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Natura 2000: |
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About Natura 2000In 2001, the European Union (EU) set itself the ambitious target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The EU ‘Habitats’ and ‘Birds’ Directives are the cornerstones of the EU’s policy response to this commitment. Together, these two EU laws set the same high standard for nature conservation across all EU Member States (currently 27 countries). At the heart of the two Directives is the creation of a Europe-wide ecological network of nature conservation areas – the Natura 2000 Network - designed to conserve Europe’s most valuable wildlife and natural habitats across their entire natural range in the EU, irrespective of administrative and political boundaries. Some 25,000 sites are included in Natura 2000 so far, making it the largest network of nature conservation areas anywhere in the world.  Visiting Natura 2000 sitesFrom the peaks of the flower rich Carpathians, to the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean islands, from the vast empty spaces of Lapland teaming with rare wildlife to the bustling little farmsteads of Austria, from the majestic riverbanks of the Loire to the gentle urban forests of Europe’s capital cities - there is something in Natura 2000 to suit everyone’s taste. Few places in the world offer such a varied, contrasting and localized patchwork of natural sites, wildlife and cultural landscapes so tightly interwoven in so small an area. And that’s the key to Europe’s nature: it is sometimes wild and spectacular, sometimes familiar and comforting, but almost always within reach. Natura 2000 aims to conserve this rich natural heritage for generations to come. It can also guide you to some of the best nature sites Europe has to offer About this projectAwareness raising Natura 2000: working with Europe's rural tourism sectorThis project entitled “awareness raising Natura 2000: working with Europe’s rural tourism sector” ran from January 2007 to July 2008. Co-financed by the EU, it brings together an innovative partnership of tourism providers and Natura 2000 specialists from 5 countries to raise awareness of Natura 2000 and to explore its implications/potential benefits for rural tourism at the grass roots level. The actions proposed have been piloted in three very different regions of Europe: Latvia, Andalucia, and 5 areas in Finland. Each region has important areas in Natura 2000 and an already established and expanding rural tourism market, largely based on its natural and cultural values. |
 Project funded by the European Commission  |
