Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives

Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. Established in 1992 to safeguard Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, its area has steadily increased. In 2023, there were 27,165 Natura 2000 sites, covering 18.6% of the European Union land area and 10.5% of its marine territory. Effective management of these sites is key to achieving Natura 2000 conservation aims. EU Member States still need to make significant efforts to establish and effectively implement conservation measures and management plans.

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Metadata
DPSIR Response
Typology Policy-effectiveness indicator (Type D)
UN SDGs SDG15: Life on land
Topics Biodiversity
Temporal coverage { "readOnly": true, "temporal": [ { "label": "1993", "value": "1993" }, { "label": "1994", "value": "1994" }, { "label": "1995", "value": "1995" }, { "label": "1996", "value": "1996" }, { "label": "1997", "value": "1997" }, { "label": "1998", "value": "1998" }, { "label": "1999", "value": "1999" }, { "label": "2000", "value": "2000" }, { "label": "2001", "value": "2001" }, { "label": "2002", "value": "2002" }, { "label": "2003", "value": "2003" }, { "label": "2004", "value": "2004" }, { "label": "2005", "value": "2005" }, { "label": "2006", "value": "2006" }, { "label": "2007", "value": "2007" }, { "label": "2008", "value": "2008" }, { "label": "2009", "value": "2009" }, { "label": "2010", "value": "2010" }, { "label": "2011", "value": "2011" }, { "label": "2012", "value": "2012" }, { "label": "2013", "value": "2013" }, { "label": "2014", "value": "2014" }, { "label": "2015", "value": "2015" }, { "label": "2016", "value": "2016" }, { "label": "2017", "value": "2017" }, { "label": "2018", "value": "2018" }, { "label": "2019", "value": "2019" }, { "label": "2020", "value": "2020" }, { "label": "2021", "value": "2021" }, { "label": "2022", "value": "2022" }, { "label": "2023", "value": "2023" } ] }
Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" }, { "label": "United Kingdom", "value": "geo-2635167" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group Mikkel Schwartz
Layout
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Established in 1992 to safeguard Europe\u2019s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, its area has steadily increased. In 2023, there were 27,165 Natura 2000 sites, covering 18.6% of the European Union land area and 10.5% of its marine territory. Effective management of these sites is key to achieving Natura 2000 conservation aims. EU Member States still need to make significant efforts to establish and effectively implement conservation measures and management plans. ", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. Established in 1992 to safeguard Europe\u2019s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, its area has steadily increased. In 2023, there were 27,165 Natura 2000 sites, covering 18.6% of the European Union land area and 10.5% of its marine territory. Effective management of these sites is key to achieving Natura 2000 conservation aims. 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However, the network is still subject to significant pressures , from land use change, intensification of farming and forestry or abandonment of traditional, extensive farming practices, particularly in areas subject to rural depopulation.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "This approach encourages sustainable management. However, the network is still " }, { "children": [ { "text": "subject to significant pressures" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ", from land use change, intensification of farming and forestry or abandonment of traditional, extensive farming practices, particularly in areas subject to rural depopulation. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "1f0b77dc-405f-4fa3-87c5-3b483524a959": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "By the end of 2023, the Natura 2000 network extended over 18.6% of the EU land area and 10.5% of its marine territory. The network consists of 27,165 sites, covering 1,294,876 km 2 . Many sites are designated under both directives. Natura 2000 terrestrial and marine sites designated under the Habitats Directive covered 1,008,032 km 2 , while SPAs created under the Birds Directive , covered 849,776 km 2 .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "By the end of 2023, the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 network" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "" } ], "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/78e14d5cc318463b86231bfc1fa2649f" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " extended over 18.6% of the EU land area and 10.5% of its marine territory. The network consists of 27,165 sites, covering 1,294,876 km" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": ". Many sites are designated under both directives. Natura 2000 terrestrial and marine sites designated under the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Habitats Directive\u00a0" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "covered 1,008,032 km" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": ", while SPAs created under the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Birds Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", covered 849,776 km" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "234350b9-4665-4792-b977-e5717ab15603": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Since the Natura 2000 network was set up in 1992 it has steadily grown. The reduction of Natura 2000 area in Figure 1 is due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU in 2020.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Since the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " network was set up in 1992 it has steadily grown. The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "reduction" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " of Natura 2000 area in Figure 1 is due to the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "withdrawal" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": "\u00a0of the United Kingdom from the EU in 2020." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "5bf66aa1-b05f-4676-ad7d-0ae6c57bc3cc": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Under the legal framework of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, each Member State must contribute to the Natura 2000 network. This is done by designating sites in proportion to the representation of the natural habitat types and habitats of species of European interest within its territory. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are designated under the Birds Directive , while Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) protect habitats and species listed under the Habitats Directive .