Habitats Directive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Habitats Directive (more formally known as Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora)[1] is a directive adopted by the European Community in 1992 as a response to the Berne Convention. The European Community was reformed as the European Union the following year, but the directive is still recognised.

The Habitats Directive required national governments to specify areas that are expected to be ensuring the conservation of flora and fauna species. This led to the setting up of a network of protected areas across the EU, along with 'Special Areas of Conservation', which together with the existing Special Protection Areas, became the so-called Natura 2000 network established to protect species and habitats.[2]

This directive is one of the main pillars of the European Union's system of wildlife and nature conservation, another being the Birds Directive.[3][4] The Habitats Directive, together with the Birds Directive, are also called the "nature directives".[5]

The Habitats Directive consists of 24 articles of legislation to which all member states must comply. Article 17 of the directive sets the terms and standards for reporting on both the habitats and species listed in the annexes by the individual EU member countries. It stipulates a report from each member country on the state of nature every six years.[1][6] The first preliminary reports were due in 2001 (but only published in 2004),[6] the first actual assessments were due in 2007 (published 2009),[6][7] the second in 2013 (published 2015), and the third set of assessment reports were due in 2019 (published 2020).[6] The assessments of conservation status differ markedly from those of the IUCN Red List. The aim in the case of the EU conservation status is to assess the distance from a defined favourable situation, as opposed to the distance from extinction. There are three classes of conservation status: favourable (FV), unfavourable-inadequate (U1) and unfavourable-bad (U2).[8]

The annexes of the directive outline the protected habitats and species:[1]

  • Annex I covers habitats,
  • Annex II species requiring designation of Special Areas of Conservation,
  • Annex IV species in need of strict protection, and
  • Annex V species in which member countries may decide for themselves how to manage the population.

History[]

From 1988 to 1992, the policy was given importance at the national level by policy experts, scientists and ecologists; later on in the 1990s this spawned further political, social and administrative discussions among the relevant countries.

Due to differences in nature conservation traditions, national problems have arisen in the implementation of the directive. Since member states in the south and east of Europe participated less in nature policies, these states experienced problems with the EU provisions. In Germany, Austria, Italy and Belgium, the observation of conflicts between various government layers have caused prolonged delays in the management of nature policies. On the other hand, in member states such as the United Kingdom and Sweden, positive outcomes have developed due to stakeholder involvement, pro-active authorities, agencies responsible for implementation and public participation.[citation needed]

According to one 2014 report there are increasing incompatibilities with the Natura 2000 policy on economic development.[9]

Annex I[]

Annex I lists the specific habitats which have been designated as the a Special Area of Conservation, to which a common EU-wide legislation applies. Certain habitats among those are furthermore designated as "priority habitat types". Habitats in the EU are given codes. An area or habitat can combine two habitats, and be designated as for example code 35.2 × 64.1 - Open grassland with Corynephorus and Agrostis (35.2), in combination with continental dunes (64.1). Example Annex I habitats are:

Open sea and tidal areas

  • Sea cliffs and shingle or stony beaches
  • Atlantic and continental salt marshes and salt meadows
  • Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic salt marshes and salt meadows
  • Salt and gypsum continental steppes

Dunes

  • Sea dunes of the Mediterranean coast
  • Continental dunes, old and decalcified

Standing and running freshwater

  • Sections of water courses with natural or semi-natural dynamics (minor, average and major beds) where the water quality shows no significant deterioration

Matorral

  • Mediterranean arborescent matorral
  • Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-steppe brush
  • Phrygana

Grasslands

  • Natural grasslands
  • Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies
  • Sclerophyllous grazed forests (dehesas)
  • Semi-natural tall-herb humid meadows
  • Mesophile grasslands

Bogs, mires and fens

  • Sphagnum acid bogs
  • Calcareous fens

Rocky areas and caves

  • Scree, chasmophytic vegetation on rocky slopes
  • Other rocky habitats

Forests - Only (sub-)natural

  • Forests of temperate Europe
  • Mediterranean deciduous forests
  • Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests
  • Alpine and subalpine coniferous forests
  • Mediterranean mountainous coniferous forests

The full list of habitats is distributed over 9 main categories.[10]

Annex II[]

Annex II lists species which determine if an area is a Special Area of Conservation. These include:[1]

