Earth observation methods for habitat mapping and spatial indicators for nature conservation in Europe

摘要

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) launched a new era in the protection and conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Biodiversity and nature conservation is now considered fundamental to global environment and development strategy. In the European Union (EU) a very exacting conservation target was set during the meeting of the European Council in Gothenburg in June 2001 with the explicit aim of halting biodiversity loss in the EU by 2010 (Delbaere, 2004; Langanke, Rossner, Vrscaj, Lang, & Mitchley, 2005). In 1992 the European Habitats Directive brought the concept of Natura 2000 with the aim of creating a pan-European network of protected sites, both Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).