On May 21, we celebrate European Natura 2000 Day and the 34th anniversary of the creation of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas in the European Union.

To mark the creation of the “Natura 2000” network and to recognize the efforts of all those who have contributed to its management, a special Declaration was signed in 2017 by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the Committee of the Regions, designating May 21 as European Natura 2000 Day.

The Ministry of Environment and Water, through its regional offices, is participating in the pan-European celebration with a variety of activities and initiatives throughout the country. The regional offices of the Ministry of Environment and Water are marking the occasion to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by the ecological network, as well as the objectives of the policy aimed at protecting and improving the conservation status of natural habitats and species in Bulgaria, alongside the sustainable socioeconomic development of society. Information and educational campaigns are being organized, along with visits to protected areas, hikes and site cleanups, lectures, training sessions, outdoor lessons, quizzes, discussions, exhibitions, and creative contests for children and students.  

You can view the program of events for European Natura 2000 Day HERE.

To mark European Natura 2000 Day, the European Commission, in partnership with Observation.org —a nonprofit platform for recording sightings of all species of wild animals, plants, and fungi—are organizing the pan-European BioBlitz 2026 initiative for EU member states, in which anyone can participate. The initiative is a fun, hands-on exploration of biodiversity. It’s a great way for participants to learn more about local wildlife and contribute to science.

During the BioBlitz, participants are asked to identify as many plant and/or animal species as possible between May 14 and 25, 2025, within the boundaries of Special Protection Area BG0002014 “Madzharovo” under the Birds Directive and within the boundaries of Special Area of Conservation BG0001031 “Rhodopes – Central” under the Habitats Directive, through which Bulgaria is participating in the initiative. Photos from participants in Bulgaria can already be viewed on the event’s platform—https://observation.org/locations/713905/photos/?

Interested participants should register on the platform’s website, https://observation.org/bioblitz/, or via its Obsidentify app; from May 14 to 25, they can upload their species observations via photos along with location information. The system’s software automatically identifies the images and suggests several possible plant or animal species, from which the participant selects the most appropriate one. Subsequently, a team of experts from the platform will verify the accuracy of the sighting (the photo). All information collected on the platform is publicly available.

The BioBlitz 2026 initiative aims to contribute to positive change and enable citizens to discover the beauty and diversity of nature in the European Union and, accordingly, in Bulgaria.

The Ministry of Environment and Water notes that on May 21, 1992, the EU Habitats Directive was adopted and the LIFE program was approved. This directive, together with the EU Birds Directive adopted in 1979, established the network of protected areas in the EU known as “Natura 2000.” Today, it encompasses over 27,000 protected areas across the EU’s land and marine territories, which successfully contribute to the conservation of Europe’s natural heritage.

Information on “Natura 2000” protected areas throughout the country, including maps and standard forms, can be found on a dedicated website: https://natura2000.egov.bg/EsriBg.Natura.Public.Web.App