Arid Grasslands (click here to download the PDF)
Melanargia arge (click here to download the PDF)
Eriogaster catax (click here to download the PDF)
The Natura 2000 Network
Natura 2000 is an ecological network spread throughout the territory of the European Union, as established under Directive 92/43/EEC “Habitat” to ensure the long-term maintenance of natural habitats and species of flora and fauna threatened or rare at Community level. The Natura 2000 network comprises Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) established by the Member States in accordance with the Habitats Directive, and also includes Special Protection Areas (SPAs) established pursuant to Directive 79/409/EEC “Birds”.
The areas that make up the Natura 2000 network are not strictly protected reserves where human activities are excluded, the Habitats Directive aims to ensure the protection of nature while also “taking into account economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics”. Private entities can be owners of Natura 2000 sites, ensuring sustainable management from both ecologically and economically. The Directive recognizes the value of all those areas in which the age-old human presence and its traditional activities has allowed the maintenance of a balance between human activities and nature. For example, many plant and animal species now rare and endangered are linked to agricultural areas. Their survival is connected to the continuation and to the enhancement of traditional activities, such as grazing or non-intensive agriculture. The title of the Directive specifies the goal of preserving not only the natural but also semi-natural habitats (such as areas of traditional agriculture, the woods used, pastures, etc.). All information regarding the Natura 2000 network, the Habitats and Birds Directives, the sites in Italy and in other European Union countries can be found on the European website http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature and also, in consultation with the Manual of Italian interpretation of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC “Habitats”.
How do you build Natura 2000
The process leading to the identification of SAC “Special Areas of Conservation” is divided into three phases:
1. According to the criteria set out in Annex III of the Habitats Directive, each Member State shall identify sites – called Sites of Community Importance proposed (SCIp) – which have habitat and species listed in Annexes I and II to the Directive. In these attachments certain habitats and species are considered a priority for nature conservation at European level and are marked with an asterisk. There are national and Community guides that facilitate the process of site choice by the detectors. The data are transmitted to the European Commission through a standard form drawn up for each site complete with maps.
2. On the basis of the national lists of SCI, the Commission shall adopt the list of Sites of Community Importance (SCI) , one for each biogeographic region in which is divided the European Union. To analyze the proposals of the several States, the Commission has organized scientific seminars for each biogeographic region, which was attended by the representatives of the Member States, independent experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations at the European level. During the biogeographical seminars were controlled the sites proposed by each State to verify that they had, in the biogeographical region concerned, a sufficiently representative sample of each species and habitats there for their overall protection at Community level. At the end of the consultations with the Member States the Commission may consider that there are still some reservations, or that there are still some habitats and species not adequately represented in the network of certain countries or in need of further scientific analysis.
3. Once adopted the lists of SCI, Member States must designate all sites as “Special Areas of Conservation” as soon as possible and in any case within a maximum period of six years, giving priority to the most threatened sites and/or with greater relevance for conservation purposes.
In Italy the identification of SCI is the responsibility of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, which transmit data to the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea organized according to the European Standard Form complete with maps. The Ministry, after verification of the completeness and consistency of the data, transmits the data base and the maps to the Commission. After the publication of the lists of the SCI by the Commission, the Ministry publishes lists of Italian SCI with a decree. Then the Minister for the Environment, Land and Sea designates the SCI Special Areas of Conservation, by decree adopted in agreement with each region and autonomous province concerned.
For sites SPAs identified under the Birds Directive, the procedure is shorter: they are appointed directly by the Member States as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and automatically enter part of the Natura 2000 network. The identification and demarcation of SPAs is based entirely on scientific criteria. They are considered most suitable territories for conservation of the species listed in Annex I and migratory species not listed, which regularly return. Data on SPAs are transmitted to the Commission through the use of the same forms used for SCIp, complete with maps. In case of insufficient designation of SPAs by a State, the Commission may activate an infringement procedure. In Italy the identification of SPAs is up to the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, which transmit data to the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea; The Ministry, after verification of the completeness and consistency of the information acquired, transmits the data to the European Commission. (source: Ministry of the Environment – http://www.minambiente.it/).
