• Metadata Catalogue
  • Search
    • Simple
    • Advanced
    • Map
    • Semantic
  • Metrics
  • FAIRness Assessment
  • FAQs
  • Login
  • Dashboard My LifeWatch Search Search Catalogue Catalogue EcoPortal EcoPortal NaaVRE NaaVRE LifeBlock LifeBlock Community Community Training Training HelpDesk Help Desk
Back to search
  • Export XML
  • Export JSON
  • Export JSON-LD
  • Export RDF
  • Export PDF
  • Export ZIP
FAIRness Assessment
  • Default view

Natura 2000 - version end 2023

Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive. Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. The European database of Natura 2000 sites consists of a compilation of the data submitted by the Member States of the European Union and is generally updated once a year.

Default

IdentificationAbout this resource

Alternate Identifier

ce006c55-f3e8-43c7-a991-5543a33b8d65

Publication Date
2025-02-21
Title

Natura 2000 - version end 2023

Short Name

Natura 2000

Abstract

Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive. Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. The European database of Natura 2000 sites consists of a compilation of the data submitted by the Member States of the European Union and is generally updated once a year.

Dataset Language

English

 
Dataset Creator
  Member States of the European Union - ()

Metadata Provider
  SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics - Chiara Bortoluzzi (Data Manager)

Dataset Contact
  European Environment Agency - (Custodian | Point of contact)

Keywords (EEA topics)
  • Land use

Keywords (EEA topics)
  • Biodiversity

Keywords (GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0)
  • Protected sites

Keywords (Spatial scope)
  • European

Keywords (INSPIRE priority data set)
  • Directive 2009/147/EC

Keywords (INSPIRE priority data set)
  • Directive 92/43/EEC

Keywords (INSPIRE priority data set)
  • Natura 2000 sites (Birds Directive)

Keywords (INSPIRE priority data set)
  • Natura 2000 sites (Habitats Directive)

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Description

Europe

Bounding Box

West Bounding Coordinate

-39.771119

East Bounding Coordinate

52.272062

North Bounding Coordinate

67.355724

South Bounding Coordinate

27.572276

Bounding Altitudes

Minimum
Maximum
Unit

Temporal Coverage

Range of Dates

Begin Date

2023-01-01

End Date

2023-12-31

resourceLicensesLicense Information

Intellectual Rights

This data is provided for general information purposes only. Only the data possessed by the competent authorities of the Member States is authentic. Therefore, no rights or legal claims can be derived from the data displayed on this site.

Resource License

License Name

Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Acknowledgements
 

Distribution

Online

A brief description of the the content of online URL.

Natura 2000 (tabular) - version end 2023

URL
https://sdi.eea.europa.eu/webdav/datastore/public/eea_t_natura2000_p_2023_v01_r00/

Distribution

Online

A brief description of the the content of online URL.

Natura 2000 (vector) - version end 2023

URL
https://sdi.eea.europa.eu/data/be2142b0-7dc4-42e3-afac-f7cc5f1a9ac6
 
 

Project

• Project

Title
Abstract

Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. Natura 2000 network is composed of sites designated under the Birds Directive (Special Protection Areas or SPAs) and the Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance or SCIs and Special Areas of Conservation or SACs). The European database is generally updated once a year to take into account any updating of national databases by Member States. However, the release of a new EU-wide database does not necessarily mean that a particular national dataset has recently been updated.

Personnel

Organization Name

European Environment Agency

Individual Name

Given Name
Surname
Position Name

Custodian | Point of contact

 
 

Methods

• Method

Method Step

Description

The descriptive data in the European database are based on the information that national authorities have submitted, for each of the Natura 2000 sites, through a site-specific standard data form (SDF). In addition to other site-specific information, the standard data form provides the list of all species and habitat types for which a site is officially designated. The spatial data outlines the boundaries of sites as submitted by Member States. The data submitted by each Member State are validated by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Any problems identified through the validation procedures in the national datasets are brought to the attention of the Member States concerned. However, it remains up to the Member States to decide whether to submit a revised dataset before the European database is updated. The EEA therefore cannot guarantee that all inconsistencies detected in national datasets are removed in the European dataset. The database contains for each site the version proposed by the Member States and approved by the European Commission. The validation process is reflected in the updates of the the biogeographical Union Lists of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs).

