Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said:

The Natura 2000 network covers thousands of kilometres across Europe. Protecting and restoring Europe’s nature means investing  in our quality of life, for us and future generations. All over the EU, inspiring initiatives which often involve young people, farmers, NGOs and fishers are committed to this hugely important task. The 27 finalists of the 2024 edition of the Natura 2000 Award are fine examples of this: inspiring approaches that animate the Natura 2000 network and confirm it as lively evidence of Europe's commitment to nature conservation.

Are you curious about how the finalists are contributing? Discover the finalists on the dedicated finalists page – see where the finalists are working, read in more detail about their achievements, and check out their photos and videos. Perhaps there’s a finalist near you!