[1] In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe.

Natura 2000 is also a key contribution to the Program of Work of Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

[2] The Natura 2000 sites are selected by member states and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above.

The Special Protection Areas are designated directly by each EU member state, while the Special Areas of Conservation follow a more elaborate process: each EU member state must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

This form is used as a legal reference when assessing the management of the species and habitats through the concept of favourable conservation status.

The network in marine areas is not considered complete and acknowledged by the Commission as a "key challenge for EU biodiversity policy in the coming years".

The European Commission developed guidelines on the relation between Natura 2000 and wild areas which are thought to make up around 13% of the network.

For example, in 2014, school children and politicians across the EU were encouraged to make a butterfly gesture and post photos on social media to raise awareness.

[16] Although well protecting nature conservation objectives, a rethinking of the habitats assessment might be necessary in the light of a new climate law as part of e.g. the European Green Deal.

[17] In European law literature Borgstrom and Kistenkas have discussed some possible future incompatibilities of the Natura 2000 habitats-test with novel EU green infrastructure policies.