EC Habitats Directive(With focus on the marine environment)

MARCOS Kick off meeting

Åsa Andersson, February 2007

Aim

Article 2:“The aim of this Directive shall be to contribute towards ensuring biodiversity 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.”

Article 3:

“A coherent European ecological network of special areas of

conservation shall be set up under the title Natura 2000. 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.”

Annex I (marine habitats)

1110 - Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time

1130 - Estuaries

1140 - Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide

1150 - Coastal lagoons*

1160 - Large shallow inlets and bays

1170 - Reefs

1610 - Baltic esker island with sandy, rocky and shingle beach

vegetation and sublitoral vegetation

1620 - Boreal Baltic islets and small islands

1650 - Boreal Baltic narrow inlets

1680 - Submarine structures made by leaking gases

8330 - Submerged or partially submerged sea caves

“Definitions” in interpretation manual…??

Annex II (marine species)

• Grey seal• Harbour seal• Ringed seal• Harbour porpoise

Site selection:• Based on ecological criteria only• Guiding principle: 20-60% ”rule”, geographical representation, key areas

Favourable conservation status

Definition:e) Conservation status of a natural habitat means the sum of the influences acting on a natural habitat and its typical species that may affect its long-term natural distribution, structure and functions as well as the long-term survival of its typical species within the territory referred to in Article 2.

The conservation status of a natural habitat will be taken as ‘favourable’ when:1. its natural range and areas it covers within that range are stable or increasing, and2. the specific structure and functions which are necessary for its long-term maintenance exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and3. the conservation status of its typical species is favourable as defined in (i);

(i) Conservation status of a species means the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance of its populations within the territory referred to in Article 2;

The conservation status will be taken as ‘favourable’ when:1. population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and2. the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and3. there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long-term basis;

• Limited to species and habitats in the Annexes

- HD originally developed for terrestrial areas?

• Geographical range of the directive

- Territorial waters + EEZ

• Timeframe for site selection:

- Coastal/terrestrial - finalised 2006

- Offshore (1110, 1170, 1180) - finalised 2008?

- Assessment 2010

Natura 2000 today

Habitats Directive

&

Birds Directive

EC Marine Expert Group, 2003

1. Redefinition of existing marine habitat types

Offshore habitats - 1110, 1170, 1180

2. Locating and assessing marine sites

3. Management

+ Amendments of the Annexes to HD (secure

coherent network)