Since 1992, with the signing of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity by all Member States of the European Union, the need to conserve biodiversity has been recognised by setting the goal of “anticipating, preventing and addressing the causes of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, taking into account its intrinsic importance and its ecological, genetic, but also indirectly social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic value”.

In order to counteract the progressive loss of biodiversity on its territory, the European Union adopted the “Habitats” Directive (Directive 92/43/EC) for the protection of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in 1992, and revived the previous “Birds” Directive (Directive 79/409/EC) for the protection of European bird diversity. Article 3 of the Habitats Directive provides for the creation of a European ecological network called Natura 2000 to protect species and habitats threatened with extinction in the territory of the Community. The “nodes” of the Natura 2000 network are the Special Protection Areas (SAC) established under the “Habitats” Directive and the Special Protection Areas (SPA) established under the “Birds” Directive. SAC and SPA may overlap partially or completely.

The EU’s Natura 2000 Network is comprised of nearly 27,000 sites, protecting over 2,000 species and habitats of European conservation concern. It is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world.

If you follow this link, you will find more information on the Habitats and Birds Directives and on the Natura 2000 network: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm