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Indicative Map of Biogeographical Regions EUR 25 + 2 (1,7MB)

Website where Indicative map of biogeographical regions can be downloaded

Poster Biogeographical regions of the European Union (2,12MB)

Natura 2000 Documents and related materials

press releases

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Natura 2000: Habitats Directive Sites
according to Biogeographical Regions

Introduction

The European Union has nine biogeographical regions, each with its own characteristic blend of vegetation, climate and geology. Under the Habitats Directive, Natura 2000 sites are selected on the basis of national lists proposed by the Member States. For each biogeographical region the Commission adopts a list of Sites of Community Importance (SCI) which then become part of the network. Finally, the SCI are designated at the national level as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

Under the Birds Directive Member States select the most suitable sites and designate them directly as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). These sites then automatically become part of the Natura 2000 network.

Working at the biogeographical level makes it easier to conserve species and habitat types under similar natural conditions across a suite of countries, irrespective of political and administrative boundaries. Together with the Special Protection Areas designated under the Birds Directive, the Natura 2000 sites selected for each biogeographical region make up the ecological Natura 2000 network which spans all 27 countries of the EU.

New sites added to Natura 2000

Six out of nine bio-geographical regions – the Alpine, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean and Pannonian regions – have been updated in November 2011.

This update of the Natura 2000 lists concerns sixteen Member States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The number of "Sites of Community Importance" has increased by 166, expanding the SCI network by nearly 18 800 km².

This updating round adds a significant area of the EU's marine habitats to the Natura 2000 network, primarily in the Atlantic biogeographic region (the UK, France and Belgium), but also in the Mediterranean (Greece and Cyprus). The terrestrial part of the Natura 2000 network has primarily been increased in Lithuania, Hungary, Cyprus and Italy.

For more details see:

Press release: Major expansion of Europe's protected natural areas
Memo: Details on the new additions to the Union lists of Natura 2000 sites

Information about Regions

Alpine
Atlantic
Black Sea

Boreal
Continental
Macaronesian

Mediterranean
Pannonian
Steppic

Alpine Region

The Alps

Commission Decision

2012/12/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8202)

2011/62/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fourth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9663)

2010/42/EU of 22 December 2009 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10415)

2009/91/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 7973

2008/218/EC of 25 January 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 271)

2004/69/EC: Commission Decision of 22 December 2003 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2003) 4957)

Other documents

Brochure Natura 2000 in the Alpine region (679KB)
Maps:
- The Alps (1.8MB)
- The Apennines (0.6MB)
- The Balkan and Rhodope Mountains (0.7MB)
- The Carpathian Mountains (1.4MB)
- The Fennoscandian Mountains (2.9MBB)
- The Pyrenees (1.2MB)
Background document The Alpine list of sites of community importance (100KB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Alpine Region (610KB)

Atlantic Region

Atlantic

Commission Decision

2012/13/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8203)

2011/63/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fourth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9666)

2010/43/EU of 22 December 2009 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10405)

2009/96/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 8119)

2008/23/EC of 12 November 2007 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2007) 5396)

2004/813/EC of 7 December 2004 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Atlantic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2004) 4032)

Other documents

Brochure Natura 2000 in the Atlantic region (698KB)
Maps:
- Overview Map (1.9MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Atlantic Region (340KB)

Black Sea Region

Black Sea region by Peter Lengyel

Commission Decision

2009/92/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, an initial list of sites of Community importance for the Black Sea biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 7974)

Other documents

Maps:
- Overview Map (0.8MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Black Sea Region

Boreal Region

Boreal landscape

Commission Decision

2012/11/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8195)

2011/84/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fourth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9667)

2010/46/EU of 22 December 2009 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10424)

2009/94/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008)

2008/24/EC of 12 November 2007 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2007) 5402)

2005/101/EC of 13 January 2005 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2004) 5462)

Other documents

Brochure Natura 2000 in the Boreal region (pdf 716KB)
Maps:
- Overview Map (2.1MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Boreal Region (43KB)

Continental Region

Continental landscape

Commission Decision

2012/14/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8278)

2011/64/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fourth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9669)

2010/44/EU of 22 December 2009 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10422)

2009/93/EC Commission Decision of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 8039)

2008/25/EC of 13 November 2007 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2007) 5403)

2004/798/EC of 7 December 2004 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2004) 4031)

Other documents

Brochure Natura 2000 in the Continental region (783KB)
Maps:
- Overview Map (1.5MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Continental Region (695KB)

Macaronesian Region

Macaronesia, copyright by Santiago Urquijo

Commission Decision

2009/1001/EU of 22 December 2009 on adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Macaronesian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10414)

2008/95/EC of 25 January 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Macaronesian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 286)

2002/11/EC of 28 December 2001 adopting the list of sites of Community importance for the Macaronesian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2001) 3998)

Other documents

Brochure Natura 2000 in the Macaronesian region (pdf 608KB)
Maps
- Azores(77KB)
- Canarias(133KB)
- Madeira(97KB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Macaronesian Region (36KB)

Mediterranean Region

Olive tree

Commission Decision

2012/9/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8172)

2011/85/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a fourth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9676)

2010/45/EU of 22 December 2009 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2009) 10406)

2009/95/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 8049)

2008/335/EC of 28 March 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 1148)

2006/613/EC of 19 July 2006 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2006) 3261)

Other documents

Maps:
- Overview Map (3.1MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Mediterranean Region (650KB)

Pannonian Region

Pannonian landscape

Commission Decision

2012/10/EU of 18 November 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2011) 8187)

2011/86/EU of 10 January 2011 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2010) 9677)

2009/90/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 7918)

2008/26/EC of 13 November 2007 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2007) 5404)

Other documents

Maps:
- Overview Map (1.2MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Pannonian Region (50KB)

Steppic Region

Commission Decision

2008/966/EC of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, an initial list of sites of Community importance for the Steppic biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 8066)

Other documents

Maps:
- Overview Map (0.7MB)
Reference list of habitat types and species of Steppic Region

all downloads on this page are in pdf format, unless otherwise specified

Natura 2000: Habitats Directive Sites according to Biogeographical Regions

Introduction

New sites added to Natura 2000

Information about Regions

Alpine Region

Atlantic Region

Black Sea Region

Boreal Region

Continental Region

Macaronesian Region

Mediterranean Region

Pannonian Region

Steppic Region

Natura 2000: Habitats Directive Sites
according to Biogeographical Regions