Editing Natura 2000

{{Short description|Network of protected areas}}
{{Infobox organization
| name   = Natura 2000
| logo   = Natura 2000 logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| type   = Network of [[protected area|nature protection areas]]
| founded_date      = 1992
| founder           = 
| origins           = 
| area_served       = [[European Union]]
| focus             = 
| homepage          = {{URL|https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en}}
| dissolved         = 
| footnotes         = 
| image = Els Ports.jpg
|caption = Natural protected area of Els Ports
}}

'''Natura 2000''' is a network of [[protected area|nature protection areas]] in the territory of the [[European Union]]. It is made up of [[Special Areas of Conservation]] and [[Special Protection Area]]s designated under the [[Habitats Directive]] and the [[Birds Directive]], respectively. The network includes both terrestrial and [[Marine protected area#Europe|Marine Protected Areas]].

The Natura 2000 network covered more than 18% of the European Union's land area and more than 7% of its marine area in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=JUSSIANT |first=Evelyne |title=EC Library Guides: Biodiversity and nature protection: Natura 2000 network |url=https://ec-europa-eu.libguides.com/biodiversity/natura2000 |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=ec-europa-eu.libguides.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
In May 1992, the governments of the [[History of the European Communities (1973–1993)|European Communities]] adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened [[habitat]]s and [[species]] across Europe. The [[Habitats Directive]] complements the [[Birds Directive]] adopted in 1979, and together they make up the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

The Birds Directive requires the establishment of [[Special Protection Area]]s for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires [[Sites of Community Importance]] which upon the agreement of the European Commission become [[Special Areas of Conservation]] to be designated for species other than birds, and for habitat types (e.g. particular types of forest, grasslands, wetlands, etc.). Together, Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation form the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

The Natura 2000 network is the EU contribution to the "[[Emerald network]]" of Areas of Special Conservation Interest set up under the [[Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats|Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats]]. Natura 2000 is also a key contribution to the Program of Work of Protected Areas of the [[Convention on Biological Diversity]].

As a prerequisite for joining the EU, accession states have to submit proposals for Natura 2000 sites meeting the same criteria as EU member states. Some new member states have large areas which qualify to be protected under the directives, and implementation has not always been simple.<ref name="RP">{{cite journal|first=Peter |last=Abran |title=Gospodărirea pădurilor în siturile Nature 2000 din România - probleme prezente și perspective |trans-title=Forest management in the Natura 2000 ecological network in Romania – present problems and perspectives |language=ro |journal=[[Revista pădurilor]]|issn=1583-7890 |volume=127 |issue=1 |pages=21–27 |date=January 2012|url=http://revistapadurilor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Revista-Padurilor-nr-1-2012-anul-127.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715143329/http://revistapadurilor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Revista-Padurilor-nr-1-2012-anul-127.pdf |archive-date=2020-07-15 |url-status=live |id=16782 |access-date=9 August 2023}} (abstract in English on p.&nbsp;27.)</ref>

The Natura 2000 sites are selected by member states and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The Special Protection Areas are designated directly by each [[Member state of the European Union|EU member state]], while the Special Areas of Conservation follow a more elaborate process: each EU member state must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive; this list must then be submitted to the [[European Commission]], after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

The Habitats Directive divides the EU territory into [[Biogeographic regions of Europe|nine biogeographic regions]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/biogeog_regions/ |title=The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Regions |publisher=European Commission Directorate-General for Environment |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=29 May 2015}}</ref> each with its own ecological coherence. Natura 2000 sites are selected according to the conditions in each biogeographical region; thus selected sites represent species and habitat types under similar natural conditions across a suite of countries.

Each Natura 2000 site has a unique identification form called a standard data form. This form is used as a legal reference when assessing the management of the species and habitats through the concept of favourable conservation status. The Natura 2000 Viewer<ref>[http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/ Natura 2000 network viewer] last retrieved 31-10-14</ref> is a tool to explore the network and gives access to every standard data form.

==Current status==
{{as of|2017}}, Natura 2000 protected 27,312 sites with a terrestrial area of {{cvt|787,606|km2}} (around 18 percent of land of the EU countries) and marine area of {{cvt|360,350|km2}},<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/barometer/index_en.htm Natura 2000 Barometer] last retrieved 14 July 2017.</ref> and was considered almost complete in the EU terrestrial environment. The process of designation has not always been smooth as the infringement procedures against member states show.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2022-05/annual-activity-report-2021-environment_en.pdf |title=Annual Activity Report 2021 |date=31 March 2022 |publisher=Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission |author=DG Environment |author-link=Directorate-General for the Environment |access-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429025629/https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2022-05/annual-activity-report-2021-environment_en.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2023 |url-status=live |page=11 |quote=Action was taken against 9 Member States to ensure the completion of the Natura 2000 network and the adequate conservation of the Special Areas of Conservation, and was pursued against 5 Member States to address the insufficient protection of species and habitats in decline due to infrastructure projects, agricultural practices or illegal logging.}}</ref> While designation of sites may be near complete, the management and enforcement of protection on sites is less advanced and many sites lack management plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/sites/default/files/attachments/On-the-Road-to-Recovery.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114235634/http://www.birdlife.org/sites/default/files/attachments/On-the-Road-to-Recovery.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2020 |url-status=dead |title=On the Road to Recovery? |access-date=7 May 2017 |publisher=BirdLife International}}</ref> Natura 2000 faced criticism from developers, farmers and politicians who fear that the conservation of habitats and species places a brake on development.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.07.009|title=Performing failure in conservation policy: The implementation of European Union directives in the Netherlands|journal=Land Use Policy|volume=31|pages=280–288|year=2013|last1=Beunen|first1=Raoul|last2=Van Assche|first2=Kristof|last3=Duineveld|first3=Martijn|bibcode=2013LUPol..31..280B }}</ref>

