Habitatsdirektiivit

Habitatsdirektiivet, or the Habitats Directive, formally Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna, is a key piece of European Union nature protection law adopted in 1992. It aims to protect Europe's biodiversity by safeguarding natural habitats and species of Community interest and by creating a coherent network for their protection.

The directive requires EU Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats and species listed in its Annexes, and to take measures to maintain or restore these features to a favorable conservation status. It covers a wide range of habitats, from forests and wetlands to grasslands and coastal ecosystems, as well as a set of protected species. It forbids deterioration or destruction of natural habitats and imposes safeguards against activities that could significantly impact protected sites.

Natura 2000 is the resulting union-wide network from the Habitats Directive, implemented in tandem with the Birds Directive. SACs designated under the Habitats Directive are complemented by Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the Birds Directive, creating a cross-border ecological network intended to maintain ecosystem continuity and species viability.

Provisions on plans and projects are centralized in Article 6. Plans likely to affect SACs must undergo an appropriate assessment to determine potential impacts. If adverse effects cannot be ruled out, derogations are possible only under strict conditions (no viable alternatives, no adverse effect on integrity, and, in some cases, compensatory measures for overriding public interests).

Implementation is enforced through national authorities with monitoring, reporting to the Commission, and potential infringement procedures for non-compliance. The directive remains a foundation for EU biodiversity policy and landscape planning across member states.