Natura 2000 is an EU wide network of areas protected under the Habitats Directive and/or under the Birds Directive. Areas protected under the Habitats Directive are called Special Areas of Conservation and areas protected under the Birds Directive are called Special Protected Areas. The network includes both terrestrial and marine areas. When an area is designated under the Habitats Directive or under the Birds Directive, management of these areas will have to comply with the requirements of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. Article 6 requires member states to:

• Take appropriate conservation measures to maintain and restore the habitats and species for which the site has been designated to a favourable conservation status;
• Avoid damaging activities that could significantly disturb these species or deteriorate the habitats of the protected species or habitat types.

Article 6.1 focuses on the eestablishment of necessary conservation measures

Article 6.2 focuses on how to avoid ddeterioration of natural habitats, the habitats of species and the species

Article 6.3 focuses on how to assess plans and projects that likely  to have significant effect on the site’s conservation objectives

Article 6.4 focuses on how to deal with imperative reasons of public interest ( incl. those of social and economic nature) in the assessment procedure and the need for compensatory measures.

Read more about Management of Natura 2000 sites.

Links to additional information

• Protected Areas and/or Natura 2000 Sites Management Planning Guidelines - Croatian Ministry of Environment and Energy