On May 21, the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network is commemorated, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. This event was proclaimed by the European Commission for the first time in 2017 on the occasion of the approval of the Habitats Directive, the European standard that created the Natura 2000 Network.

The Natura 2000 Network is the largest network of protected areas in the world and the main tool for biodiversity conservation in Europe. Thus, with nearly 27,000 natural areas (equivalent to a fifth of the surface area of the European Union), the Natura 2000 Network ensures the long-term survival of the most vulnerable species and habitats in Europe and contributes to halting the loss of biodiversity, one of the greatest threats to European ecosystems.

To reverse this situation, Spain has committed to continue making progress in the protection and effective management of at least 30% of our land and marine surface by 2030, to contribute to the protection of biodiversity and address the effects of climate change.

Spain, in fact, is the country in Europe that contributes the most to this network with more than 1,850 spaces, which represents 27.8% of its land area and also represents 20% of the total European network. It should be noted that, in the marine field, Spain has 272 sites in the Natura 2000 Network, being one of the largest and best scientifically defined in Europe. In addition, our country is home to 56% of the birds included in the Birds Directive and 32% of the taxa included in the Habitats Directive and 56% of the habitat types of Community interest are present in Spain, including some as diverse as posidonia meadows, saline steppes, coastal lagoons or alpine meadows.

The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge contributes to the consolidation of the Natura 2000 Network as a key tool for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe through different programmes and calls for grants.

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, which has been reinforced this year.

Likewise, the Biodiversity Foundation works in Natura 2000 Network spaces to guarantee the conservation of endangered species. He coordinates 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, it participates in the LIFE Bears with a Future project, with actions in eight areas of the Natura 2000 Network of the Cantabrian Mountains. The project has begun work to carry out 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.

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 has the participation of 15 partners from Spain, Portugal and France, aims to reduce cetacean bycatch in the subregion of the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian coast.

Finally, the Biodiversity Foundation participates in the LIFE ECOREST project, which operates on the coast of Girona and Barcelona, where areas of the Natura 2000 Network 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 nearly 30,000 hectares of deep marine habitats .

In addition, the Foundation has supported through different calls for aid more than 150 projects working in Natura 2000 Network areas in Spain, mainly aimed at the conservation of species and habitats within these protected areas, with an endowment of more than 7.2 million euros.