European Natura 2000 Award - Award categories

Conservation on land

The Conservation on land category is aimed at achievements  in terrestrial Natura 2000 sites that improve the conservation status of species or habitats protected in the site(s) in question. Applications submitted under this category would typically focus on best-practices or particularly successful conservation achievements.

This award recognises achievements that have improved the conservation status of a particular terrestrial habitat type and / or species. Targeted habitat types or species must be listed in the Habitats Directive Annex I or II or Birds Directive Annex I or be a regularly occurring migratory bird. This means that species only listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, for instance, cannot be the target and such applications would not be eligible.

Applications presenting successes in the creation of improved connections and corridors between sites in the Natura 2000 network are welcome, as they respond to an important concern for the implementation of Natura 2000. Applications demonstrating links to restoration activities outside Natura 2000 sites are encouraged, but their primary focus must remain Natura 2000 sites and the species and / or natural habitat types protected in them.

Marine & coastal

The Marine & coastal category is aimed at achievements in marine or coastal Natura 2000 sites that improve the conservation status of marine or coastal species or habitats protected in the site(s) in question.  Applications submitted under this category would typically focus on best-practices or particularly successful conservation achievements.  

This award recognises achievements that have improved the conservation status of a particular protected marine or coastal habitat type and / or marine or coastal species. Targeted habitat types or species must be listed in the Habitats Directive Annex I or II or Birds Directive Annex I, or be a regularly occurring migratory bird. This means that species only listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, for instance, cannot be the target and such applications would not be eligible.

Applications presenting successes in the creation of improved connections and corridors between sites in the Natura 2000 network are welcome, as they respond to an important concern for the implementation of Natura 2000. Applications demonstrating links to restoration activities outside Natura 2000 sites are encouraged, but their primary focus must remain Natura 2000 sites, species and / or habitat types protected in them.

Towns & cities

The Towns & cities category recognises achievements in urban or peri-urban Natura 2000 sites that enhance the natural environment.

This new category focuses on conservation achievements wholly or partly in urban areas or areas with mixed urban and rural characteristics. Activities can include protecting species or habitat types – including  species that may have adapted to human-modified landscapes – or stepping-stone habitats that connect larger natural areas. The category also covers achievements that have led to improved ecosystem services that mitigate and prepare for more urban resilience to climate change, such as flood and drought regulation, groundwater recharge, providing urban cooling, or combatting (air or water) pollution.

Applications demonstrating a link to the urban sustainability agenda or activities that explicitly involve urban citizens in or close to Natura 2000 sites are particularly welcome. 

Community benefits

The Community benefits category recognises the creation of socio-economic benefits for local stakeholders as a result of activities linked to a Natura 2000 site.  

This award recognises socio-economic achievement emanating from Natura 2000 including – but not limited to – economic values, jobs & livelihoods, contributions to food security, tourism and recreation, as well as cultural heritage.

Some examples are nature conservation or restoration actions that have led to: increased economic benefits for local citizens from a nature-based tourism in a Natura 2000 site; the use of natural resources from Natura 2000 sites that led to both the improved conservation status of the protected features and also created benefits to local producers in obtaining better prices (in particular if certification is used, such as the Natura 2000 logo as a label); protection of traditional ways of farming that also lead to Natura 2000 benefits; protection of pollinators that has also led to increased crop yield, etc.

The category also welcomes climate change mitigation activities, helping to reduce the monetary value of carbon storage for example.  
 

Public engagement

The Public engagement category is aimed at any kind of communication or promotional activities that increased the awareness or brought lasting positive changes in attitudes or behaviour towards Natura 2000.  They can be large-scale, or small- scale achievements, and their target audiences can be specific or general. 

This award recognises communication achievements that have led to increased awareness about Natura 2000, and which have brought lasting positive changes in attitudes or behaviour towards the network.

Applications to this category must show a direct impact on at least one specific Natura 2000 site, even if the initiative itself targets the Natura 2000 network as a whole, a whole interest group or the general public.