NaturaConnect's Stakeholder Event in Brussels
From Science to Action: Strategic Planning for the Trans-European Nature Network
On 20-21 January 2026, the NaturaConnect project brought together experts, policymakers and practitioners in Brussels for an in-person workshop focused on the future of the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N).
Participants explored how protected areas can play a central role in tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation, and the need for a well-connected TEN-N by discussing how to translate scientific research into practical action and strategies. These strategies would also support the delivery of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
Through presentations, hands-on group work and World Café sessions, participants:
- Reviewed recent NaturaConnect scientific analyses on protected areas and corridor designs
- Compared priorities for connectivity and protected area expansion from EU to local scales
- Helped shape recommendations for TEN‑N planning, governance and enabling conditions
The exchanges over the two days offered valuable insights that will feed into the final TEN‑N implementation strategy, underscoring the importance of science-based decisions, strong policy frameworks and true cross‑border collaboration.
Read the Workshop Report below for summaries of the workshop sessions, presentations, and links to relevant project outputs. Also explore the photo album from the event below.
The Carpathian Convention Secretariat is cooperating with NaturaConnect led by the Institute of Applied System Analysis (IIASA, Austria), to promote ecological connectivity.
The NaturaConnect project unites 22 universities and research institutes, government bodies and non-governmental organizations, working together with relevant stakeholders. Developing a coherent TEN-N linking conserved areas follows the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 as well as in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework.