Animals[]

Mammals[]

  • Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)
  • Bats: Rhinolophus blasii, R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. mehelyi, Barbastella barbastellus, Miniopterus schreibersi, Myotis bechsteini, , M. capaccinii, M. dasycneme, M. emarginatus, M. myotis
  • Rodents: Spermophilus citellus, Castor fiber, Microtus cabrerae
  • Carnivores: Lynx (Lynx lynx), otter (Lutra lutra) and Mustela lutreola
  • Grey seal and harbour seal
  • natural populations of wild goats (Capra aegagrus)
  • natural populations of wild sheep (Ovis ammon musimon) on Corsica and Sardinia.
  • Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica
  • the dolphin Tursiops truncatus and the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena

Reptiles and amphibians[]

  • Land tortoises: Testudo hermanni, T. graeca and T. marginata
  • Freshwater turtles: Emys orbicularis, Mauremys caspica and M. leprosa
  • Lizards: Lacerta monticola, L. schreiberi, Gallotia galloti insulanagae, Podarcis lilfordi, P. pityusensis, (a skink) and Phyllodactylus europaeus (a gecko)
  • Snakes: Elaphe quatuorlineata, E. situla and Vipera ursinii
  • Salamanders: Chioglossa lusitanica, Mertensiella luschani, Salamandrina terdigitata, Triturus cristatus, olm (Proteus anguinus), Speleomantes ambrosii, S. flavus, S. genei, S. imperialis and
  • Toads: Bombina bombina and B. variegata
  • Frogs: Rana latastei, Discoglossus jeanneae, D. montalentii and D. sardus

Fish[]

  • All Eudontomyzon species, Lampetra fluviatilis, L. planeri, , Petromyzon marinus
  • Aphanius iberus and A. fasciatus
  • only natural populations of Hucho hucho
  • only freshwater populations of salmon (Salmo salar), the trout and S. macrostigma
  • the cyprid fish , A. albidus, Anaecypris hispanica, Aspius aspius, Barbus plebejus, B. meridionalis, B. capito, , Chalcalburnus chalcoides, Chondrostoma soetta, Ch. polylepis, Ch. genei, , Ch. toxostoma, Gobio albipinnatus, G. uranoscopus, Iberocypris palaciosi, , L. souffia, all species of Phoxinellus, Rutilus pigus, R. rubilio, R. arcasii, R. macrolepidotus, R. lemmingii, , R. alburnoides, Rhodeus sericeus amarus, Scardinius graecus
  • the Cobitidae loaches , , C. trichonica, C. taenia, Misgurnis fossilis, Sabanejewia aurata
  • of the perches: Gymnocephalus schraetzer and all Zingel species except Z. asper and Z. zingel
  • Gobiidae: Pomatoschistus canestrini, , P. nigricans
  • the freshwater sculpins , C. gobio, C. petiti
  • all Alosa species, the river herrings or scads.
  • Aristotle's catfish (Silurus aristotelis)

Crustaceans[]

Insects[]

Molluscs[]

Plants[]

Mosses and liverworts: , Buxbaumia viridis, , Dicranum viride, Distichophyllum carinatum, , , , Meesia longiseta, , , Petalophyllum ralfsii, , , , ,

Ferns and allies

  • the ferns , Culcita macrocarpa, Trichomanes speciosum and Woodwardia radicans
  • the water ferns , M. quadrifolia and
  • Botrychium simplex and
  • the squillworts and I. malinverniana

Monocots

Dicots

Priority species[]

There are also a number of priority species:[1]

Animals[]

  • Dutch tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus arenicola)
  • Wolf (Canis lupus): Spanish populations: only those south of the Duero; Greek populations: only those south of the 39th parallel)
  • Brown bear
  • Iberian lynx
  • Monk seal (Monachus monachus)
  • Corsican red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus)
  • Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica)
  • Apennine chamois ()
  • Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
  • the lizard Gallotia simonyi
  • the viper Vipera schweizeri
  • Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra aurorae)
  • Majorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis)
  • the frog Pelobates fuscus insubricus
  • the sturgeons Acipenser naccarii and Acipenser sturio
  • the fish Valencia hispanica
  • some of the anadromous populations in certain sectors of the North Sea of Coregonus oxyrhynchus
  • the cyprid fish Ladigesocypris ghigii
  • the beetles Carabus olympiae, Osmoderma eremita and Rosalia alpina
  • the butterfly Euplagia quadripunctaria (under the synonym Callimorpha quadripunctata)

Plants[]

Macaronesia[]

There is a separate list for plants from Macaronesia.

