listed in this Annex. To the scientists' disappointment, they found no differences in the levels of representation of both groups. However, they found that the reason for that was that all species were quite well represented and no under-represented species were found in any group. However, several paradoxes were detected in their results, as i)the only bat considered as “Endangered” under Spanish legislation, Myotis capaccinii, is precisely the one with less protected area, or more importantly, ii) there are species whose populations are continuously decreasing and they are within protected areas, which denotes that protected areas provide simple representation but not effective protection, at least to bats.

Reference Article: Lison F, Sanchez-Fernandez D, and Calvo JF (2015). Are species listed in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive better represented in Natura 2000 network than the remaining species? A test using Spanish bats. Biodiversity and Conservation

Divulgation article about this research: Cuando la Red Natura no basta