Twenty Years of Systematic Care for Nature

This year marks the 20th anniversary of two key instruments for the conservation and sustainable use of nature in the European Union: the Habitats Directive and the Life program, a financial program for the environment.

Twenty years ago, EU member states unanimously adopted the Habitats Directive to protect the most endangered species and habitats across Europe. This was a response to concerns about the rapid decline in wildlife populations and the loss of natural habitats due to land use changes, pollution, and urban sprawl. To give species and habitats the space to recover, the Directive established the Natura 2000 network of protected areas and the Life financial instrument, which provided strategic support.
Last month, an expansion of the Life program’s role was voted in Brussels, covering 10 percent of the costs for the Natura 2000 ecological network. The Life program is an excellent ‘umbrella project’ for Natura 2000 as it is the only EU program that exclusively addresses environmental issues. Due to its profile, Life should be given a greater role to cover at least 20 percent of the Natura 2000 fund.

Symbol of the New Millennium
Life co-finances ecological initiatives in the European Union, in some third countries bordering the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, and in candidate countries for EU membership that have chosen to participate. Currently, Life receives only 0.2 percent of the total annual budget of the European Union. To take on upcoming new commitments and responsibilities, its budget needs to be increased by at least 1 percent of the total EU budget.

Natura 2000 includes more than 26,000 protected sites, with nearly 18 percent of the Union’s territory included in the network along with 200,000 square kilometers of protected marine areas. This concept of an ecological network of conservation areas that transcends national borders was adopted in 1992 in the form of the EU Habitats Directive. The network, which also includes areas designated for bird protection, was named Natura 2000 according to the Birds Directive of 1979, symbolizing the new millennium and new approaches to addressing many ongoing issues, not only in the field of nature conservation.

Important Contribution of Croatia
At the time of joining the European Union, Croatia will have to implement EU regulations on nature protection within its territory. The Natura 2000 protected area will be managed from Brussels. The provisions of the two EU directives on nature protection have already been transposed into Croatian legislation through the Nature Protection Act. Like other member states, Croatia will have to propose areas for the Natura 2000 network for more than 250 species and 70 habitat types that occur in Croatia and are important for the EU. Approximately 1,000 potential Natura 2000 areas have been identified. In Croatia, as much as 48 percent of the territory is protected, and given that it is one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of biodiversity, its contribution to the Natura 2000 network and the conservation of biodiversity throughout the European Union is crucial. In addition to ensuring a favorable conservation status, Croatia’s role also includes promoting and educating the public about natural values and sustainable development, and it is particularly interesting for us to utilize the EU funds that are available for this purpose.