EN © Frank Vassen June 2009 NATURE the 27MemberStates. and threatened across animalandplantspecies200habitat types European fl Natura 2000isstillunderdevelopment, covering anever richerrange of 1979 Birds Directive andthe 1992Habitats Directive. The network isfounded ontwo pioneeringpieces ofEUlegislation: the Natura 2000 iskey to achievingthisgoal. agreement to signifi ofaglobal to haltthe declineinbiodiversity by 2010,andispart Europe’s wildlife andecosystems are underthreat. The EUhaspledged native for future generations. demonstration ofEurope’s to commitment itsrich preserve to act andisaremarkable ofEUnatureNatura policy 2000isat theheart ofmarineenvironment. —plus100 000 km2 800 000 km2 covering around 20%ofthetotal landarea oftheEU—around By theendof2008,network willcomprise more than25000 sites, and wildlife canlive together inharmony. broader andsustainableuse, principleofconservation where people habitats. isnotrestrictedto nature It reserves, but basedonamuch ofEurope’sset upto ensure thesurvival mostvaluable speciesand Natura 2000is theEU-widenetwork ofnature areas conservation Natura 2000 ora and fauna. It alreadyora off andfauna. It cantly reduce biodiversity lossby that date. ers protectionto over 1000 rare Fact 1: It is in our interests to save Fact 2: Natura 2000 is a partnership biodiversity between people and wildlife Biodiversity in Europe is under threat: many of Europe’s indigenous Natura 2000 is at the core of EU biodiversity policy: a unique animal species are threatened. Around 800 plant species in Europe and ambitious programme for sustainable development and are at risk of global extinction and most fi sh stocks are below safe preservation of Europe’s exceptionally rich natural heritage. limits. Extinction is forever — it cannot be reversed. When Member States and the identify and There are many reasons to act now to stop the loss of biodiversity. adopt sites of special value to become part of the network, this We have a moral duty to look after the planet for future generations. does not mean that people and economic activities are excluded Nature provides us with leisure, pleasure and inspiration. — quite the reverse. Sustainable activities are encouraged. Natura ‘Ecosystem services’ generate clean air, water, food, medicines and 2000 is built on harmonious coexistence between humanity and raw materials vital to our health and quality of life. And the natural nature, creating a living and changing landscape: the product environment provides work for countless numbers of Europeans of ’conservation in partnership’. Human husbandry is needed to through agriculture, tourism, fi shing, and many other occupations. maintain many familiar habitats, such as meadows, heaths and woodlands, and people are part of the cycle of life. It is very hard to put a fi nancial value on these resources, but estimates point to hundreds of billions of euros a year. Economic activities include farming, tourism, fi shing, forestry, sustainable hunting, leisure pursuits and infrastructure projects. The natural world is at the root of everything and we depend on Member States have to ensure, however, that sites are protected it for our surival. from damaging changes, and managed in line with rules laid down in the . Local stakeholders should be fully involved, whether they are — forests for the future landowners, businesses, local authorities, community and environmental groups, or individuals. Without public support the The timber industry is big business in central Finland. This scheme cannot succeed. This requires full transparency. needs to be approached The Commission has set up a special website with details of sustainably, to ensure the survival of forests. With Natura the network’s progress: http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/ 2000, private owners and environmental authorities work natura_2000/home together to draw up forest management plans balancing economic potential and conservation needs. Fact 3: Natura 2000 refl ects a long- term EU commitment It is almost 30 years since the EU passed its fi rst major nature conservation law in 1979. Key dates for Natura 2000: 1979 Birds Directive: providing for Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds. 1992 Habitats Directive: establishing Natura 2000 and requiring Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). 2001 In Göteborg, , EU leaders agreed to halt the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2010.

© Kirsten Sundseth 2002 El Teide Declaration: Member States pledge to raise awareness about Natura 2000 and involve stakeholders.

Azores — attending to assets Whales and dolphins are a popular tourist attraction around the coasts of the Azores, in the Atlantic. But too many visitors could harm the mammals they come to see. The regional government of the Azores has put together a code of conduct for its Natura 2000 marine areas, and works with local whale- watchers to provide training in management and conservation. Visitors are satisfi ed, and everybody wins. © iStockphoto combined surface ofSpainandItaly. Further updates arecombined surface plannedin2009. theend of2008,Natura2000willcover alandareaBy greater thanthe progress here. isnecessary The off • 2008,theAlpineandMacaronesian regions were January updated,In • November 2007,thefiIn rst Pannonian areas were added, and theAtlantic, • Further areas intheBoreal region were addedin2005,andfrom the • Sites infour regions (theMacaronesian, Alpine, AtlanticandContinental) Recent progress hasbeenrapid: expanding thenetwork’s offaunaandfl diversity rich ora. broughtand withthemtheSteppic andBlackSearegions, further and theCzech RepublicaddedthePannonian region, andin2007, Romania Sweden andFinland created theBoreal region. 2004,Hungary, In has expandedwithsuccessive EUenlargements. 1995theaccessionof In in place. ofnaturalhabitatsandspecieswithinthenetwork The variety Commission, managementmeasures andhave sixyears to putthenecessary with the States designateThe Member theNatura2000sites inpartnership 4 Fact followed region bytheMediterranean inthespring. in size to . andaddedalandarea equivalent Statesnewer into Member thenetwork, Boreal andContinental regions updated. sitesThis incorporated for ten in2006. Mediterranean were 2001and2004. addedbetween isstillincomplete,shore Natura2000network andfurther marine : The network isgrowing constantly Continental region Boreal region Black searegion Atlantic region Alpine region Steppic region Pannonian region regionMediterranean Macaronesian regions Continental

