Progress on implementation of Birds and Habitats Directives

The Netherlands has made greater progress in designating areas covered by the Birds Directive than most other EU countries. Like many other member states, it has not yet designated all the areas covered by the Habitats Directive.

Current situation

Like Belgium and Denmark, the Netherlands has completed the work of designating areas covered by the Birds Directive. However, the European Commission considers that registration of Habitats Directive areas in the Netherlands is still incomplete, although the same goes for all other EU member states.

In all EU countries, implementation of both directives is lagging behind the original targets. According to the European Environmental Agency, one of the reasons for this is that implementation has turned out to be more complex than had been expected. In particular, negotiations with a wide range of local stakeholders take a great deal of time.

Some countries made significant progress in 2001 with the Habitats Directive, particularly Germany, but also Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium. This is not yet clearly apparent from the figures. Germany, Greece and Spain are making great progress with the Birds Directive.

Policy objectives and implementation

Implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives is intended to lead to the creation of an ecological network in the European Union, "Natura 2000". Both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive provide for the creation of Special Areas of Conservation.

Member states implementing the Birds and Habitats Directives are required to register their Special Areas of Conservation, incorporate the directives in national legislation, provide protection for the areas concerned, impose the right management measures, and monitor the quality of the Special Areas of Conservation.

In the case of the Birds Directive, registration of an area with the EU also constitutes designation of that area. In the case of the Habitats Directive, the member state registers the area, which is then designated by the EU.

The proposals for designation of Special Areas of Conservation by the member states are checked from the scientific point of view by groups of experts (chaired by EU representatives) for the various biogeographical zones of the European Union. The Netherlands is part of the Atlantic region.

Other relevant information:

• Information of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (Ministerie van LNV) about the Birds Directive areas in the Netherlands can be found at: www.minlnv.nl/international/
• The European Birds - and Habitats Directive can be found at:
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/introduction/
• Information about the European policies on Nature and Biodiversity can be found at:
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/
• Information about the Atlantic biogeographical region under which the Netherlands falls (including lists with relevant species and habitats) can be found at:
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/nature_conservation/natura_2000_network/biogeographic_regions/atlantic/