Protection of habitats and species - public votes for Natura 2000 Award 2024 start now

The Natura 2000 Network provides a safe haven for Europe’s most valuable and threatened species. Since its foundation in 1992, it has developed into the world’s largest network of protected areas, comprising more than 27,000 sites in 27 Member States and covering almost 18 percent of the EU’s land and nearly 10 percent of its marine area. On land or sea, in floodplains or mountain meadows, countless initiatives work in different ways across Europe to protect valuable habitats and species, and restore our nature. 

Stakeholder awareness and engagement are key for achieving the network’s objectives. adelphi is involved in several initiatives to increase awareness for and improve the implementation of the  Natura 2000 network. One of them, the Natura 2000 Awards, celebrates the special achievements of initiatives involved in managing and protecting nature protection areas. By doing so, it aims to draw the attention of the general public.

The European Natura 2000 Award celebrates excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites in five categories which showcase the best success stories in preserving Europe’s stunning nature. The five categories include

• Conservation on Land
• Communication
• Marine conservation
• Working together for Nature
• Cross-border Cooperation

This year’s finalists include initiatives promoting sustainable tourism, environmental incentive programmes for agriculture, nature restoration strategies, voluntary conservation agreements, awareness-raising initiatives, information dissemination. Furthermore, the submissions showcase collaborative endeavors, including public-private partnerships and transnational projects spanning multiple countries.