Steppic countries, withmountains, grasslands, islands estuaries. The GulfStream system bringsmild from France to . Hotsummerscontrast Arctic Circle;Arctic forests cover 60%ofthisregion, Boreal Macaronesian Atlantic of the Black Sea, extending through extending Bulgaria of theBlackSea, % ofEUterritory, thisregion ishometo 19% which shelters thousands of migratory birds.which shelters thousandsofmigratory marshes, lakesandislands, sheltering awide and Romania. The Danubedeltaisamaze of Alpine Madeira andtheCanaries.Madeira Covering only0.3 Black Sea Mediterranean in thewest, across thelower ofthe section fl of the Black Sea, with low-lying plains and withlow-lyingof theBlackSea, plainsand oodplain of the Danube and to the north oodplain oftheDanubeandto thenorth of itagricultural —spanning11countries the Carpathian basinare hometo 40%of fl and cold, harshclimates, forests androck at landsandcliff islands intheAtlantic Ocean: theAzores, Pannonian southern Slovakia, the dry grasslands of thedry southern Slovakia, peaks, includingtheAlps, Pyrenees and : Europe’s into the extending farnorth, : stretching from Bucharest (Romania) : mountain chains with high altitudes : mountainchainswithhighaltitudes Nine biogeographicalNine : Europe’s western coastal areas, with : the heartland ofEurope —much : theheartland : thewestern andsouthernshores of habitat types of EUconcern.of habitattypes : madeupofEurope’s volcanic : the steppes of Hungary and and : thesteppes ofHungary : Europe’s hot,dry, southern winters andcool summers. and extensive coastlines. Hungarian plantspecies. s, plussomemajorriver Apennine mountains. with cold winters. range offauna. regions wetlands.

© LIFE05/PL/000101 © José María Molina Porras – Parque Natural de la Sierra de Andújar © JAntonio Rivas systems ofprotected areas sites onland(by2010)andinmarine (by2012). onprotectedof work areas, aimingto setupwell-managed nationalandregional Natura 2000istheEU’ to implementingtheCBDprogramme smajorcontribution global target ofsignifi cantly reducing therate lossby2010. ofglobalbiodiversity andadopted andsustainableuseofbiodiversity the calledfor theconservation It Summit. Convention Earth onBiological (CBD) cameoutofthe1992Rio Diversity Europe isnotaloneinitseff 6 Fact Natura 2000network. System (GIS)isbeingdeveloped to present onlineinformation abouttheentire States’Member sixyears. AGeographic every Information implementationreports biannual NaturaBarometer signals thelatest progress. The Commission alsoassesses whetherNatura2000issucceedinginitsobjectives. A to know isimportant It Tracking thenetwork for States through Funds Member theStructural Fund. andtheRuralDevelopment nature andbiodiversity. However themainfundingfor site managementisavailable 2013) fi for EUR187million,with 50%ofthefundsearmarked nanced projectsworth for 2007,thebudget projects. demonstrationandbestpractices In LIFE+(2007– 1992 to 2006,theLIFE-Nature strandoftheLIFEprogramme funding provided key The EU’s fi for substantiallyover theyears. Natura2000hasrisen nancial support From EU funding andistherefore elementofourlifeservices akey insurancefor thefuture. andstoreand peatlandsabsorb Natura2000provides carbon. vitalecosystem Protecting also helpsto biodiversity counter climate change, becauseforests, woods from inbreeding ofland. pentheminto becauseroad pockets networks to thechanging climate. For example, inSpain,thefewLynx remaining suff Iberian interconnected where ormove possible, to soasto adapt enablespeciesto survive Natura 2000sites represent spacefor critical nature, andmustbebigenough, • European plantsare buddingandbloomingearlier. More than halfofEuropean flora amphibianandreptile• Most speciescouldlosesuitablehabitatsby 2050. bird• Studiesshow communities. changesinmigratory • The naturaltimingofevents suchasbreeding ormigration isaltering. onecosystems andwildlife. impact This ishaving aserious seasons, andwillcontinueto dosoeven ifgreenhouse gasemissionsare reduced. Climate changeisraisingglobaltemperatures andaff Protecting thanever inthecomingyears. willbemore biodiversity important 5 Fact species couldbevulnerableby 2080. : ofaninternationalPart eff : Natura 2000isablueprintfor thefuture http://reports.eea.europa.eu/report_2002_0524_154909/en http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm to safeguardorts biodiversity. The United Nations DG Environment Natura 2000website: European Environment Agency: Further information ort ofthe thepattern ecting Reproduction is authorised providedReproduction isauthorised © European Commission, 2009 the source isacknowledged.

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