Current status , Natura 2000 protected 27,312 sites with a terrestrial area of (around 18 percent of land of the EU countries) and marine area of ,Natura 2000 Barometer last retrieved 14 July 2017. and was considered almost complete in the EU terrestrial environment. The process of designation has not always been smooth as the infringement procedures against member states show. While designation of sites may be near complete, the management and enforcement of protection on sites is less advanced and many sites lack management plans. Natura 2000 faced criticism from developers, farmers and politicians who fear that the conservation of habitats and species places a brake on development.
Current status , Natura 2000 protected 27,312 sites with a terrestrial area of (around 18 percent of land of the EU countries) and marine area of ,Natura 2000 Barometer last retrieved 14 July 2017. and was considered almost complete in the EU terrestrial environment. The process of designation has not always been smooth as the infringement procedures against member states show. While designation of sites may be near complete, the management and enforcement of protection on sites is less advanced and many sites lack management plans. Natura 2000 faced criticism from developers, farmers and politicians who fear that the conservation of habitats and species places a brake on development.