suojeludirektiivi

The Habitats Directive, officially Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, is a cornerstone of nature conservation policy in the European Union. It aims to protect a wide range of European species and habitats, ensuring their long-term survival. The Finnish term for this directive is suojeludirektiivi.

The directive identifies and designates Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for a list of priority natural habitats and species of Community interest. These SACs, together with Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the Birds Directive, form the Natura 2000 network, the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. The primary objective of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure that the natural habitats and species it covers are maintained or restored at a favourable conservation status across the EU.

Member States are required to develop and implement conservation measures for the designated SACs. These measures aim to maintain or restore the habitats and species to a favourable conservation status, which means that their survival is not threatened. This can involve a range of actions, including land-use planning, habitat restoration, and management plans. The directive also includes provisions for assessing the potential impact of plans and projects on SACs before they are authorized, requiring appropriate assessments to be carried out if there is a likely significant effect.