Europe takes up less than 5% of the land surface of the Earth. However, it has a huge diversity of plants, animals and landscapes, some of which are found nowhere else in the World. In order to protect its nature, the European Union has established an ecological network, called Natura 2000, the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It accounts for over 18% of the mainland and nearly 6% of the marine territory of the EU. It provides home for endangered species of plants and animals. It is a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, stretching across all EU countries and is being introduced in the candidate countries as well.

The aim of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, listed under the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive.