21st of May is the European Natura 2000 Day. With the celebration of this Day, we want all European citizens discover the stunning riches of these sites, where nature and human go hand in hand. We want to convert the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network into the day in which all of us will make a gesture (symbolic or real) for our natural sites.

Under this premise, the aim is for every person, organisation or institution to make a gesture of social awareness in favour of preserving the natural ecosystem and the birds that inhabit it. Every year, the gestures will contribute to the conservation of a particular Natura 2000 site in Europe.

For this year´s campaign, the site chosen is Doñana in Spain

This celebration is part of the Life+ project Natura 2000: Connecting people with biodiversity, leaded by SEO/BirdLife and EFE, supported by the European Commission.

The co-financiers are the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Biodiversity, Red Eléctrica of Spain and the regions of Andalusia, Castile and Leon, the Basque Country, Navarra, Baleares, Castile-La Mancha, Madrid and Cantabria.

Why that date?
On 21st May 1992 Habitats Directive was approved. This Directive and the Birds Directive (approved in 1979) are the base of Natura 2000 Network.

Despite its 20 year history and its ecological, social and economic importance, the Natura 2000 network is known only by few citizens.

This lack of awareness by citizens is one of the main problems of the Natura 2000 Network. Help us to solve recommending your friends to participate in the celebration of the European Day.