1. Natura 2000 site boundary changes a reminder of the reporting rules Expert Group on the Birds and Habitats Directives, 15 October 2014

2. Article 9 Habitats Directive … a special area of conservation may be considered for declassification where this is warranted by natural developments noted as a result of the surveillance provided for in Article 11. Doc HAB 05-06-02 (of 21 June 2005) explains under which circumstances a deletion of a site or changes to the boundaries of a site are acceptable

3. “natural developments” … Article 9 of the Habitats directive allows for declassification of sites (and arguably parts of sites) “where this is warranted by natural developments noted as a result of the surveillance provided for in Article 11”. In consequence such declassification is foreseen by the directive only for the case of “natural” developments (in contrary to “human caused”) which could not reasonably be avoided or prevented by applying measures in the frame of Article 6(1), 6(2) and 6(3). E.g. changes of semi-natural habitats through natural succession arising from a failure of adequate management measures would not be regarded as “natural” causes in this sense, while changes due to e.g. a natural disaster would be regarded as “natural”.

4. demonstrable “genuine” scientific errors the site was not of value for the Annex I/II interest for which the site was classified at the time of designation; a wide perspective may be necessary, e.g. allowing for potential change of breeding sites of a species within a larger area or taking into account certain dynamics of habitat types and has not reached in the meantime importance as a site regularly hosting other species/habitats not yet mentioned in the data form and is not necessary for the integrity of the site (e.g. is not a buffer zone or a forthcoming restoration area). Serious caution should be exercised in any consideration of the reduction of the surface area of large SCIs. Member States are advised to alternatively look at a system of “zonation” which foresees different levels of protection, management and restriction on land use in relation to conservation needs of the species or habitats for which the site is classified.

5. Guidelines for recording species and habitat deletions from Standard Data Forms (cfr. http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Natura_2000/reference_portal(cfr. http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Natura_2000/reference_portal ) Site deletions /modifications should be either closely linked with changes in feature presence/absence … or can be explained by corrections due to involving GIS methods. …anything departing from >5% decrease should be additionally explained. Any other reasons for site deletion or change in area must be explained in detail. In case of site reduction, the possible consequences to habitats and species present at site should be explained, e.g., if the reduction in site area has resulted in a reduction of Annex I habitat areas and/or Annex II species’ population estimates. If sites are merged or divided (or other combinations that occur occasionally) with an aim to improve site management and/or coordination, this must be explained.