Natura 2000 sites

A Network of protection

Nature 2000 Network is a massive network of areas that are used for the preservation of biodiversity in the European Union’s territory. It’s the political main point used by the European Union to defend nature. The Network was instituted following the 92/43/CEE “Habitat” Guideline and the 2009/143/CE “Birds” Guideline.

ZSC and ZPS “Torbiere d’Iseo”

Being a rare example of a wetland in the Po Valley, the Natural Reserve Torbiere del Sebino hosts (2022 data):

• 8 habitats included in Habitat Guideline, two of them classified as prioritized habitats.
• 9 birds’ species in the Birds Guideline (species that require special care and attention in their preservation)

In Italy the network includes 2.639 sites and covers more than the 19% of national territory and the 6% of the maritime one.

Guidelines

The first guideline regarding nature’s conservation was the 79/409/CEE “Birds” Guideline (later was changed in 2009/147/CE Guideline). It had as subject the protection of wild birds. This guideline is supplemented with the 92/43/CEE “Habitat” Guideline that has the purpose of “preserve the biodiversity thanks to the conservation of natural habitats in the European territory of the States members”. To achieve said purpose the guidelines include the creation of Special Conservation Areas (Zone Speciali di Conservazione in Italian) and Special Protection Areas (Zone di Protezione Speciale in Italian).