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Environmental information systems
Luxembourg is a landlocked country bordered by 3 other countries, with an terrestrial area of close to 2,600km², making it the second smallest country in the EU. The highest point is Kneiff with a height of 560m. Luxembourg has a population of 643,000 people and a population density of 255 people per km².
of land
is covered
by protected areas
species
are protected
under EU law
habitats
are protected
under EU law
Sources: Terrestrial protected area coverage by country and in the EU-27 by the end of 2023, Conservation status of habitat types and species: datasets from Article 17, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC reporting (2013-2018)
In 2023, % of 's land was designated as protected areas, falling above the EU value of 26.4%.
The data sources and related statistics refer to 2023, therefore aligned with the EEA indicators: Designated terrestrial protected areas in Europe, Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
Percentage of area covered by protected areas
Evolution of area covered by protected areas
From 2012 to 2023 the share of terrestrial protected areas in increased by 13.4%, above the EU value increase of 1.8%.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target of reaching 30% protected area coverage at the EU level by 2030.
If you want to know more about the Biodiversity Strategy, you can explore the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and in particular the Dashboard section showing progress of the EU and its Member States towards the Biodiversity Strategy targets set for 2030.
Distribution of protected areas between national designations and Natura 2000
In the majority of protected areas in the terrestrial environment, accounting for are designated as Natura 2000 sites, indicating their importance in conserving biodiversity and natural habitats. Other protected areas are designated by national laws, representing .
Spatial distribution of protected areas network
Protected areas designated under national laws
Designated sites in the Natura 2000 network
Size distribution of protected areas network
The majority (37%) of protected areas in are smaller than 1km2 and the rest is distributed between areas of 1-10km2 (35%) and 10-100km2 (27%). 2% of protected areas are 100-1,000km2.
A focus on Natura 2000 sites in
has a total of Natura 2000 sites, they are designated under the Birds Directive, encompassing Special Protection Areas (SPA), and the Habitats Directive, encompassing Sites of Community Importance (SCI). Many sites are designated under both Directives.on of the site, the biodiversity in the region, the designation being used, and the features the site is being created to protect.
Species protected in under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 4% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 35% of the species protected under the Birds Directive.
The figures are based on data electronically reported by the Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) on the conservation status of habitat types and species for the 2013–2018 reporting period.
species protected under EU law
species under the Habitats Directive
species under the Birds Directive
Conservation Status of species: Habitats Directive
In , of species assessments indicate a good conservation status, while the EU average corresponds to 27.5%. The proportion of assessments indicating bad conservation status is reaching , compared to the EU average of 20.6%.
Protected species composition by taxonomic group
In , the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 72.7%. They are followed by mammals, accounting for 10% of protected species, and arthropods, representing 4.5%.
Conservation Status by Taxa
In , the assessment of species groups reveals that non-vascular plants have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 50%. Other invertebrates exhibit the highest percentage of species with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%. Reptiles exhibit the highest percentage of species with a poor conservation status, standing at 100%.
Habitats protected in under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. hosts habitat types, which is approximately 12% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.
The figures are based on data electronically reported by the Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) on the conservation status of habitat types and species for the 2013–2018 reporting period.
habitats protected under EU law in
Conservation status of habitats
In , 32.1% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is above the EU average of 14.7%. While the proportion of assessments indicating a bad conservation status, amounting to 50%, is surpassing the EU average of 35.8%.
Protected habitat composition by group
In , the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of forests, encompassing 25% of the total. Following closely behind are grasslands and rocky habitats, each accounting for 21.4% of the protected habitats.
Conservation status by group
In the assessment of habitat groups reveals that rocky habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 83.3%. Following behind are forests, with 42.8% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, heath and scrub and bogs, mires and fens exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%, while grasslands also have a significant proportion of habitat types in bad conservation status at 83.3%.
Luxembourg is predominantly characterised by two main types of ecosystems: agroecosystems, which cover 52.4% of the country, followed by forest ecosystems occupying 37% of the land area. While urban areas account for 9.7%, Luxembourg also has relatively smaller proportions of heathlands (0.5%), rivers and lakes (0.4%), and wetland ecosystems (0.1%).
The figures are based on the dataset "Ecosystem types of Europe 2012 - Full map (marine and terrestrial habitats) - version 3 revision 1, Feb. 2019".
In terms of the protected area network, agroecosystems constitute the largest portion, covering 51.8% of the protected areas. Forest ecosystems make up 44.4% of the protected areas, while urban areas account for 3.2%. Rivers and lakes contribute to 0.6% of the protected areas and heathlands represent 0.04%.