COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 11 July 2011
concerning a site information format for Natura 2000 sites
(notified under document C(2011) 4892)
(2011/484/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1), and in particular to the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) thereof,
Having regard to Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (2), and in particular to Article 4(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Article 3(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC provides that the Natura 2000 network shall include the special protection areas classified by the Member States pursuant to Council Directive 79/409/EEC (3).
(2)
For each Natura 2000 site, the format needs to provide for a map of the site, name, location, extent and the data resulting from application of the criteria used in selecting the site.
(3)
The format serves as documentation of the Natura 2000 network.
(4)
The content of the Natura 2000 Standard Data Form should be updated regularly based on the best available information for each site of the network in order to allow the Commission to fulfil its coordinating role and in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 92/43/EEC to periodically review the contribution of Natura 2000 towards the achievement of the objectives set out in Articles 2 and 3 of that Directive.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 20 of Directive 92/43/EEC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The format for the transmission of information on the Natura 2000 network, called the ‘Natura 2000 Standard Data Form’, is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
Commission Decision 97/266/EC (4) is repealed.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 11 July 2011.