Natura 2000 Award - News

This high-profile, far-reaching communication campaign promoting the relevance and importance of Natura 2000 potentially reached 25 million people in Bavaria and beyond.

WWF has successfully established a volunteer “Blue Patrol” to protect marine mammals and seabirds, resulting in the rehabilitation of over 250 injured or sick seals and the protection of nearly 200 nests containing ringed plover eggs.

The Nature Guardians project successfully addressed ineffective environmental law enforcement in Spain and Portugal, resulting in an increase in conviction rates and fines imposed for illegal activities in Natura 2000 sites.

Addressing the impacts of under- and over-grazing of semi-natural pastures, this initiative has built capacity amongst local authorities and directly restored 1,670 hectares of mountain grassland areas. 

A practical approach for reducing conflicts with wolves in a highly populated area: the Wolf Fencing Team provides has led to a change in attitudes and a reduction in wolf attacks in project areas. 

WWF Germany and the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra joined forces to organise the “Magic of the Isar” concert to celebrate the unique meandering river landscape of the Upper Isar River, and to highlight its fragile nature.

This project has successfully improved more than 1,400 hectares of oak habitat across 30 Natura 2000 sites in Sweden, benefiting numerous oak-dependent species, and raising awareness in local communities about their outstanding conservation value.

Restoring the Stržen River led to significant improvements in the ecological condition of the intermittent Cerknica Lake, improving protected priority habitats and important bird nesting areas.

The successful reintroduction of this threatened endemic species of algae paves the way for a wider recolonisation in Mediterranean waters, leading to the restoration of reefs and their habitat functions.