The project “Natura 2000: Connecting people with biodiversity” is an initiative launched by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife), with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, and whose main objective has been to improve knowledge and awareness in Spain about the Natura 2000 Network and thus contribute to its conservation.
30% of the Spanish territory is included in the Natura 2000 Network, which represents a contribution of 15.5% of the territory in Europe. This means that any effort to improve the acceptance and appreciation of this Network in Spain has a significant effect on the protection of European biodiversity.
Regarding the results of the project, it should be noted that consumers’ knowledge of Natura 2000 production has improved through the television series and campaigns in supermarkets, encouraging the consumption of responsible products originating from Natura 2000 sites.
The celebration of the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network has also been promoted and supported, achieving the involvement of society with a multitude of actions that have led to the official celebration of the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network by the EC (21 May).
Finally, news has been prepared and social networks have been energized to communicate and increase the dissemination of project content and materials. The project, through the communication strategy, the identification of opportunities and the dissemination of content, has communicated the values of the Natura 2000 Network to public opinion, reaching a potential number of 200 million people through the media.