  • Grasses: ,
  • Orchids:

Macaronesian priority species[]

Annex III[]

This annex explains the criteria which are used to select sites which are eligible to be recognised as important for Europe, or as Special Areas of Conservation. The process consists of two stages. The first stage is to assess the importance at a national level, based on the habitats and species listed in Annex I and II. The second stage is to assess the importance for Europe as a whole, again based on the two earlier annexes.[1]

Annex IV[]

Annex IV lists species of interest to Europe which are in need of strict protection.

Mammals[]

  • Insectivores: Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), Erinaceus algirus and Crocidura canariensis
  • All species of Microchiroptera
  • Rodents: Beaver (Castor fiber), Cricetus cricetus, porcupine (Hystrix cristata), Sicista betulina, suslik (Citellus citellus), Sciurus anomalus, Microtus cabrerae, Dutch tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus arenicola), and all species of Gliridae except Glis glis and Eliomys quercinus
  • Carnivores: Grey wolf (except Spanish populations north of the Duero and Greek populations north of the 39th parallel), brown bear (Ursus arctos), otter {Lutra lutra}, Mustela lutreola, wild cat (Felis silvestris), lynx (Lynx lynx), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and monk seal (Monachus monachus)
  • Hoofed animals: Corsican red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus), natural populations of wild goats (Capra aegagrus), natural populations of wild sheep (Ovis ammon musimon) on Corsica and Sardinia, Balcan (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) and Apennine chamois ()
  • Cetaceans: All species

Reptiles and amphibians[]

Turtles

  • Tortoises: Testudo hermanni, T. graeca and T. marginata
  • Sea turtles: Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Lepidochelys kempii, Eretmochelys imbricata and Dermochelys coriacea
  • Freshwater turtles: Emys orbicularis, Mauremys caspica and M. leprosa

Lizards

  • Algyroides fitzingeri, A. marchi, A. moreoticus and A. nigropunctatus
  • Chamaeleo chamaeleon
  • Gallotia atlantica, G. galloti (including specifically the subspecies insulanagae), G. simonyi and G. stehlini
  • Geckoes: Cyrtopodion kotschyi, Phyllodactylus europaeus, Tarentola angustimentalis, T. boettgeri, T. delalandii and T. gomerensis.
  • Lacerta agilis, L. bedriagae, L. danfordi, , L. graeca, L. horvathi, L. monticola, L. schreiberi, L. trilineata and L. viridis
  • Ophisaurus apodus
  • Ophisops elegans
  • Podarcis erhardii, P. filfolensis, Podarcis hispanica atrata, P. lilfordi, P. melisellensis, P. milensis, P. muralis, P. peloponnesiaca, P. pityusensis, P. sicula, , P. tiliguerta and P. wagleriana
  • Skinks: , Chalcides bedriagai, , Ch. ocellatus, Ch. sexlineatus, and Ophiomorus punctatissimus

Snakes

  • Coluber caspius, C. hippocrepis, , , , C. nummifer and
  • Coronella austriaca
  • Elaphe longissima, E. quatuorlineata and E. situla
  • Eryx jaculus
  • Natrix natrix cetti, N. natrix corsa and N. tessellata
  • Vipera ammodytes, V. schweizeri, (except Spanish populations), V. ursinii and V. xanthina

Salamanders:

  • Chioglossa lusitanica
  • Euproctus asper, E. montanus and E. platycephalus
  • Olm (Proteus anguinus)
  • Salamandra atra, S. salamandra aurorae, S. lanzai and S. luschani
  • Salamandrina terdigitata
  • Speleomantes ambrosii, S. flavus, S. genei, S. imperialis, S. italicus and
  • Triturus carnifex, T. cristatus, T. italicus, T. karelinii and T. marmoratus

Toads and frogs:

