NATURA 2000: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world, covering over 18% of the EU land area and more than 8% of its sea territory. This entails a territory as big as Spain and Romania together on land, and as big as Sweden at sea. With biodiversity declining throughout the world, these sites offer a haven to Europe’s threatened species and habitats: they protect around 1400 species of wild animals and plants and 460 species of birds. This blogpost will explore the history of Natura 2000, why it is so important, what it has achieved so far and how it relates to the Nature FIRST project. 

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The decline of biodiversity is one of the most urgent problems facing humanity. Biodiversity encompasses the variety and variability of life on earth — all the animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms that work together to make up the different ecosystems that exist. Unfortunately, as we put more and more pressure on the planet, biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate. As noted by Thomas van Goethem et al., the trend has accelerated since 1900, and globally, the average abundance of species population has declined by 44% since 1970, with humans as the main cause.

Although a global effort is of course needed to fight these issues, regional efforts are a good step forward and can also go a long way. With this context, it was in 1992 that the European Union adopted the LIFE programme (the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action) and the EU Habitats Directive (which ensures the conservation of a wide range of rare, threatened or endemic animal and plant species). This legislation led to the creation of the Natura 2000 network, which has the goal of ensuring the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable species and habitats.

The network expands across all 28 EU countries, and more than half of Europeans live close to a Natura 2000 site. The Natura 2000 viewer is an online tool where you can see all Natura 2000 sites: it provides key information on designated species and habitats, population sizes and conservation status. 

It is important to note that Natura 2000’s approach is not about isolating nature from society, but instead, it is largely centered on people working with nature (not against it). This is why most of the land that is part of protected nature reserves remains to be privately owned. However, Member States must ensure that the sites are managed sustainably — ecologically and economically. The sites are protected through policy instruments that are then translated into national laws. Member States are required to report on the conservation status of habitats and species; and to avoid activities that could significantly disturb species, deteriorate or damage their habitats within these sites. In addition, in 2012, the European Commission launched the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process, which includes seminars, workshops and cooperation activities to enhance effective implementation, management, monitoring , financing and reporting of the Natura 2000 network. 

The network has existed now for three decades and has seen tangible results. Wild animals such as bears, wolves and bison have returned; a number of natural habitats have been restored; and overall, since 1970 there has been a 36% increase in species abundance in Western Europe. However, the network alone is not enough to halt biodiversity decline. 

This is where technology comes in, as it can help collect and analyse data for nature conservation purposes. With this in mind, Nature FIRST project aims to make digital twins (virtual representations) of the Natura 2000 sites, starting with the Carpathian mountains in Eastern Europe; the Danube Delta river in Romania and Ukraine; the Stara Planina mountains at the border of Bulgaria and Serbia; and the Ancares - Courel mountain in Spain. The goal is to develop technology that allows us to collect predictive and preventive data — so we can more effectively halt biodiversity decline. 

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