Press Release: Nature: Commission acts to protect endangered animals and plants in the EU’s mountain regions

The European Commission has approved a list of 959 nature sites in mountain regions of the European Union. The approval signifies an enhanced protection of these areas and the many endangered animal and plant species which live and grow there. The Commission's list covers sites in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines and the Fennoscandian mountains. It includes endangered animal and plant species and habitats such as brown bear, Yellow Lady's-slipper and mountain hay meadows. The protection of these species is scientifically considered to be of European importance, and a joint EU effort is therefore necessary to ensure bio-diversity and the conservation of natural fauna and flora in these mountain regions of Europe. It is also a major step forward in establishing Natura 2000, the network of protected sites in the EU.

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