12 de April de 2022
The European ecological network Natura 2000 organizes the "Natura 2000 Awards," for which 21 projects across Europe have been selected this year. The winners will be announced at a gala next May.
- The winners will be announced at the Natura 2000 Awards ceremony in May 2022.
- Finalists have the opportunity to receive the "Citizens' Award" through virtual voting.
- Among the selected projects are several Spanish projects
The European ecological network Natura 2000 is designed to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and endangered habitats and species and is the cornerstone of the European Union's biodiversity conservation policy.
This network therefore organizes the"Natura 2000 European Awards" to highlight the best nature conservation practices in Europe. Through these awards, a winner is selected annually in each of the following categories :
- Conservation
- Social and economic benefits
- Communication
- Reconciliation of interests
- Cooperation
- Award granted by citizens
This year, the Natura 2000 Awards have selected 21 projects from across Europe, and the winners will be announced at a gala next May. Meanwhile, one of these 21 finalists will be eligible to receive the Citizens' Award, chosen through a virtual vote accessible to any user. The entry period is open until April 27thhere .
Spanish projects
Among the 21 European finalists, we find several Spanish initiatives, some of them carried out in cooperation with other countries:
- 2022 Finalist in the “Socioeconomic Benefits” category: Spain with “Social Inclusion and Management of Invasive Alien Species”
The "LIFE Stop Cortaderia" project promotes the social integration of people with disabilities while eliminating invasive alien species in five coastal Natura 2000 areas.
- 2022 Finalist in the “Socioeconomic Benefits” category: Italy, France, Croatia, Greece, Spain, and Albania with “ Promotion of Ecotourism in Mediterranean Protected Areas”
This project has developed a set of standards to ensure the quality of ecotourism products and services as a low-impact alternative to mass tourism in the Mediterranean. They have also developed ecotourism packages in nine protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites in Croatia, France, Greece, Spain, and Italy.
- 2022 Finalist in “Socioeconomic Benefits”: Spain with “El Pinar de los Belgas: Past, Present, and Future”
The Belgian Pine Forest in Spain has been managed by a private company for almost 200 years and is included in several protected Natura 2000 areas. This area has just become a public forest after being acquired by the Spanish government in December 2021. A documentary produced by the FIR ( Forestry, Innovation and Resources ) outreach channel has showcased the different perspectives on its sustainable management.
- 2022 Finalist in “Cross-Border Cooperation”: Portugal and Spain with “Protection of Migratory Fish in Spain and Portugal”
This initiative involves six Spanish and Portuguese partners working together to improve the conservation status of migratory fish populations in the Minho River by removing obstacles and relocating migratory fish, as well as restoring 9,000 hectares of protected habitats along the river.