ABSTRACT
In 1992 the European Union launched a plan, known as Natura 2000,
to develop conservation guidelines and a network of protected areas.
The Habitats Directive, the tool for establishing the network, focuses
on ecological communities rather on individual species. Member states
were to implement management and protection plans by 2004. Some
southern European member countries have large habitat areas which
are considered ready for extensive development and this may cause
future problems.
