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What is Natura 2000? Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. It is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive. The Natura 2000 network currently encompasses over 27,300 individual sites, altogether covering an area of more than 1.1 million square kilometres (EEA, 2022). This corresponds to 18% of the

Since the begin of 2020, the world is going through a multi-dimensional crisis due to the covid-19 pandemic: aside from an already acute environmental crisis, we are confronted with a health crisis with important human costs and considerable effects on the economy and the societies. There is now an extraordinary opportunity to contribute or even to influence this collective effort by governments, funders, civil society, local communities and corporate actors aimed at “readjusting the target”, towards sustainable approaches to the

Despite the diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystem, Guinea Bissau has not embarked on a strategic reflection on the opportunities and risks of exploring its Small Island Developing State (SIDS) potential. As shown by the COVID-19 Socio Economic Impact Assessment (accessible here), the blue economy can be the key to recovery from COVID-19 impacts and to embark on a greener and more sustainable and inclusive development pathway. Through the Rapid Financing Facility (RFF), $ 1,5 million were allocated to support the

The World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe“ was inscribed into the World Heritage List in the summer of 2017. It was submitted as an extension to the already existing ‘Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany’, which now comprises 94 component parts across 18 countries. More information can be found here and here. The extended property represents an outstanding example of relatively undisturbed,

Despite recent progress made in #DRR, the danger of leaving hundreds of communities behind is still real. How can we build resilient communities? You can find more in the video that showcase the relationship and impact of early warning systems on reducing disaster risk. Climate change is intensifying, along with climate disasters! The Southern Africa region is occasionally affected by disasters such as Floods and Cyclones. Moreover, the lack of coping capacity against disasters puts the region at high vulnerability against

The global decline of biodiversity poses fundamental risks to human well-being. It threatens our food and water security, jeopardizes our physical and mental health, weakens our economies, increases fragility, heightens the risk of conflict and exacerbates the climate crisis. The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in society’s relationship with biodiversity, ensuring that by 2050 the shared vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’ is fulfilled. Read