CONSE

RVAT

ION

This Award goes to achievements that have improved the conservation status of a particular natural habitat or species. Target habitats and species are those for which Natura 2000 should be designated – listed in Annex I or II of the Habitats Directive or Annex I of the Birds Directive - or a regularly occurring migratory bird species.

FINALISTS 2020

1. MAGREDI GRASSLANDS

Saving the last dry ‘magredi’ grasslands in the plains of northern Italy

2. LILLE VILDMOSE: A BOG RESTORATION PROJECT FOR THE PUBLIC AND PEATLANDS Restoring Lille Vildmose – the largest lowland raised bog in north-western Europe

3. LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY FOR BROWN BEARS AND WOLVES - A REGIONAL NETWORK OF NATURA SITES Restoring an ecological corridor for large carnivores in the Carpathians

4. FROM WASTEWATER BASINS TO NATURE RESERVE Turning wastewater basins into important habitats for birds in Slovenia

5. USING UNDERWATER INVENTORIES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF MARINE AREAS IN FINLAND

VELMU – using underwater inventories to conserve marine areas in Finland

6. WATER FOR WETLANDS, WETLANDS FOR LIFE

Restoring wetlands for bittern and ferruginous duck in Slovakia

7. RESTORE THE BERLENGAS ISLANDS ECOSYSTEM TO PROTECT SEABIRDS AND NATIVE PLANTS Protecting rare seabirds and plants on the Berlengas Islands, Portugal

8. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE FARMED HABITATS OF THE ARAN ISLANDS Restoring farming on the Aran islands to preserve rare habitats1

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COMMUNIC

ATIO

N

This Award recognises successful communication activities aimed at increasing awareness or promoting Natura 2000, which brought about lasting changes in attitudes or behaviour towards the network.

FINALISTS 2020

1. NATURA 2000 - BRINGING STUDIES AND PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF NATURE

Bringing university students and local communities together to protect beech forests in Bavaria

2. ARALAR, THE LAND WHERE THE WORLD HAS A PLACE Aralar: bringing society closer to nature and Natura 2000 through film

3. EAU LA LA!!! ECO-TIPS FOR SEA AND SHORE! Raising stakeholder awareness of the fragile marine environment off the coast of Brittany, France

4. RESTORING ACTIVE RAISED BOGS IN THE NATURA 2000 NETWORK A nationwide initiative to restore Ireland’s active raised bogs

5. THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN: KNOWING AND PRESERVING BATS

Raising awareness for the Alviela caves and their resident bats in Portugal

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5

SOCIO

-ECO

NOMIC

BENEF

ITS

This Award recognises socio-economic benefits that have come about as a result of a Natura 2000 site or project. A ‘Natura 2000 label’, for example, might allow sustainable producers using the natural resources of the site to create a niche market or obtain better prices.

FINALISTS 2020

1. PRO-BIODIVERSIDAD: SHEPHERDS AS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATORS IN NATURA 2000 Branding products to support farmers and restore nature, Picos de Europa, northern Spain

2. NEW FARMING OPPORTUNITIES BENEFITTING BIRDS, PEOPLE AND CLIMATE Saving the aquatic warbler through farming in the Nemunas Delta, Lithuania

3. QUINTA DO PISÃO NATURE PARK Quinta do Pisão Nature Park – generating benefits for nature and people in Portugal

4. PROMOTING NATURE CONSERVATION WHILE PRODUCING WORLD QUALITY WINE Promoting nature conservation while producing world quality wines in Portugal

5. LENA - LOCAL ECONOMY AND NATURE CONSERVATION IN THE DANUBE REGION

Stimulating new nature-based businesses along the lower Danube

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RECO

NCILIN

G INTE

REST

S/

PERC

EPTIO

NS

This Award goes to successful efforts that brought together different socio-economic or political forces, or land or resource users, in a way that has benefitted Natura 2000.

FINALISTS 2020

1. TEN KEYS TO CO-OWNERSHIP FOR NATURE PROJECTS The Kruibeke Polders – creating new opportunities for nature and local communities

2. PARTNERSHIP FOR PROTECTION OF BULGARIAN OLD-GROWTH FORESTS IN NATURA 2000 Protecting old-growth forests in Natura 2000 state owned land in Bulgaria

3. COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS IN NATURA 2000: FARMERS AS MAIN ACTORS IN MANAGEMENT Landowners as the driving force behind Natura 2000 in Extramadura

4. DIVING FOR CONSERVATION Scientists and scuba divers join forces to conserve lakes in Northeast Germany

5. ECO KARST - FOR NATURE AND FOR PEOPLE Finding new socio-economic opportunities in fragile karst regions in nine countries

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CROSS

-BORD

ER

COOPE

RATIO

N AND

NETWORK

ING

This Award goes to effective partnerships between stakeholders that are aimed at resolving Natura 2000 issues more constructively than if the partners had operated individually. Partnerships can be cross-border between Member States or federal states, or involve networking on a particular theme of importance to Natura 2000.

FINALISTS 2020

1. REINFORCING THE ROLES OF REMOTE SENSING IN NATURA 2000 MONITORING Transferring remote sensing technology to managers of Natura 2000 sites

2. COOPERATION ACROSS SEAS: ROSEATE TERN COLONY NETWORKING Cooperation across seas: roseate tern colony networking across Europe

3. NETWORK OF NATURA 2000 STATIONS IN THURINGIA Establishing a network of Natura 2000 stations in Thuringia, Germany

4. JOINT EFFORTS FOR SAFE AND WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS IN THE CARPATHIANS Working together to find wildlife-friendly transport solutions for the Carpathians

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