  • Alytes cisternasii, A. muletensis and A. obstetricans
  • Bombina bombina and B. variegata
  • Bufo calamita and B. viridis
  • Discoglossus galganoi, D. jeanneae, D. montalentii, D. pictus and D. sardus
  • Treefrogs: Hyla arborea, H. meridionalis and H. sarda
  • Pelobates cultripes, P. fuscus and P. syriacus
  • Rana arvalis, R. dalmatina, R. graeca, R. iberica, R. latastei and R. lessonae

Fish[]

  • Perches: Zingel asper
  • Sturgeons: Acipenser naccarii and A. sturio
  • Coregonus oxyrhynchus (anadromous populations in certain sectors of the North Sea)
  • Valencia hispanica

Insects[]

Spiders[]

Molluscs[]

Echinoderms[]

Plants[]

Annex IV contains all the plant species listed in Annex II (except the mosses and lichens), plus the plant taxa listed below:

Annex V[]

Annex V details the species which are of 'interest' to the European Union, of which the taking or exploitation of wild may be subject to the management decisions of the individual countries concerned.[1] This largely concerns plants or animals in which the hunting or gathering was/is an economic activity. Mammals

  • Carnivores: golden jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus), Spanish populations north of the Duera and Greek populations north of the 39th parallel of the grey wolf, Martes martes, Mustela putorius, all species of Phocidae (seals) not mentioned in Annex IV, Genetta genetta and Herpestes ichneumon
  • Mountain hare (Lepus timidus)
  • Hoofed mammals: Capra ibex, C. pyrenaica (except C. pyrenaica pyrenaica) and Rupicapra rupicapra (except R. rupicapra balcanica and R. ornata)

Amphibians

  • Rana esculenta, R. perezi, R. ridibunda and R. temporaria

Fish

  • Lampreys: Lampetra fluviatilis and
  • All sturgeon species not mentioned in Annex IV
  • Salmonidae: Thymallus thymallus, Hucho hucho, Salmo salar (only when in fresh water) and all Coregonus spp. (except Coregonus oxyrhynchus - anadromous populations in certain sectors of the North Sea)
  • Cyprinids: all Barbus spp.
  • Perciformes: Gymnocephalus schraetzer and Zingel zingel
  • All Alosa spp.
  • Catfish: Silurus aristotelis

Other

Plants

  • Galanthus nivalis, Narcissus bulbocodium and N. juncifolius
  • Iris lusitanica
  • Lilium rubrum
  • Ruscus aculeatus

Annex VI[]

This annex compiles the types of capture and killing (i.e. hunting) which are prohibited in the European Community (and now the European Union), as well as prohibited modes of transport (while hunting). These can vary according to form of life.[1] Birds are covered by the older Birds Directive.

  • Mammals, for example, may not be hunted using explosives, gassing or smoking out burrows, poisons and poisoned or anaesthetic bait, tape recorders, artificial light sources, mirrors and other dazzling devices, blind or mutilated animals used as live decoys, non-selective nets or traps, crossbows and semi-automatic or automatic machine guns with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition. Other prohibited hunting devices are those to illuminate targets, electrical and/or electronic devices capable of killing or stunning and sighting scopes for night shooting with an electronic image magnifier or image converter.[1]
  • Fish may not be caught using poisons or explosives.[1]

It is furthermore illegal to hunt wildlife in the European Union from an aircraft or moving motor vehicle.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k "Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora". Eur-Lex. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Natura 2000 - Environment". ec.europa.eu. European Commission. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ "The Habitats Directive". Europa. European Commission. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Joint Nature Conservation Committee – European Legislation". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  5. ^ http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/codelist/ReferenceSpeciesSchemeValue/natureDirectives
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Habitats Directive reporting". Europa. European Commission. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora". Eur-Lex. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ Douglas Evans, Marita Arvela (July 2011). Assessment and reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive Explanatory Notes & Guidelines for the period 2007-2012 (PDF) (Report). European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity. p. 8, 9. Retrieved 29 September 2020.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  9. ^ Suvi Borgström, Frederik H. Kistenkas, 'The Compatibility of the Habitats Directive with the Novel EU Green Infrastructure Policy' (2014) 23 European Energy and Environmental Law Review, Issue 2, pp. 36–44. http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/abstract.php?id=EELR2014004
  10. ^ "EUR-Lex - 01992L0043-20130701 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 3 January 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""