On 21 May, we mark Natura 2000 Day — and we have over 27,000 reasons to celebrate. That’s how many protected areas make up the Natura 2000 network, the largest coordinated conservation system in the world.
Stretching across land and sea, through ancient forests, rich wetlands, dramatic cliffs, meadows, dunes, and farmland, these sites are more than dots on a map. They’re living landscapes, each playing a vital role in protecting Europe’s unique biodiversity — especially for birds.
But Natura 2000 isn’t just for rare species. It’s a space where nature and people coexist. Whether you’re hiking, birdwatching, farming, or simply enjoying the view, these areas offer a model of how conservation and community can thrive together.
Why Natura 2000 Exists
Launched under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000 is a bold idea: protect Europe’s most precious species and ecosystems, not by locking them away, but by integrating protection into everyday life.
That means you can visit these sites, often freely. Local economies benefit from sustainable tourism and low-impact land use. And birds? They get the safe breeding grounds, wintering spots, and stopover habitats they need.
Saving Europe’s Most Vulnerable Birds
If you’re a birder, Natura 2000 sites are like opening a treasure chest. Some of Europe’s most threatened species depend on them. Just a few examples:
- Egyptian Vulture – This yellow-faced scavenger is clever, migratory, and sadly in decline. Fortunately, 444 Natura 2000 sites in southern Europe, from Spain to Greece, are stepping up with habitat management, safe feeding areas, and protection from poisoning.
- Little Bustard – A discreet farmland bird with a beautiful, fluttering display. It’s protected across 229 sites including Castro Verde (Portugal) and La Crau (France) where traditional grazing and low-intensity farming help preserve its open grassland habitat.
- Black-legged Kittiwake – A cliff-nesting seabird with a haunting cry. It’s present at 122 sites like Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher and France’s Bancs des Flandres. Protecting these marine zones helps both birds and fish populations.
- Common Pochard – This handsome diving duck is found in over 1,300 wetlands, including Spain’s Doñana National Park and Romania’s Valea Oltului Inferior. These sites offer clean, quiet refuges during migration.
Birds like these don’t just “benefit” from protection. They rely on it to survive.
Nature’s Quiet Workhorses
Natura 2000 areas aren’t just bird havens. They perform essential functions that support us all, whether we realize it or not:
- They store carbon in peat bogs, forests, and seagrass meadows.
- They filter water, keeping lakes and rivers clean.
- They protect against floods and erosion.
- They support farming, fishing, beekeeping, and tourism.
- And they offer everyone space to reconnect with nature.
These sites are real working landscapes. Many are still grazed, farmed, harvested, or used for recreation — but in a way that maintains biodiversity.
Best Practices and Ongoing Projects
Across Europe, nature organizations, local authorities, and communities are putting Natura 2000 into action. Here are some real-world projects worth knowing about:
LIFE Steppe Birds – Portugal
In southern Portugal, this project helps the Little Bustard and Great Bustard by restoring traditional steppe farming. Fields are managed in bird-friendly ways, and farmers receive support for maintaining biodiversity. This project proves that agriculture and nature can work together.
LIFE Danqube Free Sky – Romania, Bulgaria
Large birds like eagles and pelicans are often killed by power line collisions. This project marks or reroutes dangerous cables in key flyways near the Danube, especially inside protected areas. The results: fewer bird deaths, safer skies.
LIFE Peat Restore – Poland and the Baltics
Peatlands are rare and valuable. When drained, they release CO₂ and lose their wildlife value. This project rewets peat bogs across several countries, helping birds like the Eurasian Curlew and boosting carbon storage.
River Connectivity Projects – Sweden
In Sweden, rivers in Natura 2000 zones are being restored. Old dams are removed, and fish ladders are installed to help salmon and trout return to upstream breeding grounds. Otters and dippers benefit too.
People at the Center
What makes Natura 2000 special is that people are part of the solution.
In Extremadura, Spain, birdwatching tourism now fuels the local economy. Farmers maintain pastures for cranes. Guides, inns, and restaurants welcome birders. Everyone benefits — the community, the visitors, and the birds.
In many places, Natura 2000 supports environmental education, school visits, trail building, and eco-volunteering. It’s not about locking nature away — it’s about inviting people in.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Change
Despite progress, Natura 2000 faces ongoing threats:
- Pollution and land conversion continue to degrade some sites.
- Climate change is shifting ecosystems faster than many species can adapt.
- Weak enforcement undermines protection in some countries.
To meet these challenges, stronger political will is needed. The proposed EU Nature Restoration Law could be a turning point — not just protecting what remains, but restoring what’s been lost.
BirdLife Europe and Central Asia and other partners are calling for urgent action through campaigns like #RestoreNature and #HandsOffNature. They emphasize that safeguarding biodiversity must become a priority, not a luxury.
Why It Matters for You
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or someone who just enjoys a weekend walk, Natura 2000 sites offer something real: connection.
They help threatened birds survive, give pollinators space to thrive, support rural jobs, and offer all of us a chance to slow down and see the bigger picture.
These places are not luxuries. They’re the foundation of a healthier planet.
So next time you lace up your boots or lift your binoculars, think about where you are. If it’s a Natura 2000 site, you’re standing on one of Europe’s greatest ideas in action.
Let’s keep these landscapes alive, wild, and welcoming — for the birds, the future, and for all of us.
Start Your Journey
Find a site near you:
Natura 2000 Interactive Map – EEA
Support restoration efforts and stay informed:
BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
#HandsOffNature campaign
Want to explore more?
Read our guides and trip ideas at gotobirding.com and get inspired to visit the wild heart of Europe.
Nature is not a backdrop – it’s home. And it’s ours to care for.
#Natura2000 #RestoreNature #GoToBirding #BirdLifeEurope #NatureForAll #HandsOffNature