Background In order to ensure the conservation objectives and ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network, the Lombardy region recognised the need to develop a regional strategy for the period 2015-2020, supported by an integrated, unified, coordinated and participatory management strategy. To this end, in the period 2012-2015 the project GESTIRE (LIFE11 NAT/IT/000044) was carried out to prepare an updated and more complete version of the regional prioritised action framework (PAF), to further the objectives of the one delivered in 2013. Based on the results of this planning document, the current integrated project is being implemented in the regional Natura 2000 network. Objectives GESTIRE 2020 aims to create an integrated management structure that will ensure the achievement of the conservation objectives set out in the Habitats and Birds directives, taking into account the economic and technical sustainability of the management. This will be achieved by developing policies and management actions for the Natura 2000 regional network that include, among other things, the active management of habitats and species, the guarantee of coherence between the regional Natura 2000 network and external territories (including ecological connectivity), the monitoring of the results of the actions undertaken, the guarantee of supervision of activities interfering with Natura 2000 sites, and the training of professionals in appropriate management for the regional network. In addition to the integrated project budget, the project will facilitate the coordinated use of complementary funding from the CARIPLO tenders on ‘ecological networks’ and ‘capacity building’ for a total of, respectively, €4 million and €0.4 million for projects to be implemented in the period 2016-2018. The project will also facilitate the coordinated use of complementary funding from European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Social Fund (ESF) and public institutions.