European Habitats and Birds Directives: protected species

The European Birds and Habitats Directives mainly protect birds and other vertebrates.

Species of flora and fauna referred to in the Birds and Habitats Directives (numbers)
	Birds Directive	Habitats Directive
	Annex I	Annex II	Annex IV	Annex V
	or 1% criterion
	no. of species per flora or fauna group
Invertebrates
Lobsters				1
Molluscs		3	1	1
Leeches				1
Beetles		5	4
Dragonflies		3	7
Butterflies		4	5
Moths		1
Vertebrates
Fish		13	2	6
Amphibians		2	8	3
Reptiles			3
Bats		7	20
Other mammals		8	12	4
Birds	42 and 59 respectively.
Plants
Vascular plants		3	4	2
Mosses		2		2
Lichens				1
Birds Directive:
Annex I: bird species which are the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat.
1% criterion: as above, bird species in areas in which at least 1% of the biogeographical population occurs.
Habitats Directive:
Annex II: animal and plant species whose conservation requires designation of Special Areas of Conservation.
Annex IV: animal and plant species in need of strict protection.
Annex V: animal and plant species whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures.
Note: some species are listed in multiple Annexes.
Source: EU, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries

Current situation

The European Birds and Habitats Directives protect species in two ways: by protecting certain habitats and by extending general protection.

Special Areas of Conservation must be designated for the 51 species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive. Under the Birds Directive, such areas have been selected for 42 of the bird species listed in Annex I. Other areas have been selected which regularly provide habitats for at least 1% of the biogeographical population of one or more migratory species of waterfowl. There are 59 such species (35 of which are not already listed in Annex I).

The general protection covers all native European birds and 66 species listed in Annex IV to the Habitats Directive. Finally, Annex V to the Habitats Directive lists 21 species whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures. These are species hunted or trapped for consumption or other use.

Policy objectives

The aim of the European Birds and Habitats Directives is to ensure the preservation of wild flora and fauna and the maintenance or improvement of their ecosystems and habitats. The member states of the European Union are obliged to incorporate the species protection provisions of these directives in national legislation. The Netherlands had done so in its Flora and Fauna Act (Flora- en faunawet).