light beech forest with tufts of grass and moss in the foreground

Natura 2000

Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is the interconnected network of European protected areas for fauna and flora, which on this basis also protects endangered wild native plant and animal species and their natural habitats in the district. Natura 2000 also includes areas to be protected under the 1979 Birds Directive. Both directives aim to preserve biodiversity through the protection, maintenance and development of specific habitats and animal and plant species. The Habitats and Birds Directives are binding EU law.


  • Habitats Directive

    The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) aims to contribute to the protection of biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in Europe. Nature conservation regulations and procedures are outlined for the establishment of the Europe-wide networked system of protected areas. The protection of natural habitats of wild animal and plant species is to be ensured through the designation of protected areas.

  • Selection of the areas

    The selection of sites takes place in two phases:

    Phase 1: The Member States notify the European Commission of national lists of sites containing habitat types and animal or plant species of the Habitats and Birds Directives that meet the specified criteria.

    Phase 2: In several expert meetings involving independent scientists, administrative representatives and representatives of associations, the European Commission examines whether the habitat types and species are sufficiently represented by the proposed sites.

    The result of this intensive coordination process between the European Commission and the Member State is above all the compilation of a reference list of habitat types and species and the assessment of the completeness of the site notification. Subsequently, the EU Commission submits the draft list of Sites of Community Importance to the Member States for agreement. The list is then formally adopted and published in the EU Official Journal.

  • Birds Directive

    The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) aims at the conservation and long-term protection of wild bird species and their habitats throughout Europe. According to Article 4 (1), protected areas must be designated for the bird species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. These are often particularly threatened breeding bird species. In addition, Article 4 (2) requires protection measures to be taken for migratory bird species.
    The selected bird protection areas are based on a specialist scientific concept. The Hessian specialist concept includes in detail:

    • general principles
    • Overview of the bird species for which bird protection areas are to be designated in Hessen
    • Overview of the bird sanctuaries in Hesse
    • Species master sheets and national distribution maps
    • Area master sheets and detailed maps
    • Specialist criteria system for the implementation of the EU Birds Directive
    • Table of eagle owl occurrences in Hesse with explanations

  • Organisation

    The Higher Nature Conservation Authority at the Kassel Regional Council has been assigned product responsibility for the Natura 2000 sites of the administrative district. The staff of the responsible department are available for all questions related to the implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives, especially for all procedural questions concerning the safeguarding of Natura 2000 sites. Competent contact persons are also available for questions concerning the site management of Natura 2000 sites or the necessity of FFH impact assessments for planning projects.