From the Biodiversity Foundation we have allocated, through our calls for grants and subsidies, more than 20 million euros to 286 projects that are developed in Natura 2000 Network spaces, of which 69 are currently in execution.

The Natura 2000 Network, created in 1992, is a key tool for the protection of the European Union’s biodiversity against the impact of human activities. Its purpose is to guarantee biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna in Europe, by maintaining or re-establishing their favourable conservation status, for which a large network of natural areas is created at European level with specific conservation objectives.

In 2017, the European Commission made European Natura 2000 Network Day official and chose May 21 as the date because it was the anniversary of the approval of the Habitats Directive, the European regulation that created the Natura 2000 Network, which currently includes more than 27,000 protected areas in Europe.

Spain is the EU country that contributes the largest area to the Natura 2000 Network: it currently consists of more than 1,800 sites Overall, the network covers a total area of more than 220,000 km2. In the terrestrial environment, the Spanish contribution to the RN2000 is particularly relevant. With more than 138,000 km2 protected, Spain is one of the countries with the highest percentage of its surface area included in it, 27.34% of the national total, to which is added a protected area in the marine environment of more than 84,500 km2 (more than 8%). In addition, Spain is home to half of the habitats and one in three species recognised by the Habitats Directive and two out of three of the birds covered by the Birds Directive in its Natura 2000 Network, respectively.

From the Biodiversity Foundation we have allocated, through our calls for grants and subsidies, more than 20 million euros to 286 projects that are developed in Natura 2000 Network spaces, of which 69 are currently in execution.

Achieving effective management of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network is one of our priorities. For this reason, through LIFE INTEMARES, an extensive programme of actions linked to governance, the active participation of the sectors involved, conservation, awareness and environmental education has been launched. All this in order to achieve an integrated, innovative and participatory management of almost 300 Natura 2000 Network sites.

Likewise, at the Biodiversity Foundation we work in Natura 2000 Network spaces to guarantee the conservation of endangered species. We coordinate the LIFE Marbled Teal, 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 a critical situation in Spain.

In addition, with the aim of facilitating the adaptation of the Cantabrian bear to climate change, we participate in the LIFE project Bears with a future, with actions in eight areas of the Natura 2000 Network of the Cantabrian Mountains. The project foresees plantations of native fruit-producing trees and shrubs, habitat restoration actions, research studies and awareness-raising actions aimed at groups that carry out activities in the bear forests during the winter.