Software

Title
Version

1.0

 
 

Data Tables

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_BIOREGION.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code which forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

BIOGEOGRAPHICREG

Label

Biogeographic region

Definition

Indicate in which biogeographic region the site is falling

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

PERCENTAGE

Label

Percentage

Definition

Percentage of the surface of the site affected by the biographic region where the site is falling

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_DESIGNATIONSTATUS.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code which forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DESIGNATIONCODE

Label

Designation code

Definition

Designation code at regional or national level

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DESIGNATEDSITENAME

Label

Designated site name

Definition

Name of the sites related with the described site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

OVERLAPCODE

Label

Overlap code

Definition

Relationship code

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

OVERLAPPERC

Label

Overlap percentage

Definition

The percentage of the described site that is overlapping with the other site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_HABITATCLASS.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

DESCRIPTION

Label

Description

Definition

Name of the general habitat class in English

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

HABITATCODE

Label

Habitat code

Definition

Code of the general habitat class

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code which forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

PERCENTAGECOVER

Label

Percentage cover

Definition

Percentage cover for an habitat class from the total habitats cover for the site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_HABITATS.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

COUNTRY_CODE

Label

Country code

Definition

Two digit country code the site belongs to

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code which forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

HABITATCODE

Label

Habitat code

Definition

Code for the habitat type listed in Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DESCRIPTION

Label

Description

Definition

Name of the habitat type listed in Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

HABITAT_PRIORITY

Label

Habitat priority

Definition

When the priority of the habitat is present in the legislation, a * indicates a priority habitat

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

PRIORITY_FORM_HABITAT_TYPE

Label

Priority habitat type

Definition

For the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form; value 1 indicates a priority form

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

NON_PRESENCE_IN_SITE

Label

Presence in site

Definition

In case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site, the value 1 is entered

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

COVER_HA

Label

Area cover

Definition

Area cover in hectares

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

CAVES

Label

Percentage cover

Definition

Percentage cover the site is covered by a habitat type of Annex I

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

REPRESENTATIVITY

Label

Representativity

Definition

Degree of representativity of the habitat type on the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

RELSURFACE

Label

Surface

Definition

Area of the site covered by the natural habitat type in relation to the total area covered by that natural habitat type within the national territory

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

CONSERVATION

Label

Conservation

Definition

Degree of conservation of the structure and functions of the natural habitat type, concerned and restoration possibilities

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

GLOBAL

Label

Global

Definition

Global assessment of the value of the site conservation of the natural habitat type concerned

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATAQUALITY

Label

Data quality

Definition

Assessment of the quality of data provided for habitats

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

PERCENTAGE_COVER

Label

Percentage cover

Definition

Percentage cover for an habitat from the total habitats cover for the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

INTRODUCTION_CANDIDATE

Label

Habitat type

Definition

Habitat type referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC considered as a candidate for introduction on the site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_IMPACT.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code witch forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

IMPACTCODE

Label

Impact code

Definition

Human activity and natural process that may have an influence, either positive or negative, on the conservation and management of the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DESCRIPTION

Label

Description

Definition

Inside or outside the surrounding of the site. The surrounding is the area where the outside impacts and activities may effect the integrity of the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

INTENSITY

Label

Intensity

Definition

Indicates the rank of the impact

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

POLLUTIONCODE

Label

Pollution code

Definition

Code of the type of pollution

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

OCCURRENCE

Label

Occurrence

Definition

Indicate whether the influence is positive (+) or negative (-)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

IMPACT_TYPE

Label

Impact type

Definition

Indicate whether the influence is positive (P) or negative (N)

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_MANAGEMENT.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code witch forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_NAME

Label

Body name

Definition

Name of the body(ies) responsible for the site management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_EMAIL

Label

Body email

Definition

E-mail of the body(ies) responsible for the site management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MANAG_CONSERV_MEASURES

