Spain

Spain, the second largest country in the EU, has a terrestrial area of approximately 506,000km² and a marine area exceeding 1 million km², divided between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It comprises the mainland peninsula, along with the volcanic Atlantic Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Balearic Islands. Spain shares borders with 5 neighbouring countries. The highest peak, Teide, located in the Canary Islands, stands at 3,718 meters. With a population of 47.4 million, Spain has a population density of 94.3 people per km².

of land
is covered

by protected areas

of marine waters

is covered
by protected area

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, Marine protected areas in Europe's seas (2023), Conservation status of habitat types and species: datasets from Article 17, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC reporting (2013-2018).

In 2023, of Spain's land was designated as protected areas, falling above the EU value of 26.4%. With a coverage of in its marine waters, Spain surpasses the EU value of 13.7%.

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, Marine protected areas in Europe's seas.

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 Spain increased by 0.1%, below the EU value increase of 1.8%.
National marine protected areas coverage trends are not available because methodological changes prevent a consistent comparison across years.

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.

Go to the EU Biodiversity Strategy Dashboard

Distribution of protected areas between national designations and Natura 2000

In Spain 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 The largest part of the marine protected areas network in Spain is covered by Natura 2000 sites as well, accounting for .

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

Terrestrial protected areas in Spain are quite diverse in their size. The majority of marine protected areas in Spain are 10-100km² and about 8% of the marine network is covered by sites larger than 1,000km².

A focus on Natura 2000 sites in

Spain 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.

Go to Natura 2000 Barometer

Go to Natura 2000 viewer

Species protected in Spain under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Spain hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 31% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 66% 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 Spain, 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 Spain, the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 41.5%. They are followed by vascular plants, accounting for 27.6% of protected species, and mammals, representing 9.1%.

Conservation Status by Taxa

In Spain, the assessment of species groups reveals that vascular plants have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 31%. On the other hand, fish exhibit the highest percentage of species with a bad conservation status, reaching 67.9%, followed by other invertebrates, standing at 50%.

Habitats protected in Spain under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. Spain hosts habitat types, which is approximately 50.2% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.

habitats protected under EU law in Spain

Conservation status of habitats

In Spain, only 8.9% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is below the EU average of 14.7%. A significant proportion of assessments, amounting to 56.3%, indicate a poor conservation status, while habitats assessments reporting bad conservation status are 17%, below the EU average of 35.8%.

Protected habitat composition by group

In Spain, the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of forests, encompassing 23% of the total. Following behind are coastal and salt-tolerant habitats, with 17% and freshwater with 11.9% of the protected habitats.

Conservation status by group

In Spain, the assessment of habitat groups reveals that dune habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 25%. Following behind are heath and scrub, with 20% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, dune habitats exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 30%, while coastal habitats also have a proportion of habitat types in bad conservation status at 22.2%.

Spain is predominantly characterised by three main types of ecosystems: Agroecosystems, which cover 40.7% of the country, followed by Forest ecosystems occupying 39.5% of the land area, and Heathlands accounting for 15.8%. However, Spain has relatively smaller proportions of urban areas (3.5%), rivers and lakes (0.6%), and wetland ecosystems (0.7%).

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, forests constitute the largest portion, covering 50.2% of the protected areas. Agroecosystems make up 26.8% of the protected areas, reflecting the importance of conserving and managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity. Heathlands account for 20.9% of the protected areas, while rivers and lakes contribute to 1.1%. Urban areas represent 0.7%, and wetlands comprise 0.2%.