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.

Figure 1. Area of Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the EU, 1993-2023

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.

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.

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 km². Many sites are designated under both directives. Natura 2000 terrestrial and marine sites designated under the Habitats Directive covered 1,008,032 km², while SPAs created under the Birds Directive, covered 849,776 km².

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.

This approach encourages sustainable management. 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.

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.

Figure 2. Progress towards designating Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive in the EU-27, 2011-2023

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.

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 SACs through a legal act as soon as possible, and within a maximum of 6 years.

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.

Supporting information

Definition

This indicator shows the progress of the implementation of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (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.

Methodology

The area (km²) 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.

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.

Information is collected from national authorities by the Directorate-General for Environment and processed by the European Environment Agency.

For more information:

Explore Natura 2000 data: https://biodiversity.europa.eu/europes-biodiversity/protected-areas/explore-natura-2000 and Natura 2000 Viewer, 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: https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/.

Policy/environmental relevance

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’ annexes.

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.

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.

Completing the Natura 2000 network and the effective management of sites is part of the commitments of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

For more information about Natura 2000, see the European Commission website: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000_en.

Accuracy and uncertaintiesData sources and providers

Metadata

DPSIRTopicsTagsTemporal coverageGeographic coverage

TypologyUN SDGsUnit of measureFrequency of dissemination

Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives

Figure 1. Area of Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the EU, 1993-2023

Figure 2. Progress towards designating Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive in the EU-27, 2011-2023

Supporting information

Metadata

References and footnotes