The three-day Mediterranean Natura 2000 Seminar (26-28.05) opens today in Thessaloniki as part of the Greek EU Presidency -hosted by Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change (Directorate General for the Environment) -which kicks off the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process in the Mediterranean region.


This process, initiated by the European Commission at the end of 2011, aims to improve and strengthen the implementation of Natura 2000 and ensure progress towards key EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy targets.

The Mediterranean Kick-off Seminar provides an important opportunity for participants to ensure progress in the Region towards the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy targets -for example, by building common understanding about practical ways to halt biodiversity loss, to inform and increase restoration actions where necessary and prioritized, to stimulate new know-how about effective management approaches and techniques, and to improve the favourable conservation status of priority habitats and species.

The seminar focuses on 23 habitat types identified as priorities by the Steering Committee of member state and user representatives that oversee the Process.