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30-536: The park was declared in 2000 with the name "Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina". The original name of the park refers to: It is one of a number of protected areas in the Cantabrian Mountains. From an ecological point of view, most of the park is within the Atlantic biogeographical region , but it is on the edge of that region and 4% of the area is classed as Mediterranean . In 1998

60-517: A legal reference when assessing the management of the species and habitats through the concept of favourable conservation status. The Natura 2000 Viewer is a tool to explore the network and gives access to every standard data form. As of 2017 , Natura 2000 protected 27,312 sites with a terrestrial area of 787,606 km (304,096 sq mi) (around 18 percent of land of the EU countries) and marine area of 360,350 km (139,130 sq mi), and

90-473: A natural flow of bears between sub-populations. European bison live in an enclosure at San Cebrián de Mudá . A national hunting reserve, the Reserva Nacional de Caza de Fuentes Carrionas , was in existence prior to the designation of the natural park, and it now forms a regional hunting reserve within the park boundaries. With an area of 49, 471 ha the hunting reserve covers the greater part of

120-535: A rethinking of the habitats assessment might be necessary in the light of a new climate law as part of e.g. the European Green Deal . In European law literature Borgstrom and Kistenkas have discussed some possible future incompatibilities of the Natura 2000 habitats-test with novel EU green infrastructure policies. In the late 2010s the habitats assessment was at the basis of the nitrogen crisis in

150-517: A suitable site for the bird's reintroduction. Invertebrates include the Kerry Slug . The park is important as a habitat of the endangered Cantabrian brown bear . There is an interpretation centre for the bear at Verdeña, Cervera de Pisuerga . In the twentieth century, the Cantabrian brown bears were divided into two sub-populations by habitat fragmentation . The natural park lies within

180-668: Is a problem on both land and sea, and over-fishing is also a threat. Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union . It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive , respectively. The network includes both terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas . The Natura 2000 network covered more than 18% of

210-408: The EU territory into nine biogeographic regions , each with its own ecological coherence. Natura 2000 sites are selected according to the conditions in each biogeographical region; thus selected sites represent species and habitat types under similar natural conditions across a suite of countries. Each Natura 2000 site has a unique identification form called a standard data form. This form is used as

240-585: The EU, accession states have to submit proposals for Natura 2000 sites meeting the same criteria as EU member states. Some new member states have large areas which qualify to be protected under the directives, and implementation has not always been simple. The Natura 2000 sites are selected by member states and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The Special Protection Areas are designated directly by each EU member state , while

270-469: The European Commission committed to raise awareness about the network and biodiversity in general with the public. In order to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, 21 May has been designated “Natura 2000 Day”. This precedes “International Day for Biological Diversity” on 22 May. The initiative came from SEO/BirdLife who sought and received funding from the EU LIFE+ programme in order to improve

300-559: The European Union's land area and more than 7% of its marine area in 2022. In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. The Habitats Directive complements the Birds Directive adopted in 1979, and together they make up the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Birds Directive requires

330-506: The Habitats Directive), dates back to the days climate change was not an issue and the concept of ecosystem services had not been well developed. Hence, in international law literature Kistenkas raised the question the habitats assessment was originally not designed for striking a balance of all relevant ecosystem services or to involve climate change into the assessment. Although well protecting nature conservation objectives,

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360-594: The Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Natura 2000 network is the EU contribution to the " Emerald network " of Areas of Special Conservation Interest set up under the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats . Natura 2000 is also a key contribution to the Program of Work of Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity . As a prerequisite for joining

390-694: The Netherlands as the EU Court (C-293/17 and C-294/17, ECLI:EU:C:2018:882) ruled on agriculture nearby Natura 2000 sites. In some other member states, such as Bulgaria , there was criticism a project had not been well communicated in advance. This led to construction in the Kaliakra zone of Bulgaria, including wind turbines and a golf course. Land owners have then been told they may not use their land in certain ways, otherwise non-compliance procedures would be used against Bulgaria. This led to protests by

420-623: The Special Areas of Conservation follow a more elaborate process: each EU member state must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission , after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site. The Habitats Directive divides

450-689: The United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands, parts of Germany, Denmark, Belgium and France, and the northern shores of Spain and Portugal. The land is generally low elevation and flat, and never more than 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the sea, with winds generally blowing from the west. As a result, it has an oceanic climate with mild winters and cool summers. There is moderate rainfall year-round. The long, indented coastline includes many habitats. Some areas have cliffs and rocky headlands with narrow tidal inlets, while others have sheltered bays with inter-tidal mudflats and sandy beaches. The land

