Birds Directive 2009/147/EC, on the conservation of wild birds

The DIRECTIVE 2009/147/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, the so-called Birds Directive builds together with the Habitat Directive one of the cornerstones of the EU legislation on the environment.  In addition to a strict system of species protection, the directives establishe a network of special protection areas (SPAs). Since 1994, all SPAs are included in the Natura 2000 ecological network to ensure the survival of the most valuable and threatened species and habitats in Europe.