Commission announces finalists for the 2020 European Natura 2000 Award. Vote now for your favourite!

The European Commission is proud to announce the 27 finalists for the Natura 2000 Award, selected out of 79 eligible applications from twenty-six EU Member States as well as the United Kingdom. The selected finalists are from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. They include several cross-border projects which involve partners from additional EU Member States.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries said:

“The wide range of achievements highlighted in our finalists’ applications demonstrate in a practical and inspiring way the importance of the Natura 2000 network for the protection of EU’s natural heritage and biodiversity, as outlined in the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy. It’s now your turn to get involved: vote now and give these remarkable achievements the recognition they fully deserve!”

The finalists in five categories – Conservation, Socio-Economic Benefits, Communication, Reconciling Interests/Perceptions, and Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking – will now be assessed by an independent jury. Everyone is invited to vote for their favourite finalist to win the European Citizens’ Award. Online voting closes on 15 September 2020.

The aim of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. Well-functioning ecosystems in Natura 2000 provide many services that benefit human health, society and the economy estimated at EUR 200 to EUR 300 billion per year. Moreover, in the EU, around 4.4 million jobs are directly dependent on healthy ecosystems, and a significant proportion of these are situated within Natura 2000 sites. This will be a key asset to preserve and to tap into for the EU’s sustainable socio-economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 context.

The management of the EU Natura 2000 Network of protected areas contributes to the ambitious targets of the Biodiversity Strategy to ensure that biodiversity in the EU will be on the path to recovery by 2030.

This summer we invite you to reconnect with nature whenever possible, discovering the Natura 2000 network – home to the EU’s most remarkable biodiversity from the mountains to the sea … Or via the Natura 2000 Award and Natura 2000 websites.

The winners are tentatively expected to be announced on 14 October 2020.

Background:

There have been four previous Natura 2000 Awards since they were first introduced in 2014.

Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of the EU’s nature and biodiversity policy. Established under the EU’s Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, it is an EU-wide network of over 27 000 terrestrial and marine sites, covering more than 18 % of land area and 8 % of the surrounding seas. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. While the network does include nature reserves, most of the land is privately owned. The emphasis is on ensuring that future management is sustainable, both ecologically and economically.

A recent public opinion survey showed that 96% of Europeans agree that we have a responsibility to look after nature, although only 30% had heard of the Natura 2000 network. The Awards are a means of raising awareness of the network.

Media contact: natura2000awardstipik [dot] eu (natura2000awards[at]tipik[dot]eu).