02/09/2005 – WWF-Belgium
and the European Commission officially launched
their project ‘Flying over Natura 2000’ today.
All through September and October, Black Storks
– the project’s ambassadors- will be followed
during their migration will send "postcards"
to the televisions of 12 European countries.
The objective of the project is to make Natura
2000 (the European network of protected areas)
better known to the European public.
The ‘Flying over Natura 2000’ project will
enable millions of European citizens to learn
more about the network of protected areas
initiated by the UE, through the migration
of a number of Black Storks fitted with satellite
radio transmitters.
From the beginning of September up to the
end of October, the birds migrate over Europe
towards their hibernating grounds in Africa.
They follow two main migration routes, one
across the Strait of Gibraltar to reach Western
Africa, the second across the Bosphorus in
route to Eastern Africa.
The storks originate from eight different
member States (Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Spain, Luxemburg, France, and Belgium).
Thanks to the satellite radio transmitters,
their movements across Europe will be followed
on a daily basis and reported onto a map that
can be downloaded from the
Everyday during 20 days, the storks will be
sending a "postcard" -under the
form of a special one-minute video clip- to
the televisions in the countries that take
part to the project. The birds’ journeys will
so enable Europeans to learn more about famous
or, on the contrary, poorly known nature areas
all across the continent such as the moorlands
of Latvia or the mythical Bialowiecza Forest
in Poland, but also about other European flagship
species such as the Iberian Lynx, the Griffon
Vulture or the Freshwater Pearl Mussel.
The project will also enable Europeans to
better understand the specific vocation of
Natura 2000: a network of natural areas for
the benefit of Man as much as Nature.
The ‘Flying over Natura 2000’ project, financed
by the European Commission, fits into the
objectives of Natura 2000: this network of
protected areas has been developed according
to the European Union’s Birds and Habitats
Directives, with the aim of conserving threatened
natural habitats and species in all Member
States. The network currently covers about
15 per cent of the EU’s territory.
"Natura 2000 is not just a network of
nature reserves that would protect Nature
against Man. The concept aims more at safeguarding
or enhancing specific human ways of life compatible
with the conservation of the nature. Sheepherding
in mountain areas, ecotourism, sustainable
forest management, a rational use of the coastal
and freshwater ecosystems can help to ensure
the succes of this initiative.
Today, most Europeans are still not aware
that 15 per cent of EU’s territory have a
better chance to develop in harmony with Nature.
And this is exactly what the storks could
show them", declared Geoffroy De Schutter,
in charge of the project.
Notes:
• Pictures are available on
http://www.flyingover.net/press/
