NATURA 2000

Natura 2000 is a network of nature conservation sites across the EU designed to protect rare and vulnerable habitats and species.  It includes Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), under the Habitats Directive, where they support rare, endangered or vulnerable natural habitats or species of plants or animals (other than birds); and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), under the Wild Birds Directive, where they support significant numbers of wild birds and their habitats.

The term Natura 2000 comes from the 1992 EC Habitats Directive, symbolising the conservation of precious natural resources into the new millennium.  The Habitats Directive itself stems from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.  It is a major contribution by the European Community to implementing the Biodiversity Convention agreed by more than 150 countries, to protect the variety of wildlife which exists globally by focusing on Habitats and Species.

The successful management of designated Natura areas is a key element of local action towards the achievement of a global ideology.

With SPA or SAC status comes a requirement for an appropriate assessment of proposed developments likely to have a significant effect on the interests of any Natura 2000 site.  This is to determine the extent of the effects and what mitigation measures would be appropriate.  The responsibility for protecting the interests of these sites is shared between different authorities, and in most cases representatives of these bodies work closely together to meet that responsibility.

This integrated approach brings the protection of special interests into the context of existing social and economic activities.  In many cases, such as the Capercaillie LIFE Project,  the presence of Natura sites has successfully attracted funding from the EC LIFE Nature Fund.  This Fund was established by the EC to assist projects that protect, enhance and promote the conservation interests of Natura sites.  Matched by the partners behind the projects this helps boost local economies, create jobs and training opportunities, and at the same time benefits the natural heritage.

There are currently 11 SPAs in Scotland recognised specifically for their Capercaillie interests, covering more than 71,000 hectares and forming part of our contribution to Natura 2000.  A great deal of the work of the Capercaillie LIFE Project focuses on a number of these SPAs.  Many of the sites are within the Cairngorms National Park, in Strathspey as well as Deeside and Donside. They include Craigmore Wood, purchased by the RSPB through the project in 2002.

More information about Natura and the EC Directives, including a range of publications, is available from Scottish Natural Heritage offices around the country, or from the SNH website at www.snh.org.uk

Half of the £4.5m funding for the Capercaillie LIFE Project is funded through the EC LIFE Nature Fund.  This is typical of some of the large sums of European and other funding that has been directed into many of Scotland’s rural areas in recent years, and is directly linked to the presence of ‘Natura 2000’ sites.