Label

Conservation measures

Definition

Conservation measures published by the management plan if exists

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MANAG_PLAN

Label

Management plan

Definition

Name of the actual management for the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MANAG_PLAN_URL

Label

URL link management site

Definition

URL link of the actual management for the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MANAG_STATUS

Label

Management status

Definition

Status of the actual management plan

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_LOCATORNAME

Label

Address locator name

Definition

Address locator name (e.g. street) where resides the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_DESIGNATOR

Label

Address unit designator

Definition

Address unit designator where resides the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_ADMINUNIT

Label

Local administrative unit

Definition

The local administrative unit where resides the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_POSTCODE

Label

Postcode of body

Definition

Postcode of the address of the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_POSTNAME

Label

Postname of body

Definition

Postname of the address of the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_ADDRESS

Label

Address of body

Definition

Address where resides the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ORG_ADDRESS_UNSTRUCTURED

Label

Address of body

Definition

The address of the body responsible of the management

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_METADATA.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

DATABASE_CREATED

Label

Date of creation

Definition

Date of the creation of the data base version

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATABASE_VERSION

Label

Version database

Definition

Version name of the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SOURCE_FILES

Label

Files source

Definition

Files used delivered by the MS for the production of the database version

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATABASE_TYPES

Label

Database type

Definition

Provides the type of database, official for internal use (ETC, COMM and EEA and public for publication over the Data and Maps EEA site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_NATURA2000SITES.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

COUNTRY_CODE

Label

Country code

Definition

Two digit country code the site belongs to

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code witch forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITENAME

Label

Site name

Definition

Site name in the local language

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITETYPE

Label

Site type

Definition

Type of classification for the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_COMPILATION

Label

Date compilation

Definition

The date information has been recorded in the Standard Data Form. The data field takes the form of the year (four digits) followed by the month in numeric form (two digits)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_UPDATE

Label

Date update

Definition

The date when the information reported for the site was last changed. The data field takes the form of the year (four digits) followed by the month in numeric form (two digits)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_SPA

Label

Data SPA

Definition

Date site classified as SPA

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPA_LEGAL_REFERENCE

Label

SPA legal reference

Definition

The legal statement by the national authority in which the site was amended as SPA

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_PROP_SCI

Label

Date proposed SCI

Definition

Date site proposed as eligible for identification as a Site of Community importance (SCI)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_CONF_SCI

Label

Date confirmed SCI

Definition

Date site has been confirmed as a Site of Community importance (SCI)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATE_SAC

Label

Date SAC

Definition

Date site designated as SAC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SAC_LEGAL_REFERENCE

Label

SAC legal reference

Definition

The legal statement by the national authority in which the site was amended as SAC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

EXPLANATIONS

Label

Explanations

Definition

Additional explanations given by the country to support the dates designations

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

AREAHA

Label

Area in hectares

Definition

Surface area of a site in hectares. Although it is an obligatory field, the value -99 is given for sites for witch the areas is unknown. A value of 0 cab be correct if the site is a cave or cliff. In this case the field 2.3 is obligatory

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

LENGTHKM

Label

Site length km

Definition

Site length is entered in kilometers

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MARINE_AREA_PERCENTAGE

Label

Percentage marine area

Definition

Percentage of the site considered as marine

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DOCUMENTATION

Label

Documentation

Definition

Additional documentation existing as a reference for the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

QUALITY

Label

Quality

Definition

Description of the site in terms of ecological quality

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DESIGNATION

Label

Designation

Definition

The local name of the official designation of the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

OTHERCHARACT

Label

Additional description

Definition

Additional description in the local language about the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

LATITUDE

Label

Latitude

Definition

The geographic coordinate in decimals of the site centre. (ETRS89 projection)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

LONGITUDE

Label

Longitude

Definition

The geographic coordinate in decimals of the site centre. (ETRS89 projection)

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

INSPIRE_ID

Label

InspireID

Definition

The InspireID is defined by the Inspire Protected Sites specification and consists of three components: the localId, the nameSpace and the versionId

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_OTHERSPECIES.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

