The Linked Open Data (LOD) Strategy is becoming a source of unprecedented visibility, enabling the generation of new businesses and significant advances for research in the environmental area. Nevertheless, in order for this strategy to become a reality, it is necessary to advance the publication of existing environmental data, usually owned by public bodies.This proposal is focused on how the LOD Initiative can be linked with INSPIRE, GEOSS Data-CORE, GMES and external third parties and how it can impact on the economic and sustainability progress in European Environmental research and protection.There exists many different information sources for protecting the environment in Europe, mainly focused on Natura 2000 network, and areas where environmental protection and activities like tourism need to be balanced.SmartOpenData aims to define mechanisms for acquiring, adapting and using Open Data provided by existing sources for environment protection in European protected areas. Through target pilots in these areas, the project will harmonise metadata, improve spatial data fusion and visualisation and publish the resulting information according to user requirements and Linked Open Data principles to provide new opportunities for SMEs.The SMEs involved will develop new services based on this data. Public bodies and rural and protected areas will benefit from opening their data by improving their knowledge and environment protection through new innovation ecosystems. SMEs, researchers and citizens and will take a central role in pilots developed to enhance the potential of protected areas. Innovation by third party SMEs will be encouraged by the promotion of royalty-free open standards and best practices initiated by SmartOpenData.SmartOpenData aims to impact in the public and standard availability of data according to the Linked Open Data Strategy for environmental information, addressing globally environmental issues in an affordable and sustainable way.