The NESTS project addresses the urgent biodiversity challenges in the Greece–Italy programme area, aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Habitats and Birds Directives. Its core mission is to strengthen the cooperative management of Natura 2000 sites, which are essential for conserving and restoring biodiversity. Many of these sites are managed by small local authorities that often lack specialized staff and financial resources, making it difficult to meet EU targets.

To overcome these challenges, NESTS will provide specialized training for stakeholders and decision-makers, foster networking, and establish a Permanent Biodiversity Observatory. This Observatory will serve as a structured platform for continuous monitoring, assessment, and data sharing, offering a clear picture of ecosystem health and enabling the tracking of changes over time. By ensuring data comparability and alignment with Natura 2000 standards, it will create a foundation for a cohesive and replicable approach to biodiversity management.

In addition, the project will develop a database of best practices and conservation measures to be shared across the programme area. Concrete pilot conservation actions will be implemented in selected sites, testing practical solutions and producing transferable guidelines for other Natura 2000 management bodies. Awareness campaigns and participatory initiatives will also strengthen local ownership and cross-border cooperation, making biodiversity governance more inclusive and resilient.

By combining training, monitoring, restoration, and community engagement, NESTS promotes a shared, cross-border framework that enhances the capacity of local authorities, supports sustainable management, and delivers long-term benefits for biodiversity conservation.