The Habitats Directive
About the Habitats Directive
The Habitats Directive (together with the Birds
Directive) forms the cornerstone of Europe's nature
conservation policy. It is built around two pillars: the Natura 2000 network of protected sites and the strict system of species protection.
All in all the directive protects over 1.000 animals and plant
species and over 200 so called "habitat types" (e.g.
special types of forests, meadows, wetlands, etc.), which
are of European importance.
Council
Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
Guidance on specific articles:
Interpretation Manual
Standard Data Forms
European Topic Centre on Biological
Diversity provides technical support
to Natura 2000
Enlargement Changes
Bulgaria & Romania joined in 2007
Enlargement 2007 and the Nature Directives
The enlargement of the
European Union with two new member states (Bulgaria and Romania)
in 2007 has brought amendments of the EU nature conservation
legislation – the "Birds Directive" (2009/147/EC)
and the "Habitats Directive" (92/43/EEC). The exercise
of negotiating amendments to the lists of habitat types and
species of the above directives originally started simultaneously
for all 12 candidate countries, and has now been completed
for the two most recent Member States. Unlike the 2004 enlargement,
the consolidated annexes have not been included in the Treaty
of Accession to the European Union of 2005. Based on the political
agreement referred to in the Accession Treaty (Accession
BG and RO), the Council adopted a directive effecting
the changes : Directive
2006/105/EC of 20 November 2006 adapting Directives 73/239/EEC,
74/557/EEC and 2002/83/EC in the field of environment, by
reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania
What changes in the Habitats Directive?
As in the case of the 2004 enlargement, most changes concern
the annexes of the directive. In the first place new typical
and endangered species and habitats in the new Member States
have been added to the annexes, with a limited number of geographic
exceptions granted. In addition, a small number of earlier
typographical errors were corrected.
For the Habitats Directive, also two new biogeographic regions
were added to the existing seven (Continental, Mediterranean,
Alpine, Atlantic, Macaronesian, Boreal, Pannonian): the Black
Sea and the Steppic Regions. See overall information
and biogeographic map of 2007.
Summary
of changes introduced to the annexes of the Habitats Directive (112KB)
10 new member states joined in 2004
Enlargement 2004 and the Nature Directive
The enlargement of
the European Union with 10 new member states (Czech Republic,
Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland,
Slovenia and Slovakia) means that EU nature conservation legislation
- the "Birds Directive" (2009/147/EC) and the "Habitats
Directive" (92/43/EEC) - has to be applied to a much
larger territory than before. The amazing richness in nature
and wildlife is one of the environmental assets the new member
states bring to the EU. These countries still host species
and habitat types that have nearly vanished from Western Europe.
But not only that: they hold nature values that do not occur
at all in the old European Union of the 15. This is why the
Birds and the Habitats Directives had to be adapted to cover
these unique assets.
What changes in the Habitats Directive?
Most changes concern the annexes of the directive. In the
first place new typical and endangered species and habitats
in the new member states have been included into the annexes
with a limited number of geographic exceptions granted. Also
one new biogeographic region was added to the existing six
(Continental, Mediterranean, Alpine, Atlantic, Macaronesian,
Boreal): the
Pannonian region.
These changes, which were proposed by the Acceding Countries,
were technically evaluated by the European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity and discussed between the Acceding Countries, existing Member
States and the European Commission between 1999 and 2003.
The final product forms part of the environment chapter of
the Treaty of Accession to the European Union 2003, which
was signed in Athens on 16 April 2003.
Summary
of changes introduced to the Habitats Directive (177KB)
Frequently asked Questions
Have any transition periods been agreed for the nature
directives ?
As regards the legal transposition of the directives and
the implementation of Natura 2000 network, no transition periods
were agreed. Only one strictly limited transition period (until
2008) for one provision of the Birds Directive (trapping of
birds) was agreed with Malta (see Birds
Directive).
What are Acceding Countries required to do by accession
under the nature directives ?
In the frame of the negotiations much focus was placed on
nature conservation and Accession Countries were encouraged
to implement the EU nature directives as early as possible.
Nature conservation legislation is a horizontal legislation,
which needs early attention and must be taken into account
when implementing other EU-policies such as structural, transport
or agriculture policy. Therefore Acceding Countries will have
to implement the Birds and Habitats Directives from the date
of accession (1st May 2004) onwards.
Interpretation Manual
The Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats - EUR27
is a scientific reference document. It is based on the version
for EUR15, which was adopted by the Habitats Committee on
4. October 1999 and consolidated with the new and amended
habitat types for the 10 accession countries as adopted by
the Habitats Committee on 14 March 2002 with additional changes
for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania as adopted by the
Habitats Committee on 13 April 2007 and for marine habitats
to follow the descriptions given in “Guidelines for the establishment
of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment. Application
of the Habitats and Birds Directives” published in May 2007
by the Commission services. A small amendment to Habitat type
91D0 was adopted by the Habitats Committee in its meeting
on 14th October 2003.
Interpretation
Manual of European Union Habitats - EU 27, July 2007 (765KB)
Standard Data Forms
Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (EU 15 version)
Official Journal n° L 107 - April 24th, 1997
97/266/EC:
Commission Decision of 18 December 1996 concerning a site
information format for proposed Natura 2000 sites
Data Form only :            (130KB)
Explanatory notes only : (100KB)
Data Form & Explanatory notes : (6MB)
Technical Support to Natura 2000
The European
Topic Centre on Biological Diversity provides technical
and scientific support to the European Commission, DG Environment,
and the Member States in implementing the Birds Directive
(2009/147/EC) and Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), particularly
for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network.
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includes the latest versions of the annexes)