The Natura 2000 network - in Italy
In Italy, the SCI and the SPAs in total, cover about 21% of the national territory. To date have been identified by the 2287 Italian Regions Sites of Community Importance (SCI), and 601 Special Protection Areas (SPAs), of which 323 are sites of type C, or SCI coincident with SPA. Within the Natura 2000 sites in Italy are protected total: 132 habitat, 88 species of flora and 99 fauna species (of which 21 are mammals, 9 reptiles, 14 amphibians, 24 fish, 31 invertebrates) under the Habitats Directive; approximately 381 species of birds under the Birds Directive.
In Basilicata region there are a total of 53 Natura 2000 sites of which 17 sites SPAs and 50 SCIs, because 14 SPAs sites overlap with the SCI. The overall extension of Natura 2000 sites in Basilicata is 170,479 hectares or 17.1% of the regional area. In particular, the total area of SPAs sites is 160,540 ha, or 16.1% of the regional area, and the surface of the SCI is equal to 61,179 hectares or 6.1% of the regional surface, taking into account the overlaps mentioned above.
In Lazio region there are a total of 200 Natura 2000 sites, of which 39 sites SPAs and 182 SCI, because 21 sites SPAs overlap with the SCI. The overall extension of Natura 2000 sites in the Lazio region is 441,634 hectares or 25.7 % of the regional area. In particular, the total area of SPAs sites is 407,910 ha or 23.7% of the regional surface, and the surface of the SCI is 143,123 hectares or 8.3% of the regional area, taking into account the overlaps mentioned above. The data for the two regions and the remaining other Italian regions are shown below in the following table (source: Ministry Of The Environment – http://www.minambiente.it/).
-
REGIONE
ZPS
SIC
Natura 2000***
n°
siti
sup.
(ha)
%
n°
siti
sup.
(ha)
%
n°
siti
sup.
(ha)
%
** Abruzzo
5
307.924
28,5%
54
256.003
23,7%
58
390.494
36,2%
Basilicata
17
160.540
16,1%
50
61.179
6.1%
53
170.479
17,1%
Bolzano
17
142.594
19,3%
40
149.898
20,3%
40
149.898
20,3%
Calabria
6
262.257
17,4%
179
86.102
5,7%
185
320.048
21,2%
Campania
30
218.102
16,0%
108
363.556
26,8%
124
397.981
29,3%
Emilia-Romagna
81
185.584
8,4%
134
235.929
10,7%
153
265.267
12,0%
Friuli Venezia Giulia
8
116.450
14,8%
57
132.194
16,8%
61
149.758
19,1%
** Lazio
39
407.910
23,7%
182
143.123
8,3%
200
441.634
25,7%
Liguria
7
19.615
3,6%
126
145.822
27.0%
133
147.748
27,3%
Lombardia
67
297.425
12,5%
193
224.200
9,4%
241
372.154
15,6%
** Marche
27
126.453
13.0%
76
98.503
10.1%
96
139.064
14,3%
** Molise
12
66.019
14,9%
85
97.750
22,0%
88
118.724
26,8%
* Piemonte
50
307.940
12,1%
122
282.405
11,1%
141
396.837
15,6%
Puglia
10
263.677
13,6%
77
465.520
24,1%
83
474.597
24,5%
Sardegna
37
295.903
12,3%
89
477.683
19.8%
120
567.806
23,6%
Sicilia
29
388.037
15,1%
219
457.364
17,8%
234
603.118
23,5%
Toscana
61
192.627
8,4%
132
376.041
16.4%
149
390.720
17,0%
Trento
19
127.133
20,5%
135
154.314
24.9%
142
176.181
28,4%
Umbria
7
47.244
5,6%
97
118.442
14,0%
103
127.204
15,0%
* Valle d'Aosta
5
86.380
26,5%
28
71.678
22,0%
30
98.933
30,3%
Veneto
67
359.869
19,5%
104
373.144
20,3%
130
418.019
22,7%
TOTALE
601
4.379.683
14,5%
2287
4.770.847
15,8%
2564
6.316.664
21,0%
* the site IT1201000 falls partly in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley;
** the site IT7110128 falls in Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche and the site IT7120132 falls in Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise;
*** the number and the extension of Natura 2000 sites per region was calculated excluding the overlaps between the SCI and the SPAs.
Data updated in October 2011 (source: Ministry of Environment – http://www.minambiente.it/).
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