COUNTRY_CODE

Label

Country code

Definition

Two digit country code the site belongs to

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code witch forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPECIESGROUP

Label

Species group

Definition

Species group

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPECIESNAME

Label

Species name

Definition

Scientific name of an important species of flora and fauna in the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPECIESCODE

Label

Species code

Definition

Code the species listed in Article 4(1) and 4(2) of the bird directive 79/409/EEC and Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

MOTIVATION

Label

Motivation

Definition

Motivation for listing these other important species in the site

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SENSITIVE

Label

Sensitive

Definition

States if a species is sensitive or not for its publication

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

NONPRESENCEINSITE

Label

Non presence in site

Definition

In case that a species no longer exists in the site a value 1 is entered

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

LOWERBOUND

Label

Lower bound

Definition

Lower limits for the species population size

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

UPPERBOUND

Label

Upper bound

Definition

Upper limits for the species population size

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ABUNDANCE_CATEGORY

Label

Abundance category

Definition

Species population abundance category

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

COUNTING_UNIT

Label

Counting unit

Definition

Units of population, i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

INTRODUCTION_CANDIDATE

Label

Introduction candidate

Definition

Other species considered as a candidate for introduction on the site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_SPECIES.csv

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

CSV

Attribute List

Attribute

Name

COUNTRY_CODE

Label

Country code

Definition

Two digit country code the site belongs to

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SITECODE

Label

Site code

Definition

Unique code witch forms the key-item within the database

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPECIESNAME

Label

Species name

Definition

Scientific name of the protected species

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPECIESCODE

Label

Species code

Definition

Code the species listed in Article 4(1) and 4(2) of the bird directive 79/409/EEC and Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

REF_SPGROUP

Label

Reference species group

Definition

Species Group from the reference ETC lookup species list

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SPGROUP

Label

Species group

Definition

Species group

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

SENSITIVE

Label

Sensitive

Definition

States if a species is sensitive or not for its publication

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

NONPRESENCEINSITE

Label

Non presence in site

Definition

In case that a species no longer exists in the site a value 1 is entered

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

POPULATION_TYPE

Label

Population type

Definition

Population status for the species

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

LOWERBOUND

Label

Lower bound

Definition

Lower limits for the species population size

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

UPPERBOUND

Label

Upper bound

Definition

Upper limits for the species population size

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

COUNTING_UNIT

Label

Counting unit

Definition

Units of population, i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ABUNDANCE_CATEGORY

Label

Abundance category

Definition

Species population abundance category

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

DATAQUALITY

Label

Data quality

Definition

Assessment of the quality of data provided for habitats

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

POPULATION

Label

Population

Definition

Size and density of the population of the species present on the site in relation to the populations present within national territory

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

CONSERVATION

Label

Conservation

Definition

Degree of conservation of the features of the habitat important for the species

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

ISOLATION

Label

Isolation

Definition

Degree of isolation of the population present on the site in relation to the natural range of the species

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

GLOBAL

Label

Global

Definition

Global assessment if the value of the site for conservation of the species concerned

Standard Unit

Attribute

Name

INTRODUCTION_CANDIDATE

Label

Introduction candidate

Definition

Other species considered as a candidate for introduction on the site

Standard Unit

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023.mdb

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

Microsoft Access (.mdb)

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023.gpkg

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

Geopackage

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg4326.shx

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg4326.shp

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg4326.prj

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg4326.dbf

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg4326.cpg

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg3035.shx

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg3035.shp

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg3035.prj

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg3035.dbf

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

• Data Table

Name

Natura2000_end2023_epsg3035.cpg

Physical

Data Format

Externally Defined Format

Format Name

SHP

 
 






Materials

  • GeoNetwork APIs
  • Metadata Longevity Plan

Disclaimers & Agreements

  • Terms and conditions
  • Acceptable use policy
  • Privacy Policy

Contact Us

  • Contact us
  • Help Desk
  • FAQs

This service is powered by LifeWatch ERIC

The GeoNetwork open source software is released under the GPL v2 license and has been customised in plugins and functionalities by LifeWatch ERIC