The 2020 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award includes 27 finalists. You can vote now for your favourite project to win the European Citizens' Award.
The European Natura 2000 Award is a European Commission initiative dedicated to rewarding excellence in the management and promotion of the nature conservation network and raising awareness about Natura 2000 and its benefits to European citizens.
Natura 2000 includes over 27,800 nature conservation sites. It covers almost a fifth of Europe's land area and almost 10% of the EU marine areas, making it the largest coordinated network of conservation areas in the world.
The Natura Award 2000 is open to any organisation or person involved in a Natura 2000 conservation site, including public authorities, businesses, NGOs, volunteers, landowners, educational institutions, and individuals.
The Natura Award 2000 is given out in six categories: Conservation; Socio-Economic Benefits; Communication; Reconciling Interests/Perceptions and Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking as well as a European Citizens' Award.
A high-level jury including representatives from the EU institutions and other organisations active in the field of nature conservation decides upon the winners, except for the European Citizens' Award, which is open to public vote until 15 September 2020.
The CoR member and rapporteur on biodiversity Roby Biwer (LU/PES) is part of this year's high-level jury. Watch here Biwer's video message to support the Natura 2000 Award. You can read here our latest interview with rapporteur Biwer on biodiversity.
The announcement of all six winners will be made at an upcoming Award Ceremony.
More information:
The 2020 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award includes 27 finalists. You can VOTE NOW for your favourite project (the deadline is 15 September 2020).
Natura 2000 was created in 1992 through the Nature Directives, which include the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. The Nature Directives are the cornerstone of Europe's legislation on nature conservation, protecting around 2,000 of Europe's most vulnerable species and habitats.
Visit here the Natura 2000 Award website.