ABSTRACT
Extensive destruction of habitats has in turn led to a marked decline in species populations with the result that half of Europe's mammal species and a third of reptile, fish and bird species are currently endangered. With a view to preserving the range of remaining species and ecosystems, the international community at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Community is a party to the Biodiversity Conventions and is bound by its provisions which note that "as far as possible and as appropriate" State Parties are obliged to "establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity" and also to "promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings". Member States are obliged both to afford effective species protection, and also to preserve and maintain sufficient diversity and area of wild birds' habitats.
