In May, people across Europe will get to celebrate the European Union’s Natura 2000 network. A variety of exciting events are being organised at Natura 2000 sites on and around Saturday, 21 May 2016 for members of the public and visitors to these protected havens.

Natura 2000 Day is about making European citizens more aware of the natural riches of the Natura 2000 network and of the conservation work they carry out. The date is an important one for Natura 2000 site managers because it is also when the European Commission announces the winners of the Natura 2000 Award at a special ceremony in Brussels.

Natura 2000 day is an initiative of the LIFE project LIFE Activa Red Natura 2000 (LIFE11 INF/ES/000665) which, among other things, has produced a website for the day as well as promotional items, including a trilingual Natura 2000 day song. The main aim of the project is to increase awareness of the Natura 2000 network in Spain and across Europe helping to create a new relationship between the general public and the Natura 2000 network. In turn this will facilitate a smoother and more effective implementation of the Habitats and Bird Directives and ensure a better understanding and protection of biodiversity as a whole.