197 animal species, 89 plant species and 205 habitats are comprised in the Nature 2000 network, which includes the protected zones and species in the EU divided into 7 “bio-geographic regions”, to which the European Commission has recently added over 700 natural sites in the Atlantic and continental areas. One of the priorities of the new Executive in terms of environmental policy consists in fact in “curbing the decline of biodiversity by 2010”, and the Nature 2000 network thus enlarged “represents the largest coherent network of protected zones in the world and the most effective means for the Union to safeguard its fauna and flora”. In the course of the next few years the EU’s environmental commitment will also consist in the adoption of two supplementary lists of protected sites (one boreal and the other Mediterranean). It will also promote the establishment of the Nature 2000 network within the new member states. For further information, consult the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1349 N.ro relativo : 89 Data pubblicazione : 15/12/2004
