«NATURA 2000», created in 1992 as a result of the Community Directive known as « Habitats Direttive», is the first network for the in situ conservation of biodiversity. Natura 2000 represents the concrete response of Europe and of State leaders to the commitments agreed to during the summit of the European Council at Göteborg in 2001, for halting the loss of biodiversity before 2010.

The raw material for the formulation of Network NATURA 2000 proceeded from scientific data extracted from the programme “CORINE Biotopes”, from 1985 to 1991, which has resulted in an initial selection of the most important areas for nature conservation within each European country.

The different biogeographical regions (in red, those present in E.U.territory) represent the partial scheme of distribution of shared habitats and species according to historical, biological, geographical, geological and climatic factors that can influence the geographical distribution of living organisms (Source: ©1993-2006 EEA: Biogeographical regions: Europe 2001 Jenuary2006).

The Network NATURA 2000 is a coherent and firm, (from the functional point of view) system, comprising two types of territorY: the Special Protection Areas SPA (established according to Annex I of the Birds Directive) and the Special Conservation Areas SCA (established according to Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive). In total, these areas constitute a group of isolated territories, linked, nonetheless, by ecological corridors that are essential for the spatial connection of these distant areas which are, nevertheless, in close proximity from the point of view of their ecological funtionality.

The objective of «Network Natura 2000» is to maintain satisfactory conservation conditions for habitats, animal and plant species for which the sites of the network have been identified.

The Network Natura 2000 covers approximately 15% of the surface of the European Union (Source Mappe ). The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)(© Mostra ) and the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) (© Mostra ) are found among the protected species.

Every member state and the institutions (responsible for the management of the Areas of Community Importance that are partially or completely included in the designated territories) are encouraged to adopt measures which are to be applied in order to accomplish this objective (the management of the sites Natura 2000 is regulated by Art.6 of the Habitats Directive).

Barometer Natura 2000: the proposed SIC (table to the left) are already more than 20.000 and cover a total surface of more than 500.000km2;the SPA (table to the right) are more than 4.000 and cover more than 350.000km2 (Source:« Natura 2000 », Notiziario Natura della Commissione Europea a cura della D.G. Ambiente, N.19 Novembre 2005 .)

Network Natura 2000 considers man as the principal vector of nature conservation. This is an innovative characteristic for the management of “Natura 2000” sites. Indeed, the policy’ s support for sustainable exploitation offers the possibility of creating a contact between the objectives of nature conservation and those of economic development of rural communities, by forming in this way a “sustainable” policy.

The activities that already take place within a Natura 2000 site, such as agriculture and hunting, can be pursued, provided that they do not harm species and habitats for which the site has been designated. If plans or projects should have an important impact on the site, special conditions could be indicated by the EU in order to accept their approval.

Natural heritage often constitutes an income source for local populations: ecotourism is an example of development for a territory that can benefit from the existence of Natura 2000.

For further information on the Network Natura 2000: