Habitats Directive

The Habitats Directive (more formally known as Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) is a European Union directive adopted in 1992 as an EU response to the Berne Convention. It is one of the EU's two directives in relation to wildlife and nature conservation, the other being the Birds Directive.

It aims to protect some 220 habitats and approximately 1000 species listed in the directive's Annexes (Annex I covers habitats, Annexes II, IV & V species). These are species and habitats which are considered to be of European interest, following criteria given in the directive.

The directive led to the setting up of a network of Special Areas of Conservation, which together with the existing Special Protection Areas form a network of protected sites across the European Union called Natura 2000.

See also

• List of European Union directives

External links

• The Habitats Directive online at the EU's website
• Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Bern 1982

References