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Under the legal framework of the EU " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Habitats" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " and " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Birds" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " Directives, each Member State must contribute to the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " network. This is done by designating sites in proportion to the representation of the natural habitat types and habitats of species of European interest within its territory. " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Special Protection Areas (SPAs)" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": " are designated under the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Birds Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", while " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": " protect habitats and species listed under the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Habitats Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "6531287a-deec-43e4-8571-0a41e9c19d38": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Natura 2000 sites are not wild areas, and human activity is allowed. The management of sites is a decisive factor in achieving their conservation aims. This is particularly important as around 40% of the total area is farmland and almost 50% is forests. The objectives are achieved by preventing activities that may significantly disturb species or damage habitats for which the site is designated. Additionally, targeted measures should be taken, if necessary, to maintain and restore habitats and species to improve their conservation status.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 sites are not wild areas, and human activity is allowed. 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" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "759da2a9-0225-4d85-ad28-5a92c72c572e": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Assessment of the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network remains restricted by the limited resources Member States dedicate to monitoring inside and outside the network. Incorporating Natura 2000 objectives into spatial planning is crucial, and maintaining or improving connectivity between sites is of the utmost importance to achieve good conservation status of species and habitats protected by the Directives.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Assessment of the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network remains restricted by the limited resources Member States dedicate to monitoring inside and outside the network. 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Area of Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the EU, 1993-2023", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. 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Progress towards designating Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive in the EU-27, 2011-2023", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. Progress towards designating Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive in the EU-27, 2011-2023" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "7b0b9324-2fee-4871-8eef-ba09f3faa9a2" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "styles": {} }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "64f80a58-157b-4bb8-96c2-cc9fe5c90ca2": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The process begins with EU Member States submitting lists of proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs). These are then evaluated at expert biogeographical seminars to determine whether a sufficient number of high-quality sites have been proposed by each Member State. Once lists of pSCIs have been adopted as Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) by the European Commission, Member States must designate them as Special Areas of Conservation ( SACs) through a legal act as soon as possible, and within a maximum of 6 years.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The process begins with EU Member States submitting lists of proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs). These are then evaluated at expert biogeographical seminars to determine whether a sufficient number of high-quality sites have been proposed by each Member State. Once lists of pSCIs have been adopted as " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Sites of Community Importance (SCIs)" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " by the European Commission, Member States must designate them as " }, { "type": "strong", "children": [ { "text": "Special Areas of Conservation (" } ] }, { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "SACs)" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": " through a legal act as soon as possible, and within a maximum of 6 years." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "665903ad-40cb-4089-bf68-cef9f6e6d890": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The choice of sites designated under the Habitats Directive is based on scientific criteria specified in the directive. The criteria aim to ensure that the habitat types and species listed in Annexes I and II are maintained or restored to a favourable conservation status.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The choice of sites designated under the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Habitats Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " is based on scientific criteria specified in the directive. The criteria aim to ensure that the habitat types and species listed in Annexes I and II are " }, { "children": [ { "text": "maintained or restored" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " to a favourable conservation status. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "926d2c2f-08e0-46f9-bb20-3fcedc6e7710": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "d3d49723-14e5-4663-b346-37ee3572f28d": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "f04e1428-25d5-415d-a836-0bbd845b96d4": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Most SCIs had been designated as SACs by Member States (Figure 2). Despite significant efforts, reported data still show 1,963 sites (9.1% of the total number) that should have been designated as SACs by the end of 2023. This means that some Member States are late in respecting the SAC designation 6-year time frame and ensuring that necessary conservation measures are applied.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Most SCIs had been designated as SACs by Member States (Figure 2). Despite significant efforts, reported data still show 1,963 sites (9.1% of the total number) that should have been designated as SACs by the end of 2023. This means that some Member States " }, { "children": [ { "text": "are late" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " in respecting the SAC designation 6-year time frame and ensuring that necessary conservation measures are applied." } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "24736f5c-3399-46bf-af09-133f974e2c30", "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e", "926d2c2f-08e0-46f9-bb20-3fcedc6e7710", "665903ad-40cb-4089-bf68-cef9f6e6d890", "64f80a58-157b-4bb8-96c2-cc9fe5c90ca2", "f04e1428-25d5-415d-a836-0bbd845b96d4" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<ol keys=\"9bbul,b1sa2,171og,1c1t5\" depth=\"0\"><li>Depending on the indicator context, this text can provide information at country level or, if this is not relevant, at some other level, e.g. sectoral, regional level.</li><li>This text interprets the data represented in the chart, rather than describing results, i.e. it provides explanations for some of the results.</li><li>The text related to progress at this level does not have to be comprehensive.</li><li>If there is no information that adds value to what is already visible there is no need to have any text.</li></ol>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "1000", "placeholder": "Disaggregate level assessment e.g. country, sectoral, regional level assessment", "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Disaggregate level assessment" }, "e9736b7c-4902-48aa-aecd-b706409a576d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} } }
