On May 21 every year we celebrate the European Natura 2000 Network Day, a date proclaimed by the European Commission in 2017. Commemorates the adoption of the
Habitats Directive
European standard for the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, which gave rise to the Natura 2000 Network, the largest network of protected areas in the world.
The Natura 2000 Network is composed, in the first place, of Sites of Community Importance (SCI), areas officially designated by the European Commission under the Habitats Directive as sites hosting natural habitat types or species of special importance at the European Union level. These SCIs can also be declared as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) by the Member States when their management plan is approved. On the other hand, the Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs) are designated under the
Birds Directive
and are sites hosting wild bird species to be conserved at Community level.
With about 27,000 spaces (equivalent to one fifth of the European Union’s surface area), the Natura 2000 Network seeks to make the conservation of the environment compatible with biodiversity conservationby acting to protect the long-term survival of the most vulnerable species and ecosystems, with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the activities carried out in these spaces. Currently, 37% of the flora and fauna in the European Union as a whole is found in Natura 2000 Network sites.
Spain is the European country that contributes the most to this network, with more than 1,850 sites, representing 27.8% of its land area and 20% of the total European network. The Spanish network includes 662 Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs), and 60% of the habitats and 40% of the species protected by the Natura 2000 Network are represented. Likewise, our country is home to 56% of the birds included in the Birds Directive, 32% of the taxa included in the Habitats Directive, and 56% of the habitat types of Community interest.
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has contributed, since its inception, to the protection of natural habitats and species of community value, promoting the consolidation of the Natura 2000 Network as a tool for the protection of natural habitats and species of community value. reversing biodiversity loss in the European Union as a whole through different initiatives and programs.
Thus, the project
LIFE INTEMARES
project contributes to the integrated, innovative and participatory management of marine protected areas and advances towards the fulfillment of international marine protection commitments, based on the availability of rigorous scientific information and the participation of the sectors involved. Its pillars include research, conservation, governance, awareness raising, as well as the training of agents involved in the effective management of the Natura 2000 Network. Within this framework, an analysis of the
analysis of the adequacy of the Natura 2000 Network
This has provided MITECO with basic scientific information to make progress on the commitment to protect 25% of the marine surface area by 2025.
The Fundación Biodiversidad also works in Natura 2000 Network areas to guarantee the conservation of endangered species. Coordinates the
LIFE Cerceta Pardilla
which aims to improve the conservation status of 3,000 hectares of wetlands to reverse the risk of extinction of the most endangered duck in Europe, in critical condition in Spain. So far, more than 55 hectares of wetlands of great importance for the species have been acquired and more than 1,400 specimens have been released to reinforce their populations.
In addition, we participate in the project
LIFE Bears with a future
project, with actions in eight areas of the Natura 2000 Network in the Cantabrian Mountains with the aim of facilitating the adaptation of the Cantabrian brown bear to climate change. To date, the project has planted 64,966 trees and shrubs of native and fruit-producing species that serve as food for this animal. In addition, habitat restoration actions, research studies and awareness-raising activities have been carried out for the groups that carry out activities in the bear mountains.
Among the species included in the Habitat Directive and located in Natura 2000 Network sites, there are also cetaceans as endangered as the porpoise and bottlenose and common dolphins, which are the object of protection in the project.
CetAMBICion project
. This initiative, which involves 15 partners from Spain, Portugal and France, aims to reduce cetacean bycatch in the Bay of Biscay sub-region and the Iberian coast.
The Fundación Biodiversidad also participates in the project
LIFE ECOREST
project, which operates on the coast of Girona and Barcelona, where Natura 2000 Network areas such as Cap de Creus are located. This area is considered a point of great ecological importance due to the high concentration of endangered species, including corals, gorgonians and sponges. The LIFE ECOREST project is expected to restore about 30,000 hectares of deep marine habitats . So far, two oceanographic campaigns have been carried out to study the state of the habitats in these areas.
Lastly, the Biodiversity Foundation has promoted the conservation of species and habitats in Natura 2000 Network sites in Spain, supporting more than 300 initiatives through different calls for grants, as well as projects within the framework of the Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience (PRTR) and within the framework of the Pleamar ProgramThe project, co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), has a total budget of more than 46 million euros.