In 2013, there were {{cvt|251,564|km2}} designated as Natura 2000 in the marine environment. The network in marine areas is not considered complete and acknowledged by the Commission as a "key challenge for EU [[biodiversity]] policy in the coming years".<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.htm European Commission Natura 2000 in the marine environment] last retrieved 31-10-14</ref>

Natura 2000 sites can vary considerably in character. They are not strictly protected in terms of how they are allowed to be used by people. Many sites are farmed, forested and some are even in urban areas. Other areas are much wilder. The [[European Commission]] developed guidelines on the relation between Natura 2000 and wild areas which are thought to make up around 13% of the network.<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/wilderness/index_en.htm European Commission  Wilderness in Europe] last retrieved 31-10-14</ref> This was in response to a report by [[Member of the European Parliament|Members of the European Parliament]] in 2009 which called for further protection of Europe's wilderness.<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/064-47957-033-02-06-911-20090202STO47940-2009-02-02-2009/default_en.htm MEPs Respond to Call to Protect Europe] last retrieved 04-02-09</ref>

<gallery widths="200px">
File:NATURA 2000 Gebiet Haslauer Moor.jpg|Sign identifying a "Natura 2000 area" (''Haslauer Moor'' nature reserve) in [[Austria]]
File:Natura2000belgiumLesse.jpg|Sign identifying a Natura 2000 site in [[Belgium]].
File:Schild Natura 2000 Lieberoser Endmoraene und Staakower Laeuche 01.JPG|Sign identifying a "European protected area" ([[Special Area of Conservation]] ''Lieberoser Endmoräne und Staakower Läuche'') in [[Germany]]
File:Foloi oak forest.JPG| The [[Foloi oak forest]] in [[Greece]] is a Natura 2000 site.
File:Castro Verde Countryside2.JPG|[[Castro Verde]], Natura 2000 site in [[Portugal]]
File:Morava small lake.jpg|Natura 2000 locality in [[Slovakia]]
File:Näverkärr skugga.jpg|[[Näverkärr]] in [[Bohuslän]], [[Sweden]], is a Natura 2000 site.
File:Omenainen ortho image.jpg|An aerial photography of the [[Omenainen]] island, Natura 2000 site in [[Finland]]
File:1109 Wielki Karw Odra.jpg|Natura 2000 locality in [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police, Poland]] (estuary of [[Oder]] and [[Szczecin Lagoon]])
File:Oostvaardersplassen cattle.jpg|The [[Oostvaardersplassen]] is a Natura 2000 site in the [[Netherlands]].
</gallery>

==Raising awareness==
The Natura 2000 network is not well known among European Union citizens; only 11% of citizens knew what it was in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_379_sum_en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429145728/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_379_sum_en.pdf |archive-date=2014-04-29 |url-status=live|title=Attitudes towards Biodiversity. Flash Eurobarometer 379|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref> As part of the [[EU Biodiversity Strategy]], the European Commission committed to raise awareness about the network and biodiversity in general with the public.

===Natura 2000 Day===
In order to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, 21 May has been designated “Natura 2000 Day”. This precedes “International Day for Biological Diversity” on 22 May. The initiative came from [[SEO/BirdLife]] who sought and received funding from the EU [[The LIFE Programme|LIFE+]] programme in order to improve the knowledge of this network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://activarednatura2000.com/en/proyecto-life/|title=Project Life Activates your true wealth.|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204085820/http://activarednatura2000.com/en/proyecto-life/|archive-date=4 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2013, the first Natura 2000 day took place with the aim to raise awareness of citizens about the importance of Natura 2000 network in their lives. Since then, every May 21 and the weeks before, awareness actions take place all over Europe. For example, in 2014, school children and politicians across the EU were encouraged to make a butterfly gesture and post photos on social media to raise awareness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natura2000day.eu|title=Natura 2000 Day|website=www.natura2000day.eu|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref>

===The Natura 2000 Award===
The Natura 2000 Award <ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/awards/|title=European Natura 2000 Award - European Commission|website=ec.europa.eu|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref> was launched by the European Commission in 2013, with the first prizes awarded on Natura 2000 Day in 2014. The annual Award aims to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, showcase excellence and encourage networking between people working on Natura 2000 sites.

