Natura 2000 Network and Rural Development

The present manuscript provides clear explanations on the Natura 2000 Network, on rural development, and on their current and future foreseeable interactions at three different scales: the EU-27, national (Spain)and local (the Autonomous Region of Madrid). The first part of the book explains how the Natura 2000 Network is organized and applied, its current situation, strengths, weaknesses and constraints. It also analyses the opportunities that there exist in these areas regarding funding and economic activities. It allows the reader to get a clear picture of the EU`s approach to biodiversity conservation and of the legal framework governing human activities in these areas. The second part of the book presents the current situation of rural areas and rural development policies at the three mentioned scales. It constitutes a compendium of the ways of intervention from the EU together with Member States in organizing and stabilizing environmental impacts of rural development. The last part deals with the current and foreseeable future interactions between these two public policies. A compilation of applicable legislation permits the reader to go deeper in analyzing these aspects.