Overview of EU Nature Protection Regime
Briefly, the Habitats Directive consists generally of two sets of rules:
- section on the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs);
- section on species protection,

Source: Joseph van der Stegen, DG Environment, European Commission
Natura 2000 not only applies to the Birds and Habitats Directives, but also to the marine environment. Further, it fulfills one of the Communities’ obligations under the United Nation Convention on Biological Diversity. These Directives have certainly been a catalyst for increased funding for nature, improved stakeholder awareness and engagement, as well as strengthened knowledge and sharing of experience. However, this has not taken place on sufficient scale.