LIFE projects honoured at Natura 2000 Awards

A total of 13 projects, either wholly or partly funded by the LIFE Programme, were among the 27 nominations in the five awards categories: Conservation on Land; Communication; Cross-border Cooperation, Marine Conservation, and Working Together for Nature.

Opening the ceremony, Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Director General of DG Environment reflected: “Our economy depends on a healthy nature, and the Natura 2000 Network contributes strongly to creating and maintaining a resilient Europe in the face of the ongoing climate, water and biodiversity crises. In the ten years of the Natura 2000 Award, including this edition, finalists and winners have shown the exceptional commitment of public authorities, stakeholders and local communities to ensure the network continues to provide vital services for future generations.”

Singled out by jury Chair Dr Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director General of DG Environment, for its “high quality” and “outstanding combination effect”, LIFE MIRES ESTONIA won the Award for Conservation on Land for its restoration of nearly 6,000 ha of wetlands protected under EU Habitats Directive.

“All the applications were very high quality, and it was very difficult to choose a winner,” said Dr Fink-Hooijer. “When you restore wetlands you have a long-lasting effect, and that makes it very special.”

Irish project Wild Atlantic Nature - funded by LIFE - won the Working Together for Nature Award for its innovative agri-environment payment scheme for farmers in Natura 2000 areas in Ireland. As Jury member Roby Biwer from the European Committee of the Regions pointed out, “Wild Atlantic Nature shows that farmers, citizens and environmentalists can work together in harmony for positive outcomes. It’s so important to involve farmers.”

The Cross-border Cooperation Award, presented by jury member Oana Neagu of the Natura 2000 EU Users Forum, went to Grazing to preserve Natura 2000 habitats and species: a Pyrenees example from France and Spain, also funded by LIFE. “It’s a very emotional moment for me because I know how much work all of you put in,” she told them. “Congratulations to all of you. You involve local authorities, stakeholders and in particular farmers - this multi-stakeholder approach is very important. You have restored directly restored 1,670 hectares of mountain grassland, and your success can really be shared and promoted in other parts of Europe, and we strongly encourage that.”

The Natura Citizens Award - chosen by a public vote and announced by Maroš Šefčovič, went to Best practices for the conservation and management of the black stork in Poland, which was also shortlisted in the Conservation on Land category. “Today the black storks are the real winners,” explained Dariusz Anderwaldn as he accepted the award on stage. “Everyone has fallen in love with the black storks! But we would like you to love them even more!”

Introducing the live-streamed Awards ceremony in front of a 400-strong audience, Maroš Šefčovič added, “All of you are winners, and you have done a great job protecting nature. I congratulate you all on your passion and commitment to the cause.”

Jury member Etienne Aulotte of Brussels Environment emphasised that local awareness raising is key to communications success. “We were impressed by a local NGO and cultural association that really involves citizens in its communications,” he told the winners of the Communication Award, From the woods to the web and back from Italy. “Working together to build communications must involve local citizens to raise awareness.”

Conservation and restoration of “blue forests” in Portugal’s Sado Estuary took the honours in the EuroNatur Foundation’s Jury member Viktor Berishaj announced the Marine conservation Award Reforesting the sea successfully brought together the local fishing industry, decision-makers and scientists to conserve and restore 20 ha of threatened seagrass meadows and salt marshes. “This project addresses one of the most fragile marine habitats, seagrass meadows. Not only did they restore them, they removed more than 25,000 tonnes of rubbish and fishing gear from the sea bed. What stands out is their ambition and desire to replicate the project.”

Wrapping up the Awards ceremony, Dr Fink-Hooijer reflected: “The biggest winner is European nature - it needs support and help at the moment. Maintaining our natural envionment is so important for our future wellbeing and economic prosperity - but not everyone believes that. You are all ambassadors - not just those here tonight, but everyone involved in the 27,000 Natura 2000 sites across Europe. you are all ambassadors. Thank you.”

The Natura 2000 Awards are a major event in this year European Green Week - but the celebrations continue today with the winners of the LIFE Awards 2024 being honoured in three categories - nature, circular economy and quality of life, and climate action, as well as the LIFE Citizens’ Prize, again chosen by public vote.

A total of seven wholly funded LIFE projects were shortlisted among the 27 finalists:

• LIFE+ Nature Guardians - leading the fight against environmental crime such as dumping waste and killing wildlife across Spain and Portugal.
• LIFE Bridging The Gap - a Swedish initiative to reverse centuries of habitat fragmentation and local species declines and extinctions.
• The Formentera Marine Custody Board, set up by LIFE INTERMARES to monitor marine activity in the Balearic Islands.
• LIFE MIRES ESTONIA - restoration of 5,800 ha of wetlands protected under EU Habitats Directive
• LIFE Stržen - an ambitious project to restore the flora and fauna of Cerknica Lake in Slovenia, for the benefit of both residents and visitors.
• LIFE INVASAQUA - raising awareness and preventing aquatic invasive alien species in the Iberian Peninsula.
• ROC_POP LIFE - replanting seaweed forests in the Cinque Terre and Miramare marine protected areas on the Italian Riviera.

Find out more about the 2024 Natura 2000 Award winners and finalists.