480-698: The conservation of habitats and species places a brake on development. In 2013, there were 251,564 km (97,129 sq mi) designated as Natura 2000 in the marine environment. The network in marine areas is not considered complete and acknowledged by the Commission as a "key challenge for EU biodiversity policy in the coming years". Natura 2000 sites can vary considerably in character. They are not strictly protected in terms of how they are allowed to be used by people. Many sites are farmed, forested and some are even in urban areas. Other areas are much wilder. The European Commission developed guidelines on

510-576: The development. As at July 2010 the regional government was planning to submit a revised proposal to the European Union in the hope that it would not conflict with the Habitats Directive . Atlantic biogeographical region The Atlantic Biogeographic Region is the biogeographic region of Europe bordering the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea . The Atlantic Region borders on the North Sea and North-east Atlantic Ocean. It includes all of

540-483: The duration of seasonal snow cover in the Cantabrian mountains was likely to be adversely affected by global warming . Environmentalists have also argued that a ski resort would be incompatible with the aim of promoting the recovery of the brown bear, given that bears would be likely to avoid such a facility and that their habitat would thus be fragmented. In March 2008, the High Court of Castilla y León ruled that

570-429: The establishment of Special Protection Areas for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires Sites of Community Importance which upon the agreement of the European Commission become Special Areas of Conservation to be designated for species other than birds, and for habitat types (e.g. particular types of forest, grasslands, wetlands, etc.). Together, Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation form

600-465: The knowledge of this network. In 2013, the first Natura 2000 day took place with the aim to raise awareness of citizens about the importance of Natura 2000 network in their lives. Since then, every May 21 and the weeks before, awareness actions take place all over Europe. For example, in 2014, school children and politicians across the EU were encouraged to make a butterfly gesture and post photos on social media to raise awareness. The Natura 2000 Award

630-402: The natural park was proposed as a Site of Community Importance . In 2000 It was designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for bird-life (reference number ES4140011) under the European Union 's Birds Directive . In 2015 it was designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive . The Cantabrian Capercaillie became extinct in the natural park at the beginning of

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660-413: The natural park. While the hunting has been described as well-managed, there is some controversy as to whether a management regime appropriate for game species such as wild boar or deer is compatible with the interests of the protected species. In 2004, a ski resort was proposed for the mountain pass of San Glorio which would directly impact the natural park. In 2006, the regional government relaxed

690-426: The protection it had given the park in order to permit the development of a ski resort. The promoters of the project argued that it would help the local human population. There are about 2000 people living in the park. The area, like many Spanish rural districts, suffered from demographic decline in the twentieth century. Environmentalists have disputed the economics of the project as, according to official predictions,

720-530: The range of the eastern subpopulation, which is the smaller of the two and at risk from endogamy . In 2009 a genetic study indicated that the bears had reversed the division of their range in Spain, and there is inter-breeding between the two sub-populations. Since 2009 the LIFE Programme has supported conservation work in the Cantabrian Mountains to enhance wildlife corridors with the aim of encouraging

750-477: The regional government's sudden change in its own planning regulations, without a proper assessment, not only went against its own regional law, but both the national law on nature conservation and the European Natura 2000 regulations. The court also noted that climate change threatened the viability of the projected ski resort. However, despite this setback, the regional government continued to support

780-559: The relation between Natura 2000 and wild areas which are thought to make up around 13% of the network. This was in response to a report by Members of the European Parliament in 2009 which called for further protection of Europe's wilderness. The Natura 2000 network is not well known among European Union citizens; only 11% of citizens knew what it was in 2013. As part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy ,

810-412: The twenty-first century. Since 2010 the European Union's LIFE programme has supported a recovery plan for this subspecies, "Urgent measures scheme for the conservation of the capercaillie ( Tetrao urogallus cantabricus ) and its habitat in the Cantabrian mountains". This project was scheduled to run until 2014 across SPAs and Biosphere reserves in the region, and the natural park has been identified as

840-421: Was considered almost complete in the EU terrestrial environment. The process of designation has not always been smooth as the infringement procedures against member states show. While designation of sites may be near complete, the management and enforcement of protection on sites is less advanced and many sites lack management plans. Natura 2000 faced criticism from developers, farmers and politicians who fear that

870-529: Was ice-covered until 10,000 years ago, and species diversity is still lower than other European biogeographic regions, but wildlife is abundant, including large flocks of migratory birds and many marine organisms fed by nutrients carried by the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean . The land has been drastically modified by humans with forests cleared to make way for farming and large urbanized areas. Pollution

900-726: Was launched by the European Commission in 2013, with the first prizes awarded on Natura 2000 Day in 2014. The annual Award aims to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, showcase excellence and encourage networking between people working on Natura 2000 sites. It awards prizes to those working on the management of or to raise awareness about Natura 2000 in five award categories: Conservation; Socio-Economic Benefits; Communication; Reconciling Interests and Perceptions; Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking. In its first year, winners were selected from Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain. The Natura 2000 legislation, notably with its habitats-test (or: habitats assessment, Article 6 of

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