adelphi is organising the first Natura 2000 Awards

In 2014, the European Union will endow the Natura 2000 Awards for the first time to award ideally managed nature protection areas. adelphi is responsible for the conception and implementation of the competition.

Biological diversity is invaluable because plants, animals and micro-organisms ensure that humans are provided with food, raw materials and technologies. Nevertheless, an increasing number of species is disappearing worldwide at an alarming rate. More than two decades ago, the European Union established Natura 2000, a Europe-wide system of protected areas. By now it covers more than 26,000 protected areas that comprise an area of 750,000 square kilometres in total. The aim is to protect habitats and species in areas in which they are particularly widespread and thus preserve the ecosystems.

However, although almost a fifth of the European land mass belongs to Natura 2000 sites, four out of five people in Europe are unfamiliar with the term as such. In order to sensitise the general public, the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission is endowing the Natura 2000 Awards for the first time in 2014. Prizes will be awarded to authorities, associations or conservation organisations in five categories, including awards for their performance in the protection of endangered animal or plant species or their communication campaigns that emphasise the value of biological diversity and the Natura 2000 protection area.

adelphi is developing the concept for the competition and implements it with two partners. Aspects of the mandate are the selection an international jury, setting up a website, creating communication material and organising the award event.