ecological network “Natura 2000” (Cliquet et al. 2009, p. 163). Whereas Art. 4 of
the Birds Directive requires protection of “the areas most suitable for the conservation of those species [listed in Annex I, or migratory]”, the Habitats Directive has
a three-step selection and designation procedure where responsibilities are well
distributed between the member states and the Commission (Trouwborst 2011,
p. 71). Although the Birds Directive approach seems to allow for highly flexible
handling, the selection criteria are rather static: only the presence of a certain
number of a specific bird species may be considered, there is no option for planning
and steering the protection of birds’ habitats (Cliquet et al. 2009, p. 164). Similarly,
the Habitats Directive sets selection criteria that are based on the idea of a single
selection and designation process. Whereas the criteria for selection are less
restricted than for bird protection, as, e.g., the ecological restoration potential is
considered, the size, number, and conservation status of habitats at a certain
moment are still the most important criteria (Cliquet et al. 2009, p. 165). This
concept will be seriously challenged by a changing climate (Ko ¨ck 2007, p. 400).
Within the Central European countries, three models of area designation can be
identified. In the state of Burgenland that belongs to Austria, for instance, areas are
designated as “European Protection Areas” by law or ordinance; if such an area
coincides with a pre-existing national protected area, the latter has to be cancelled in
favour of the former according to Sec. 22b (3) Burgenland Nature Conservation Act.
17
This means that there is always a precise protection regime for Natura 2000 areas that
can be adapted specifically, regardless of the requirements for national protected areas.
Similarly, in Romania and Slovenia there are specially designed protection area
categories for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas
(SPA). In Slovenia, all of these areas are designated by government decision (Art. 4,
App. 2 of the Decree no. 49/2004 on Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000 areas)),
18
and in Romania area designation is a parliamentary decision according to
Art. 8 (1) (b) of Law no. 49/2011 on protected areas for the conservation of wild
flora and fauna.
19
In Germany, area designation is in principle entirely integrated into the national
system of protected areas, as Sec. 32 (2) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act
20
requires that SACs and SPAs are declared by a specific ordinance using the categories
provided in Sec. 20 (2) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. However,
Sec. 32 (4) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act gives the federal states the
17 Gesetz vom November 1990 u ¨ber den Schutz und die Pflege der Natur und Landschaft im
Burgenland (Burgenla ¨ndisches Naturschutz- und Landschaftspflegegesetz – NG 1990) LGBl.
Nr. 27/1991 (XV. Gp. RV 468 AB 479).
18 Uredbo o posebnih varstvenih obmoc ˇjih (obmoc ˇjih Natura 2000), Uradni list RS, s ˇt. 49/2004 z
dne 30.4.2004.
19 Legea 49 din 7 aprilie 2011 (L 49/2011) pentru aprobarea Ordonant ¸ei de Urgent ¸a ˘ a Guvernului
nr. 57/2007 privind regimul ariilor naturale protejate, conservarea habitatelor naturale, a florei s ¸i
faunei sa ˘lbatice, publicat in Monitorul Oficial 262 din 13 aprilie 2011 (M. Of. 262/2011).
20 Bundesnaturschutzgesetz vom 29. Juli 2009 (BGBl. I S. 2542), zuletzt gea ¨ndert durch Artikel
5 des Gesetzes vom 6. Februar 2012 (BGBl. I S. 148).
146
M. Gies et al.
the Birds Directive requires protection of “the areas most suitable for the conservation of those species [listed in Annex I, or migratory]”, the Habitats Directive has
a three-step selection and designation procedure where responsibilities are well
distributed between the member states and the Commission (Trouwborst 2011,
p. 71). Although the Birds Directive approach seems to allow for highly flexible
handling, the selection criteria are rather static: only the presence of a certain
number of a specific bird species may be considered, there is no option for planning
and steering the protection of birds’ habitats (Cliquet et al. 2009, p. 164). Similarly,
the Habitats Directive sets selection criteria that are based on the idea of a single
selection and designation process. Whereas the criteria for selection are less
restricted than for bird protection, as, e.g., the ecological restoration potential is
considered, the size, number, and conservation status of habitats at a certain
moment are still the most important criteria (Cliquet et al. 2009, p. 165). This
concept will be seriously challenged by a changing climate (Ko ¨ck 2007, p. 400).
Within the Central European countries, three models of area designation can be
identified. In the state of Burgenland that belongs to Austria, for instance, areas are
designated as “European Protection Areas” by law or ordinance; if such an area
coincides with a pre-existing national protected area, the latter has to be cancelled in
favour of the former according to Sec. 22b (3) Burgenland Nature Conservation Act.
17
This means that there is always a precise protection regime for Natura 2000 areas that
can be adapted specifically, regardless of the requirements for national protected areas.
Similarly, in Romania and Slovenia there are specially designed protection area
categories for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas
(SPA). In Slovenia, all of these areas are designated by government decision (Art. 4,
App. 2 of the Decree no. 49/2004 on Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000 areas)),
18
and in Romania area designation is a parliamentary decision according to
Art. 8 (1) (b) of Law no. 49/2011 on protected areas for the conservation of wild
flora and fauna.
19
In Germany, area designation is in principle entirely integrated into the national
system of protected areas, as Sec. 32 (2) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act
20
requires that SACs and SPAs are declared by a specific ordinance using the categories
provided in Sec. 20 (2) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. However,
Sec. 32 (4) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act gives the federal states the
17 Gesetz vom November 1990 u ¨ber den Schutz und die Pflege der Natur und Landschaft im
Burgenland (Burgenla ¨ndisches Naturschutz- und Landschaftspflegegesetz – NG 1990) LGBl.
Nr. 27/1991 (XV. Gp. RV 468 AB 479).
18 Uredbo o posebnih varstvenih obmoc ˇjih (obmoc ˇjih Natura 2000), Uradni list RS, s ˇt. 49/2004 z
dne 30.4.2004.
19 Legea 49 din 7 aprilie 2011 (L 49/2011) pentru aprobarea Ordonant ¸ei de Urgent ¸a ˘ a Guvernului
nr. 57/2007 privind regimul ariilor naturale protejate, conservarea habitatelor naturale, a florei s ¸i
faunei sa ˘lbatice, publicat in Monitorul Oficial 262 din 13 aprilie 2011 (M. Of. 262/2011).
20 Bundesnaturschutzgesetz vom 29. Juli 2009 (BGBl. I S. 2542), zuletzt gea ¨ndert durch Artikel
5 des Gesetzes vom 6. Februar 2012 (BGBl. I S. 148).
146
M. Gies et al.