Throughout centuries of hard work man has forged and modelled the natural landscape of Austria. To protect it, also in the future, it was necessary to establish the Natura 2000 areas. These constitute a precious natural heritage not only for their size, but also and above all because it is important to conserve their particular and unique nature. The Natura 2000 project includes all the areas that are virtually the only habitats for certain endangered botanical species and animals. The aim of this documentary is to make the public aware of environmental issues and the fragility of the ecosystems. The film takes the spectator through the 16 areas of Natura 2000, highlighting all their beauty and wealth. It is a journey ranging from riparian landscapes, along the Traun and Danube rivers, to the peat-bogs of Tanner Moor and Maltsch as far as the Dachstein group and the national park of Kalkalpen. The film tries to capture the extraordinary variety of plants and animals present in these areas.