ABSTRACT

This book analyses the Habitats Directive; one of the most prominent piece of EU environmental legislation of the past decades. Seen by some as the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy, among other measures the Directive established the so-called "Natura 2000" ecological network, which covers more than 18% of the surface of the EU. However, despite the fact the Directive was adopted over twenty years ago only 17% of the protected habitats and species in Europe are being adequately protected while 10-60 % of animal species remain under threat.

In light of the limited success and the contested nature of the Habitats Directive so far this book examines the successes and failures of the Habitats Directive from a legal and political angle. The book brings together international experts to consider the application, implementation and future of the Habitats Directive in order to assess whether the Habitats Directive is resilient enough to tackle biodiversity loss in the twenty- first century. Particular emphasis is put on the legal regime attached to the Natura 2000 network and its possible impact on land development and the relationship between the Habitats Directive and other topics including liability for ecological damage and transboundary nature conservation.

chapter

Foreword

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

The Habitats Directive after 20 years: European wildlife's best hope?

part I|20 pages

Back to the roots

chapter I 1|12 pages

Global objectives and scope of the Habitats Directive

What does the obligation of result mean in practice? The European hamster in Alsace

chapter 2|7 pages

The added value of the Habitats Directive

Is biodiversity better protected since the Directive entered into force?

part II|90 pages

Natura 2000

chapter 5|22 pages

Instruments for active site management under Natura 2000

Balancing between stakeholders and nature conservation?

chapter 6|8 pages

Appropriate impact assessment

The key to effective integration of nature conservation issues into land-use planning

chapter |18 pages

Compensatory measures under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive

No net loss for Natura 2000?

part III|58 pages

Species protection

chapter 8|26 pages

Species protection in the European Union

How strict is strict?

chapter 10|18 pages

Trading in wildlife under the Habitats and Birds Directives

Restricted movement of species v free movement of goods

part IV|83 pages

Transversal issues

chapter 11|34 pages

The threshold for liability for ecological damage in the EU

Mixing environmental and conservation law

chapter 14|17 pages

Transboundary nature conservation

Are there no boundaries within the Natura 2000 network?

part V|110 pages

Science policy and nature conservation: best friends for ever?

chapter 15|20 pages

Restoring nature in the EU

The only way is up?

chapter 17|23 pages

The Habitats Directive and climate change

Is the law climate-proof?

chapter 19|12 pages

How to cope with the unknown

A few things about scientific uncertainty, precaution and adaptive management

chapter 20|25 pages

Under fire from all directions

Swedish wolf management hunting scrutinized by Brussels and at home

part VI|60 pages

Nature conservation at sea

chapter 21|24 pages

Natura 2000 and fisheries

A question of competence or willingness?

chapter 22|18 pages

Marine species protection and management in the European Union

Who will save our dolphins?

part VII|33 pages

The integration of nature conservation in other policy areas

chapter 24|15 pages

Biodiversity and agriculture

Greening the CAP beyond the status quo?

chapter 25|16 pages

Biodiversity outside protected areas

An outlaw waiting to be saved?

part VIII|30 pages

New approaches to nature conservation

chapter 26|12 pages

Ecosystem services

The real value of nature

chapter 27|16 pages

Habitat offset and banking – will it save our nature?

Perspectives for a more comprehensive and flexible approach to nature protection