Species and Habitat of the Natura 2000 Network

Species and habitats within the European Natura 2000 network are protected under two EU directives, as well as by national law through the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). These include European bird species covered by the "Birds Directive" of 1979 (Directive 79/409/EEC = Vogeschutz-Richtlinie) and the species and habitats listed under the "Habitats Directive" (Directive, 92/43/EEC = FFH-Richtlinie) from 1992. Both directives have undergone several updates, with the most recent revisions following Croatia’s entry into the EU (2013/17/EU).

Annex I of the Habitats Directive lists 231 habitat types, 93 of which can be found in Germany. Meanwhile, Annexes II, IV, and V of the directive include more than 1,000 animal and plant species, with around 281of these found in Germany. Some species are listed in multiple annexes. Under the Birds Directive, all native bird species are protected, and 100 endangered species are listed in Annex I, granting them strict protections similar to those provided to the species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive.

Sites protected by the Habitats Directive (SAC) and those protected by the Birds Directive (SPA)

The directives serve to protect endangered species and habitats across Europe ("species/habitat types of community importance") for which individual member states have a special responsibility. When carrying out any plans or activities, it is crucial that the "conservation status of local populations" is not allowed to decline. To protect the habitat types and species listed in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive, and the bird species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, special protection areas have been established. These are commonly referred to as “Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)“  for the habitats" and "Special Protected Areas (SPA)“ fort he birds. The legal framework for these areas in Germany can be found in §§ 31-34 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).

Species and habitats in Annexes I and II are further classified as either priority or non-priority species. Priority species and habitats are subject to the strictest protection regulations (§34 Para. 4 BNatSchG or Article 6 of the Habitats Directive).

Geschützte Arten

Die Tier- und Pflanzenarten des Anhangs IV der FFH-Richtlinie sind "streng geschützt" und müssen ebenso wie europäische Vogelarten bei jeglichen Planungen, bei denen sie beeinträchtigt werden könnten, beachtet werden. Der Schutz dieser Arten ist in § 44 BNatSchG geregelt. Wirtschaftlich genutzte oder durch Jagd und Sammeln besonders gefährdete Arten, wie z. B. Arnika, Schneehase oder Weinbergschnecke, sind auf Anhang V der FFH-Richtlinie aufgelistet. Die Bestimmungen, die den Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung dieser Arten (und der Arten des Washingtoner Artenschutzabkommens) regeln, finden sich in den §§ 45 - 51 BNatSchG. Prekär ist hierbei, dass etliche Arten, die nur auf Anhang II, nicht jedoch auf Anhang IV oder V gelistet sind, faktisch nur innerhalb von FFH-Gebieten geschützt sind, jedoch nicht außerhalb. In den sogenannten "speziellen artenschutzrechtlichen Prüfungen (saP)" werden nur die Arten des Anhangs IV und die Vogelarten betrachtet.

Birds and Other Notable Species

Birds are addressed separately in the Birds Directive of 1979, due to historical roots when conservation was strongly linked with bird protection; the Birds Directive was Europe’s first major conservation regulation. Today, despite support for a unified approach, efforts to combine the Birds and Habitats Directives remain limited, with birds still managed separately, largely due to a strong “bird protection lobby.” A unified directive that includes birds alongside other key species in the Habitats Directive is still lacking within the EU.

Expand Your Species Knowledge with NABU|naturgucker Academy

Interested in strengthening your knowledge of species? The NABU|naturgucker-Akademie offers free online courses focused on identifying species, including birds, mammals, plants, and fungi. These courses are an excellent supplement to the training provided in the Natura 2000 Manager course.