Good news for butterflies, bats and bears
Europe's flora and fauna are now better protected than at any time since the European Community was set up. Three recent expansions have added 18,784 square kilometres to Natura 2000, Europe's network of protected natural areas, which now covers almost 20% of the continent's landmass and 100,000 km2 of its seas. The additional areas are in Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Natura 2000 plays a major role in Europe's battle to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.
What is Natura 2000?
Natura 2000 is Europe's extensive network of protected natural areas for plants, birds and habitats. The network covers nearly 20% of the continent's landmass, and these recent additions add 489 new sites and a total area of 18,784 square kilometres. This expansion involves mountainous regions, the Mediterranean area and the Canary Islands, and will increase protection in a wide range of habitats. These habitats feature a wealth of flora and fauna, from butterflies in Finnish meadows to bats in French caves and bears in the woods of Slovenia. The range of protected areas is vast, from flower-rich meadows to cave systems and lagoons. The nine regions of the network reflect the wide variety of the continent's biodiversity.
The philosophy behind the network is that man must work together with nature. Activities carried out inside the network must be sustainable and in harmony with the natural environment. This means that a great number of activities are still possible, including agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
Member States choose their Natura 2000 sites in partnership with the Commission. Once selected, the areas are formally recognized by the Commission as "Sites of Community Importance". This process confirms the formal status of the sites, and cements the obligations to protect them. For the new sites, Member States now have six years to put the necessary management measures in place. Together with the "Special Protection Areas" for birds, the "Sites of Community Importance" form the Natura 2000 network.
Why does it matter?
Biodiversity - the limited resource that is the variety of life on earth – is in crisis. Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate as a result of human activities, with irreversible consequences for our future. The European Union has pledged to halt biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010, and has an action plan to address the problem.
The recent 2007 report on the implementation of that plan confirms that the continuing expansion of Natura 2000 is the most significant achievement to date, although progress is also being made towards other goals, like developing an EU framework on invasive alien species, strengthening partnerships on business and biodiversity, communicating biodiversity and launching a review of the economics of biodiversity loss.