- 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 in1992 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 theBirds Directive . [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature EUROPA - Environnement - Nature and Biodiversity - Homepage] ] [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1372 Joint Nature Conservation Committee - European Legislation] ]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. [ [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/mission_statement/index_en.htm EUROPA - Environnement - Nature and Biodiversity - Mission Statement] ] [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1374 Joint Nature Conservation Committee - EC Habitats Directive] ]
The directive led to the setting up of a network of
Special Areas of Conservation , which together with the existingSpecial Protection Area s form a network of protected sites across theEuropean Union calledNatura 2000 . [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature EUROPA - Environnement - Nature and Biodiversity - Homepage] ] [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1372 Joint Nature Conservation Committee - European Legislation] ]ee also
*
List of European Union directives External links
* [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/index_en.htm The Habitats Directive online at the EU's website]
* [http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=104&CM=2&DF=9/4/2006&CL=ENG Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Bern 1982]References
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