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Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The area (km" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": ") of each site is registered in the annual versions of the geographic information system (GIS) Natura 2000 database and grouped per year of proposal/designation. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The figures relating to the total area of Natura 2000 sites have been obtained through GIS analysis. This avoids any risk of double counting sites that have been designated under both directives. Data on the total Natura 2000 area, accounting for overlapping sites, have been available since only 2011. Since 2005, the calculation of the area of SPAs and SCIs has also been based on GIS data, but before this tabular data were used. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Information is collected from national authorities by the Directorate-General for Environment and processed by the European Environment Agency. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "For more information:" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Explore Natura 2000 data" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ": " }, { "children": [ { "text": "https://biodiversity.europa.eu/europes-biodiversity/protected-areas/explore-natura-2000 " } ], "data": { "url": "https://biodiversity.europa.eu/europes-biodiversity/protected-areas/explore-natura-2000" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "and " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Natura 2000 Viewer" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ", to see the European network of Natura 2000 protected sites, to visualise a site on the map, or to locate sites protecting a certain species or habitat: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/." } ], "data": { "url": "https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "u" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "a40a948f-1643-4278-8a51-0542ca7c50e9", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/6fc8ad2d-195d-40f4-bdec-576e7d1268e4?activeAccordion=1091667%2C1095296", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)", "title": "Natura 2000 (vector) - version end 2023" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator shows the progress of the implementation of the " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en" }, "children": [ { "text": "Habitats Directive" } ] }, { "text": " (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and the " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en" }, "children": [ { "text": "Birds Directive" } ] }, { "text": " (79/409/EEC) by EU Member States. The indicator shows the evolution in time of the total area protected either by Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (designated under the Birds Directive) and of the Sites of Community Importance (SCIs)/Special areas of Conservation (SACs) (designated under the Habitats Directive), as well as the total area of the Natura 2000 network.\u00a0 " } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "The units used in the indicator are square kilometres (km" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "), for area, and the number of sites." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "The Habitats and Birds Directives aim to conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora within the EU. Member States are required to propose sites for protecting the habitats and species listed in the directives\u2019 annexes. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Under the Birds Directive, Member States designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The sites designated under the Habitats Directive include Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Once lists of SCIs proposed by Member States have been adopted by the European Commission, Member States must designate them as SACs as soon as possible and within 6 years at most. The Natura 2000 network is composed of SPAs, SCIs and SACs. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The establishment of designated sites under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives is a direct response to concerns over biodiversity loss. An indicator of a change in the coverage of these sites is a valuable indication of EU and national-level commitment to conserving biodiversity and reducing its loss. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Completing the Natura 2000 network and the effective management of sites is part of the commitments of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:a3c806a6-9ab3-11ea-9d2d-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "For more information about Natura 2000, see the European Commission website: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Frequency of dissemination 1
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "While GIS data ensures high spatial accuracy, uncertainties may arise from reporting delays or incomplete national submissions. " } ] }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Settings
Short name natura-2000-sites-designated-under
Versioning enabled yes
Contents
Area of Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the EU, 1993-2023

The figure illustrates the progress in the designation of the Natura 2000 network of sites in the European Union. • Many sites are designated under both the Habitats and Birds Directives. Data on the area covered by Natura 2000 that takes this overlap into account has been available since 2011. • Data for 1993-2019 shows the area for EU-27 plus the United Kingdom. Data since 2020 shows the area for EU-27 only. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU led to a decrease in the Natura 2000 area.

Progress towards designating Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive in the EU-27, 2011-2023

EU countries must designate Natura 2000 sites to protect certain species and habitats of EU importance. Under the framework of the Habitats Directive, EU Member States designate Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) to protect 233 habitats and over 1,300 species. Member States then have a maximum of six years to designate the Sites of Community Importance as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The figure shows that most SCIs had been designated as SACs by Member States. However, some Member States are late in respecting the 6-year time frame.