Natura 2000
The protection of wildlife and habitats is one of the main planks of the European Community\\\'s (EC) environmental policy. It aims to stop and reverse the loss and deterioration of species, which continues today. It is enshrined in two main pieces of legislation - the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.
Members of the EC are obliged to identify the best areas of their country for birds and for special habitats. Sites protected for birds are called Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and sites protected for their wider wildlife interest are called Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) - a site can be both.
The Annexes of these Directives list the habitats and species, which are considered to need protection, according to how badly they are doing and whether or not they occur only or largely in the EC. The list includes animals like the Brown Bear, the Wolf, Loggerhead Turtle, Great Bustard, Corncrake, the Danube Salmon, Lady\\\'s Slipper Orchid, Hermit Beetle, even a species of moss and the Great Bittern. Habitats range from sand dunes to alpine meadows, alluvial forests and limestone pavements.
Put these sites and species together and you have Natura 2000.