It awards prizes to those working on the management of or to raise awareness about Natura 2000 in five award categories: Conservation; Socio-Economic Benefits; Communication; Reconciling Interests and Perceptions; Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking. In its first year, winners were selected from Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain.

== Controversy ==
The Natura 2000 legislation, notably with its habitats-test (or: habitats assessment, Article 6 of the Habitats Directive), dates back to the days [[climate change]] was not an issue and the concept of [[ecosystem services]] had not been well developed. Hence, in international law literature Kistenkas raised the question the habitats assessment was originally not designed for striking a balance of all relevant ecosystem services or to involve climate change into the assessment.<ref>Frederik Hendrik Kistenkas, ''Innovating European nature conservation law by introducing ecosystem services'', GAiA 23/2 (2014): 88-92</ref> Although well protecting nature conservation objectives, a rethinking of the habitats assessment might be necessary in the light of a new climate law as part of e.g. the [[European Green Deal]].<ref>Frederik Hendrik Kistenkas, ''Rethinking European Nature Conservation Legislation: Towards Sustainable Development'', Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law (JEEPL) 2013 10/1 72-84, https://brill.com/view/journals/jeep/10/1/article-p72_6.xml?lang=en, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-01001005{{subscription required}}</ref>

In European law literature Borgstrom and Kistenkas have discussed some possible future incompatibilities of the Natura 2000 habitats-test with novel EU [[green infrastructure]] policies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kistenkas |first1=Frederik H. |last2=Borgström |first2=Suvi |year=2014 |title=The Compatibility of the Habitats Directive with the Novel EU Green Infrastructure Policy |url=https://kluwerlawonline.com/journalarticle/European+Energy+and+Environmental+Law+Review/23.2/EELR2014004 |journal=European Energy and Environmental Law Review |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=36–44 |doi=10.54648/eelr2014004|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In the late 2010s the habitats assessment was at the basis of the [[nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands]] as the EU Court (C-293/17 and C-294/17, ECLI:EU:C:2018:882) ruled on agriculture nearby Natura 2000 sites.<ref>Frederik H. Kistenkas, Harm C. Borgers, Machteld E.A. Kistenkas, ''Recht voor de groene ruimte'', 3rd ed., Wageningen Academic Publishers 2017</ref>

In some other member states, such as [[Bulgaria]], there was criticism a project had not been well communicated in advance. This led to construction in the [[Kaliakra]] zone of Bulgaria, including [[wind turbine]]s and a golf course. Land owners have then been told they may not use their land in certain ways, otherwise non-compliance procedures would be used against Bulgaria. This led to protests by the land-owners.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.euscoop.com/en/2017/8/7/kalikara-protests-eu-environment|title=The Kaliakra protests: The Bulgarian People vs. The EU|access-date=2017-08-11|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022113610/https://www.euscoop.com/en/2017/8/7/kalikara-protests-eu-environment|archive-date=2018-10-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ecological network]]
* [[Forêts et étangs du Perche]]
* [[Raspaillebos]]
* [[Dieleghem Wood]]
* [[Laerbeek Wood]]
* [[Agri-environmental measures]]
* [[Sätra Nature Reserve]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Documentation ===

* [https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e4d56202-545d-43d8-972c-6be52cc8fec3 Natura 2000 : Protecting Europe’s biodiversity, published on 2008/11/11, in English digital book] or in paper book ({{ISBN|978-92-79-08308-2}}).

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/}}
* [http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu Natura 2000 Viewer - interactive map (European Environment Agency)]
* [https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/natura-9 Natura 2000 data download – the European network of protected sites (European Environment Agency)]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/natura2000/index.htm Natura 2000 newsletter (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian)]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/awards/ Natura 2000 Award]
* [http://www.adelphi.de/de/publikationen/dok/43463.php?pid=1961 Natura 2000 Award Scheme - Environmental Benchmarking Report, 2015]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110704091403/http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Natura_2000/index_html European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity]
* [http://www.natura.org/ Natura Network Initiative – Natura 2000 at work]
* [http://www.biodiversitya-z.org/areas/27/ A–Z Areas of Biodiversity Importance: Natura 2000]
* [http://www.natura2000marine.com Natura 2000 and Marine Environment]
*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/db_gis/index_en.htm List of webpages Natura 2000 of member states of the European Union]

'''Germany'''
* [http://www.natur-erleben-nrw.de Nature experience NRW shows 200 of the Natura-2000-Areas with images and videos]
'''Latvia'''
* [https://www.celotajs.lv/cont/wrth/natura2000/KasirNATURA2000_en.pdf What is NATURA 2000 ? Useful information for land owners, residents and tourism providers in NATURA 2000 sites]
'''Natura 2000 in the global context'''
* [https://dopa.jrc.ec.europa.eu The Digital Observatory for Protected Areas (DOPA)]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Natura 2000| ]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Europe]]