Background Ten Natura 2000 sites covering almost 44 000 ha (equivalent to one fifth of the mountainous territory of the area) are located in the mountains of northwestern Murcia (itself located in southeast Spain). These sites host 29 habitats included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, nine of which are considered a priority. Habitats such as the endemic Mediterranean pine and juniper forests, Iberian gypsum steppes and pseudo-steppes with grasses and annuals contribute to the area's exceptional biodiversity. They are supported by their geographical location and climate as well as by the preservation of age-old practices of extensive grazing and forestry. However, changes in land use since the 1960s have led to habitat degradation through increased fires, land clearance, overexploitation of water resources and overgrazing. Consequently, conservation of the area's natural assets goes hand in hand with the preservation and promotion of farming practices in keeping with nature conservation. Objectives The main objective was to make land usage compatible with habitat conservation while allowing improvement of local livelihoods. This goal would be achieved by implementing a comprehensive habitat management plan. Specific actions included adopting obligatory management plans for the ten Natura 2000 sites, purchasing 640 ha of land to restore priority habitats, testing management practices and setting up a monitoring network. Habitat restoration was foreseen on 300 ha of forest, mainly endemic Mediterranean pine, to address serious habitat regeneration problems. Improvements in livestock raising was to be tested on 1 040 ha to address important problems of soil erosion and overgrazing. The monitoring network would include 27 observation-point stations on 660 ha where the conservation status of a variety of SCIs would be followed. Awareness-raising campaigns tailored to all local economic sectors would also be carried out. Public participation would be a priority in the drafting of the site management plans. Results With the aim of achieving a favourable conservation status for the different types of habitats and species of community interest, a Management Plan (MP) was drafted for each SCI based on data collection, inventory and environmental assessment work. To this end, the environmental and socio-economic situation of the SCIs and their surroundings were first analysed and an assessment of the different types of habitat and species present was made using specially designed methodology. The management plan is still to be officially endorsed by the competent authority. This research by zones could be tailored to their various typologies and priorities for action could be allocated. Furthermore, in order to ensure the conservation and environmental connectivity between the Natura 2000 areas, a buffer zone was set up surrounding the SCI, as well as a series of environmental corridors. Finally, a series of management objectives was established and a range of tools proposed in order to meet them: directives for SCIs and their surroundings, guidelines and action programmes. Eight estates were purchased to increase the surface area under public title within SCIs, to manage according to conservation criteria and to guarantee their protection and conservation. The total surface area of the estates added up 516.23 ha. They are home to important, representative types of habitat and species with Community Interest Demarcation tasks were carried out at 22 public-owned areas, which increased the total surface area to 3,250 ha for the SCIs of Revolcadores, Sierra de La Muela, Sierra de Villafuerte, Casa Alta-Salinas & Sierra del Gavilán. One of the more important habitats of community interest in the region, present almost exclusively in the north-western district and afflicted by conservation problems, are the Pinus nigra forests (9530* southern- Mediterranean endemic black pine forests). In order to improve their conservation status, 403.48 ha (the proposal foresaw 300 ha) were subjected to a range of different treatments (felling, pruning, etc.). Additionally, plantations were carried out in certain areas where regeneration was seen to be poor. Activities carried out included clearing, marking out spacing, preparing holes and planting and installing protective devices. The rehabilitation and reconstruction of deteriorated drinking troughs was also carried out at the Revolcadores and Casa Alta-Salinas SCIs, with the aim of restoring them for use by livestock. Given that these watering troughs serve as mating grounds for many different species of amphibians, the restoration work included ramps to facilitate the movement of adult specimens. Furthermore, two additional ponds were built, to make the most of spill-over waters, and where these and other groups of fauna can live out their lifecycle. Another important part of the project was the implementation of a monitoring network for habitat types, made up of 30 experimental plots, which include 13 types of habitats, representative of treed, bushy, scrubby and pastoral forest or land systems. Studies were made on the influence that silvicultural activities (such as felling, pruning and tipping) can have on habitats. Different traditional silvopastoral practises were applied, such as harvesting of aromatic plants and grazing. Finally, an essential aspect of the project was to promote the natural wealth of the project area, especially those areas included in the Natura 2000 Network, and the project actions undertaking. In January 2006, informative workshops on ‘The Natura 2000 Network in the North-western District: current situation and future perspectives’ were held in Caravaca de la Cruz, and the lectures, main conclusions and contributions of those attending were later published. Additional informative material was also published with comprehensive data on the project, news and updates. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).