Strict protection for primary and old-growth forests.

This contribution briefly presents the Commentary “Reclaiming Strict Protection via the European Green Deal,” authored by Professor Edoardo Chiti (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy) and Professor Gianluca Piovesan (University of Tuscia) published in October 2025 in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

The article highlights that strict protection regimes are a fundamental component of any successful strategy for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, particularly for primary and old-growth forests. Categorized within land-sparing approaches, strict protection is essential for ecosystems that—due to their ecological integrity —require a high degree of preservation and restrictive management. For these areas, the article adopts the definition provided by IUCN: “the control and limitation of human visitation, use, and impacts […] to ensure protection of their high biodiversity value and natural features.” (Dudley, 2008)

While the European Green Deal (EGD) identifies strict protection as a key solution for ecosystem health at both regional and global levels, the article notes that its full potential remains unrealized. This stagnation is attributed to a lack of clear guidance, insufficient legal weight, and inconsistent implementation of existing regulatory frameworks. Consequently, the EGD target of strictly protecting at least 10% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030 appears to be losing momentum.

Ultimately, the article positions strict protection as an indispensable pillar of the European strategy to biodiversity conservation. To address current shortcomings, the authors propose strengthening the EU regulatory framework by prioritizing ecological primacy within the broader context of sustainable development.

By Prof. Gianluca Piovesan – Università degli Studi della Tuscia (University of Tuscia, UNITUS), Italy.

Reference: Chiti, E. & Piovesan, G. (2025). Reclaiming strict protection via the European Green Deal. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 23(9), e70011.

Photo credits: courtesy of Prof. Gianluca Piovesan – Università degli Studi della Tuscia (University of Tuscia, UNITUS), Italy.
Strict Nature Reserve of Sasso Fratino, Italy. Established in 1959 and an old – growth Forest UNESCO site since 2017 (in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites of the ancient beech forests of Europe).
Riserva Integrale di Sasso Fratino, Italia. Prima riserva integrale in Italia, istituita nel 1959 e nella lista UNESCO dei siti delle foreste vetuste dal 2017 (nella lista UNESCO dei patrimoni mondiali delle faggete vetuste d’ Europa).