Today, May 21, is the day European Day of the Natura 2000 Network 2024. This event aims to inform about the benefits that the areas that make up it have and to promote the protection of these spaces and their conservation. By knowing which species and which habitats fall within the parameters of this figure, Europeans can care for and appreciate these species.
The Red Natura 2000 whose creation is commemorated on the European Natura Network Day 2000 2024 is a cluster of sites spread across the EU that aims to contribute to the conservation of the biological diversity of the different local species and habitats found on the territory of the European Union. a logic of sustainable development.
To this end, Member States undertake to restore or maintain the good conservation status of endangered species and habitats at European Union level, taking into account the socio-economic activities carried out in the designated areas Red Natura 2000.
The European policy for the establishment of the Red Natura 2000 It is based on the application of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, which were adopted in 1979 and 1992 respectively. The purpose of its creation was to provide the Member States of the European Union with a common intervention framework in favor of species conservation. and natural environments.
The idea was precisely that the merger of the two directives would allow the creation of the two directives Red Natura 2000, in which two types of places participate: ZPS and ZSC. And to commemorate and celebrate this fact, there is the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network 2024.
How are Natura 2000 areas designated?
Red Natura 2000 terrestrial
The designation of spaces that belong to the Red Natura 2000 It is based on two directives drawn up within the European Union and applicable to all European Member States:
The “Birds Directive” obliges every state to designate special protection areas, better known as SPAs. They correspond to areas frequented by bird species that require special protection. The catalog of these species is contained in the annexes to the Directive and will be updated as information becomes available.
The Habitats Directive creates Special Conservation Areas (ZSC), within which species of flora and fauna other than birds and natural habitats, i.e. areas with a high abundance of biodiversity, biodiversity require a special level of protection from the European Union.
These guidelines require states to achieve conservation objectives, taking into account local economic, social and cultural requirements. Therefore, Member States have an obligation to present their results to the European Union.
Red marina Natura 2000
Each Member State that has coastlines must identify a coherent and sufficient network of natural habitats and species of Community interest in the said maritime space.
To help them, the European Commission has published a guide to the application of the Red Natura 2000 at sea. It specifies the various legal and political aspects, the habitats and species of interest to the community, the elements necessary to locate, evaluate and select sites, in addition to the management measures that will be proposed and the links with which each of these spaces will have the Community fisheries policy.
Data from the Natura 2000 network in Europe at the European Natura 2000 Network Day 2024
More than 27,000 locations have been designated as part of the Red Natura 2000. This is 18% of the territory of the European Union and includes the following habitats and species, which we remember in the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network 2024
- 274 bird species declared of Community importance.
- 230 natural habitats of community interest.
- 1,200 animal and plant species (that share their habitat with birds) of community importance.