Europe’s safety net extended to Romania and Bulgaria

Europe’s “safety net for nature” has grown further with a major extension of the EU’s Natura 2000 network of specially protected sites. Of the 769 sites covering an area of 95,522 km2 -- an area larger than all of Austria -- officially added by the European Commission in December 2008, most are in Romania and Bulgaria. Romania has added 316 sites covering an area of 17.84% of the country’s landmass, while Bulgaria has added 252 sites, covering almost 30% of the country's total area.

“We are very pleased over the addition for the first time of sites in Romania and Bulgaria to the EU’s Natura 2000 network of specially protected sites, which now includes many of Europe’s greatest natural treasures,” said Michael Baltzer, Director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme.

Tot articolul aici.