As fundamental tools of the European biodiversity conservation policy, Natura 2000 sites aim to better take account of biodiversity issues in human activities. These sites are designated to protect a number of habitats and species representative of European biodiversity. The precise list of these habitats and species is annexed to the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats-Fauna-Flora Directive.

In Europe, the network covers 27,522 sites and 18% of the land area and 6% of the exclusive economic zone. As of March 1, 2017, France has 1,766 sites, covering almost 13% of the metropolitan land area and 11% of the exclusive metropolitan economic zone.

The Natura 2000 network approach favours collective efforts to achieve balanced and sustainable management of areas that takes into account economic and social concerns:

Human activities and infrastructure projects are possible in a Natura 2000 site. To avoid activities that are detrimental to biodiversity, projects that may have impacts on protected species and habitats must be subject to prior assessment;
On a daily basis, the management of Natura 2000 sites is a participatory process involving local stakeholders. A steering committee defines conservation objectives and management measures for each site, which are then implemented in the form of charters and contracts co-financed by the European Union.