1. Principles and rationale for SAC/SPA designation and management
3rd meeting of Expert Group on
Management of Natura 2000
Brussels, 21 June 2010

2. Overall objective of Birds Directives
to maintain the populations of …(all wild bird species in the EU) …at a level which corresponds to their ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, or to adapt the population of these species to that level. (Article 2)
BIRDS DIRECTIVE
Site protection
Species protection
migratory birds
Annex I birds
All wild birds
Exemptions for species on annex II & III
Annex II species

3. Overall objective of Habitats Directive (Art.2)
to contribute towards ensuring bio-diversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in the European territory of the Member States to which the Treaty applies.
… to maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest.
… take account of economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics.
HABITATS DIRECTIVE
Site protection and management
Species protection & management
Annex I
Habitat types
Annex II species
Annex IVI species
Annex V species

4. Objective of Natura 2000 (Art 3 HD)
A coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation shall be set up under the title Natura This network, composed of sites hosting the natural habitat types listed in Annex I and habitats of the species listed in Annex II, shall enable the natural habitat types and the species' habitats concerned to be maintained or, where appropriate, restored at a favourable conservation status in their natural range
The Natura 2000 network shall include the special protection areas classified by the Member States pursuant to… (the Birds Directive)

5. Stages in construction of Natura 2000
HABITATS DIRECTIVE
BIRDS DIRECTIVE
2 years
3 years
Special Protection Areas (SPA)
National List of proposed sites (pSCI)
3 years
Sites of Community Importance (SCI)
6 years
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) 5

6. Definition of site of Community importance (Article 1.k)
a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type in Annex I or of a species in Annex II and may also contribute significantly to the coherence of Natura 2000 referred to in Article 3, and/or contributes significantly to the maintenance of biological diversity within the biogeographic region or regions concerned.

7. Definition of SAC (Article 1.l)
".. means a site of Community importance designated by the MS through a statutory, administrative and/or contractual act where the necessary conservation measures are applied for maintenance or restoration, at a favourable status, of the natural habitats and/or the populations of species for which the site is designated.

8. Definition of a SPA (Article 4 BD)
the species mentioned in Annex I shall be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.
Member States shall classify in particular the most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species in the geographical sea and land area where this Directive applies.
…..take similar measures for regularly occurring migratory species not listed in Annex I ……
…send the Commission all relevant information so that it may take appropriate initiatives with a view to the coordination necessary to ensure that the areas …. form a coherent whole

9. Article 6 Habitats Directive provisions9

10. “Conservation” and “conservation status”
conservation means a series of measures required to maintain or restore the natural habitats and the populations of species of wild fauna and flora at a favourable status as defined in Art 1 (e) and (i)
FCS for Natural habitat types:
natural range and areas covered stable or increasing
specific structure and functions necessary exist and are likely to exist for the foreseeable future
typical species are in FCS
FCS for Species:
population dynamics - viable over the long-term
natural range not reduced
sufficiently large habitat

11. Overall outcome of 1st assessments made on the conservation status (2009)
HABITAT TYPES
favo
urable
unfavourable -
inadequate
unfavourable -
bad
unknown
SPECIES

12. Assessing conservation status
Method developed based on definitions given in directive
3+1 classes (“traffic-light system”)
Includes “favourable reference values”
Assessment unit: biogeographic regions in MS – allowing for biogeographic evaluation on EU-level
Harmonised approach: agreed matrix
Parameters used
Species
Habitat types
Range (FRV)
Population (FRV)
Area covered by habitat type (FRV)
Habitat for the species
Specific structures & functions; typical species
Future prospects

13. Reporting on action for conservation measures
This (Article 17) report shall include in particular information concerning the conservation measures referred to in Article 6 (1) as well as evaluation of the impact of those measures on the conservation status of the natural habitat types of Annex I and the species in Annex II and the main results of the surveillance referred to in Article 11.

14. Setting (conservation) priorities
(Art 4.4) Once a SCI has been adopted … the Member State concerned shall designate that site as a SAC as soon as possible and within six years at most, establishing priorities in the light of
the importance of the sites for the maintenance or restoration, at a favourable conservation status, of a natural habitat type in Annex I or a species in Annex II
the coherence of Natura 2000, and in the light of the threats of degradation or destruction to which those sites are exposed.
(Art 8.4) …. the Commission shall adopt, having regard to the available sources of funding under the relevant Community instruments …. a prioritized action framework of measures involving co-financing to be taken when the site has been designated under Article 4 (4)

15. Natura 2000 “conservation objectives”
Overall objective is to ensure that each site makes the necessary contribution to attainment of FCS
Need to define conservation objectives for application of Article 6.3 (Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to themanagement of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon,either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives)
Commission considers that definition of conservation objectives also essential to apply the necessary conservation measures in application of Article 6.1

16. Establishing the necessary conservation measures
For special areas of conservation, Member States shall establish the necessary conservation measures involving, if need be, appropriate management plans specifically designed for the sites or integrated into other development plans, and appropriate statutory, administrative or contractual measures which correspond to the ecological requirements of the natural habitat types in Annex I and the species in Annex II present on the sites. (Article 6.1)