25 years of NATURA 2000 – FFH Directive

In 1992, the Fauna-Flora-Habitats Directive (FFH Directive) was adopted and the Europe-wide NATURA 2000 network was established. Both will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2017. Together with the EU bird sanctuaries, the FFH sites are grouped under the keyword NATURA 2000. They were designated in order to protect the European natural heritage with all its species and habitats. In addition to the preservation of biological diversity, the main focus is on the preservation of the landscape and thus of the homeland for us humans as well as on the possibility of near-natural recreation for the locals but also for our guests from near and far.

A total of more than 27,000 NATURA 2000 sites with approx. 18% of the country’s total area were registered throughout Europe: NATURA 2000 is thus the world’s largest nature conservation project. In Germany, more than 5,000 areas cover approx. 15 % of the country’s surface area. Bavaria contributes 746 Natura 2000 sites (over 11% of the Land area) to the network. With 62 different habitat types, 167 bird species and 79 species of the Habitats Directive, Bavaria has a particularly high level of protected natural resources and thus in many cases bears a special responsibility. In the administrative district of Lower Bavaria there are 92 NATURA 2000 areas which cover 6.6% of the district area. Our rivers and brooks with their floodplains play an important role in this, but also near-natural forest stands and species-rich meadow landscapes are of particular importance for the conservation of our common European natural heritage.

We area managers also take care of NATURA2000 areas. For example, we support authorities in recording species and habitats in the Fauna-Flora Habitats Directive, advise technical planners in drawing up management plans or participate in public relations work and in communicating the objectives of the NATURA 2000 network of protected areas.