Stretching over 18% of the EU’s land area and almost 6% of its marine territory, Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It offers a haven to Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats.
The Natura 2000 Network is the main instrument of the European Union policy for the conservation of biodiversity established under Directives 92/43/CEE “Habitat” and 2009/147/CE “Birds” to ensure the long-term maintenance of natural habitats and species of flora and fauna threatened or rare at EU level.
It is based on the identification of areas of particular environmental value called Sites of Community Importance (SCI-ZSC), which go alongside the Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birdlife.
The two Community Directives tend to patch up the tears of a territory, the European one, which has suffered so much fragmentation of natural environments in favour of urbanization, industrial activity, intensive agriculture and infrastructure.
The areas that make up the Natura 2000 network are not rigidly protected reserves where human activities are excluded; the Habitats Directive aims to ensure nature protection while also “taking into account economic, social and cultural needs as well as regional and local particularities” (Art. 2). Private entities may own Natura 2000 sites, ensuring their sustainable management both ecologically and economically.
The Directive recognizes the value of all those areas in which the secular presence of man and his traditional activities has allowed the maintenance of a balance between human activities and nature. Agricultural areas, for example, are linked to numerous animal and plant species that are now rare and endangered and for whose survival the continuation and enhancement of traditional activities, such as grazing or non-intensive agriculture, is necessary. The same title of the Directive specifies the objective of conserving not only natural habitats but also semi-natural habitats (such as areas of traditional agriculture, used forests, pastures, etc.).
Another innovative element is the recognition of the importance of certain landscape elements that play a connecting role for wildlife (Article 10). Member states are encouraged to maintain or where necessary develop these elements to improve the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network.
In Italy, SCIs, SACs and SPAs together cover about 19% of the national land area and more than 6% of the marine area.
