EU Habitats Directive
The legal spine of Natura 2000 on land and at sea, together with the Birds Directive.
Official name: Habitats Directive
Citation: Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
Year / status: Adopted 1992. Still in force. The Birds Directive (now 2009/147/EC) is the companion instrument.
What it does
Member States must designate Special Areas of Conservation for listed habitat types and species, keep them in favourable conservation status, and assess plans or projects that could significantly affect a Natura 2000 site. Strict protection also applies to certain species outside those sites.
Where it applies / status
EU Member States, through national site lists and permitting. Natura 2000 is a network of sites, not a single wilderness fence.
Documented benefits or intended effects
Intended effect: a coherent ecological network and a legal test before damaging a listed site. The Commission and the EEA publish status reports; many habitat types remain in unfavourable status. The Nature Restoration Law (also in this catalog) exists partly because designation alone did not restore enough.
Caveats
A site on a map is not a funded management plan. Derogations exist. Agriculture, infrastructure, and energy projects still collide with the assessment duty. Pair this card with the Birds Directive if you need bird-specific rules.
Sources
EUR-Lex 92/43/EEC; Commission Habitats Directive page; EUR-Lex 2009/147/EC.