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The map shows an overview of protected sites in Europe, including Natura 2000 sites and nationally designated areas (CDDA).
For Nationally designates areas pop ups will display when zoomed in.
Natura 2000 (2013)
Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. It is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive (Special Protection Areas, SPAs) and the 1992 Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance, SCIs, and Special Areas of Conservation, SACs). The green infrastructure it provides safeguards numerous ecosystem services and ensures that Europe's natural systems remain healthy and resilient.
For each Natura 2000 site, national authorities have submitted a standard data form (SDF) that contains an extensive description of the site and its ecology. The European Topic Centre for Biological Diversity (ETC/BD), based in Paris, is responsible for validating this data and creating an EU wide descriptive database.
For the technically interested user, please note that SPAs = type B and C, while SCIs = type A and C. Type C is where Birds and Habitats Directive are overlapping.
Nationally designated areas (2013)
Nationally designated areas (CDDA) is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities. The inventory began in 1995 and is a voluntary annual Eionet priority data flow maintained by the European Environment Agency with support from the ETC/BD.
Both Natura 2000 and CDDA data can be investigated further in the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) and the Natura 2000 map viewer.
Click here for further information about Natura 2000 data.
Click here for further information about CDDA.