Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas across the European Union, with the aim of affording protection to habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest. Conservation and management measures have to be established and implemented to ensure that the condition of the natural habitats and species for which the protected areas have been designated, is maintained and/or restored, in order to ensure their long-term survival/existence. This dataset includes: Special Protection Areas (SPAs), which are areas designated under the EU Birds Directive for protecting wild bird species; and/or either Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), which are sites identified under the EU Habitats Directive for conserving rare habitats and species; or Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), which are interim sites proposed for SAC designation, highlighting their environmental importance; or Proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs), which are areas suggested for SCI status, awaiting formal approval. Reference can be made to the Natura 2000 viewer - including datasheets (link: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/) and to the Natura 2000 database (link: http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/natura-2000/) to obtain information on each Natura 2000 site for almost all of the EU Member States. Information for the sites nominated by Malta are also available through these same links.
