Every six years, EU countries must report to the European Commission on the condition of Europe’s wildlife and natural habitats. This includes:

• Wild birds, under the Birds Directive
• Other protected species and habitats, under the Habitats Directive

The latest reporting period covers 2019–2024, with an official deadline of 31 July 2025. Although many countries submitted their information later than planned, most reports have now been received. At the time of writing, data is still missing from Romania (birds) and Spain (habitats).

The European Commission is now checking the quality of the information and discussing any issues directly with national authorities. This review phase is expected to finish by February 2026. Once completed, national summaries and online dashboards will be published. After that, the Commission will carry out EU-wide assessments, with support from experts and input from stakeholders. These assessments should be finalised by mid-2026.

At the same time, the Commission is preparing the next State of Nature report, which is scheduled for publication at the end of 2026. The final datasets for the 2019–2024 period will be released after this report is published.

Why is this important?
These reports compile information from all EU countries in a consistent manner, offering the most comprehensive and current overview of Europe’s natural health. Like the previous State of Nature report in 2020, the 2026 edition will serve as a vital reference for assessing progress towards biodiversity targets and legal commitments.

For FACE, the data provides a strong foundation for analysing trends, identifying pressures on species and habitats, and prioritising conservation action.

More generally, the State of Nature report turns complex scientific data into clear summaries, helping everyone better understand how Europe’s wildlife and habitats are really doing — and what needs to happen next.