On 22 October 2012, the European Environment Agency published an in-depth overview of protected areas in Europe, highlighting the status of protected regions across 39 countries. The report marks the 20^th Anniversary of Natura 2000 and the EU Habitats Directive.

It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the first Europeans who stepped on the American continent. In that time, herds of millions of bison and pronghorn, followed by huge amount of wolves and giant grizzly bears lived on prairies. For cultivated Europeans endless and impenetrable forests with gigantic trees had to be frightening. This country evoked admiration and awe, as well as fear. It was a real wilderness, “a place without the God”, a place which had to be degraded on behalf of the civilization.