elinympäristödirektiivin

The elinympäristödirektiivi, or Habitats Directive, is a European Union directive enacted in 1992. Its primary goal is to promote the maintenance or re-establishment of a favorable conservation status of natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora within the European Union. This directive, along with the Birds Directive, forms the cornerstone of the EU's nature conservation policy.

The directive identifies and protects a list of natural habitat types and species that are considered of Community interest. These are areas that are rare or threatened, or that represent important examples of biogeographical regions within the EU. The directive requires Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for these habitats and species. Together with Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the Birds Directive, these form the Natura 2000 network, the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world.

Member States are obligated to implement measures to ensure that the designated SACs maintain or improve the conservation status of their protected habitats and species. This can involve various conservation measures, including habitat restoration, management plans, and regulations on land use. The directive also emphasizes the importance of ecological coherence, aiming to connect these protected areas and facilitate the movement of species. Its implementation is crucial for preserving biodiversity across the EU.