Ecological networks and greenways in Europe: reasoning and concepts

The paper gives an overview of approaches towards ecological networks throughout Europe. It does not intend to present a complete picture, but to highlight common developments within countries and regions and show common principles and differences between countries and regions that have to be taken into account when developing a joint European initiative. Countries or regions that have not been included can be active in the same way, but information was not accessible to the authors for different reasons. This overview shows the comparable trends in decline of landscapes and the diversity in approaches to biodiversity conservation and nature conservation planning. Understanding the differences and common issues are of utmost importance to generalise common principles and to understand the way neighbours and other European partners approach problems.