The aim of the Emerald Network is to ensure the long term conservation of species and habitats of European importance and protected under the Bern Convention. To assess the extent to which a list of proposed Emerald Network sites contribute towards this objective, an evaluation of the proposed sites on a biogeographic basis (or a country basis in the case of birds) is carried out. By the means of regional scientific seminars the evaluations aim to assess the adequacy of the relevant country site lists, species by species and habitat by habitat. An adequate list is one deemed sufficient to enable a favourable conservation status for a given species or habitat type in the biogeographical region concerned.

The conclusions of these evaluations give the Contracting Parties involved a precious feedback on where they currently stand, on what is the distance to the ultimate objective and where to put future priorities for work.