Background Natura 2000 network sites provide a wide range of ecosystems services. Efficient management of the sites is essential for their conservation and to ensure the continued delivery of ecosystems services. However, conservation activities come with an administrative and management cost, and, in many cases, management plans cannot be implemented because of scarce financial resources. Thus, governance tools and innovative models for financing are necessary for efficient management of Natura 2000 sites, based on qualitative and quantitative valuation of the ecosystems services they provide. Such tools and models should be adaptable to Natura 2000 sites in different eco-regions (Alpine, Mediterranean and Continental), with their varying management approaches. Objectives The general objective of the 'MAKING GOOD NATURA' project is to establish and demonstrate innovative procedures and approaches to solve an environmental problem, taking a strategic approach based on the concept of ecosystems services. The project's specific objectives are: To identify and evaluate the ecosystems services provided by Natura 2000 sites; To create and demonstrate innovative models for funding the implementation of Natura 2000 management plans and conservation measures; To identify innovative financing models that will be used during the next programming period of the Common Agricultural Policy (2014-2020); To create and demonstrate models for better governance in conservation management and for the socio-economic development of local communities; To define and apply a model of participation that will improve the interaction between public governance and the private sector; and To apply the new approaches and models to selected study sites in order to demonstrate their effectiveness. Expected results: The project will aim to achieve better governance standards for the conservation of Natura 2000 sites, and for socio-economic development in local communities. Specific results will include: Defining ecological and socio-economic descriptors for each study site; Preparing ‘habitat x ecosystems services’ matrices to identify and evaluate ecosystems services; Defining models for the evaluation of ecosystems services and management efficiency; Defining a governance model based on the concept of payments for ecosystems services, and other types of self-financing; Creating a web-based tool for Natura 2000 sites that will enable the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of ecosystems services using spatial datasets; and Publishing a handbook.