The need for coordinated and unified protection of species and habitats across Europe

arose over 40 years ago. Every European Union member state has the responsibility to contribute its natural heritage to the preservation of Europe’s natural wealth. EU countries therefore established the NATURA 2000 network – a Europe-wide system of protected areas designed to safeguard natural habitats, rare or threatened wild animals, and plants.

Natura 2000 protects the most valuable and endangered species

of wild plants, animals, and natural habitats in the territory of the European Union. While it might seem at first that the best way to protect these areas is to leave them untouched, the purpose of Natura 2000 is the opposite. The network ensures and promotes all activities related to nature conservation, keeping humans as an integral part of the environment.

The Natura 2000 network consists of two types of sites:

Sites of Community Importance (SCIs)

Objective: Protection of rare, endangered, or endemic species of animals and plants, as well as their habitats. These are collectively referred to as species and habitats of European importance.

Legislation: Habitats Directive

Protection: Levels 1 to 5 protection apply

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Cieľ: Objective: Protection of all wild bird species and their most important habitats.

Legislation: Birds Directive

Protection: Levels 1 to 5 protection apply, including prohibited activities listed in the official declaration

27000

As of June 2021, the Natura 2000 network includes nearly 27,000 protected sites, comprising both SCIs and SPAs.

644

& 41

lovakia has contributed to the Natura 2000 network with 644 SCIs and 41 SPAs.

SCI + SPA = Natura 2000

Together with the national network of protected areas, Natura 2000 covers approximately 37% of Slovakia’s territory. There is significant overlap between the two networks; slightly more than half of Natura 2000 sites are also included in the national network, amounting to roughly 780,000 hectares of shared area.

Project objectives related to the protection of Slovak Natura 2000 sites:

  • Ensure endangered species are monitored using reliable data sources.
  • Assess the impact of climate change on the Natura 2000 network.
  • Protect habitats and peatlands by establishing management centers.
  • Develop and evaluate agroforestry systems that support endangered species and habitat types.
  • Restore habitats and create conditions for highly endangered species such as the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), Carpathian beetle (Pseudogaurotina excellens), leafless bastard-toadflax (Thesium ebracteatum), European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), four-leaved water fern (Marsilea quadrifolia), and dozens of others.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of restoration and conservation measures, drawing lessons from five pilot sites.
  • Assess the socio-economic benefits and ecosystem services provided by the Natura 2000 network.
  • Raise awareness of Natura 2000 among both experts and the general public.