Is the connectivity of the Natura 2000 network better across internal or external administrative borders?

Network connectedness across internal borders in Germany, Italy and Spain showed a similar logical pattern with means over 75% and most values were higher than connectedness measures of international borders. In Austria we found no clear pattern: connectedness measures both of internal and external borders varied greatly. Network connectivity across internal borders was typically poorer than connectedness and poorer than connectivity of international borders of the same countries: we provide a number of possible explanations for that. The poor connectedness of the Austrian Natura 2000 network across internal borders is linked with the absence of coordination of Natura 2000 site designation at the national level. We believe this study could be interesting for other (large) countries worldwide with similar de-centralisation of nature conservation administration.