Brussels, 24/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Whether national or cross-border, the nature conservation projects which received Natura 2000 awards from the European Commission on Monday 23 May are all judged to be exemplary. Natura 2000 is a pan-European network of over 27,000 protected natural habitats.
“This year, over 37 000 people cast a vote for their favourite project to win the EU Citizens' Award, which is a 50 % increase from last year. This goes to show just how important these awards are for increasing awareness about Europe-wide efforts to promote biodiversity”¸ said Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella, as he announced the names of the winners of this the sixteenth edition of the competition at a ceremony in Brussels.
The European Citizens' Award went to the Spanish conservation initiative to save the Iberian lynx. The Conservation Award went to an initiative on blanket bog restoration in Dove Stone in the United Kingdom. The project “For the Balkans and the People: Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development” in Bulgaria won the Socio-Economic Benefits Award. The Communication Award went to the “Nature Concerthall” project in Latvia. The Reconciling Interests/Perception Award went to the project “Creating green corridors for biodiversity under high-tension lines between Belgium and France”. In the Cross-border Cooperation and Networking category, the project, involving Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway and 15 other countries, to preserve the lesser white-fronted goose, Europe's rarest waterbird, won the award. The winners were selected from among 83 entries. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)