Map of the Week – Marine Natura 2000 sites
On 8 March 2022, the European Commission, in collaboration with the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) launched a new campaign called The Green Track, a nature protection initiative for young people. [1] The Green Track is a flagship initiative of the European Year of Youth 2022 designed to mobilise young people across Europe ahead of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At CBD COP15, scheduled later this year, world leaders are expected to agree on a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The Green Track is built around more than 30 events covering a variety of formats and environmental themes and topics, organised by young people across the European Union, with support from the European Commission.
On the subject of biodiversity, how much do you know about the network of Natura 2000 sites? Natura 2000 is a network of core breeding and resting sites across Europe, both on land and at sea, for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right. It aims to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, listed under both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. Explore the Map of the Week to learn about Marine Natura 2000 sites and to see where they are located and test your knowledge with our marine biodiversity quiz!
Wish to learn more about biodiversity and/or the ocean?
- Find out about the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and discover the IPBES podcasts;
- Watch the recording of the Ocean Decade Laboratory ‘A Healthy and Resilient Ocean’ which took place on 9 – 11 March 2022;
- Follow the news and activities of the Ocean Decade;
- Participate in the Make Europe Blue campaign and submit your pledge for the ocean;
- Save the date for the EU4Ocean Ocean Literacy summit in May 2022!
The data in this map are provided by EMODnet.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/environment/news/commission-launches-thegreentrack-nature-protection-initiative-young-people-2022-03-08_en