Temática: Protected Areas

Place

A defined geographical area, with a clearly delimited surface.

SCI (Site of Community Importance)

1. These are areas within the national territory or maritime waters under national sovereignty or jurisdiction, including the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf (…) that contribute significantly to maintaining or, where appropriate, restoring the favorable conservation status of natural habitat types and […]

Habitat of a species

Environment defined by specific abiotic and biotic factors where the species lives in one of the phases of its biological cycle.

Natural habitats

Terrestrial or aquatic areas differentiated by their geographical, abiotic and biotic characteristics, whether entirely natural or semi-natural.

Wetlands

Any land area that is seasonally or permanently saturated or flooded with water. Inland wetlands include aquifers, lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, peat bogs, lagoons, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include the entire shoreline, mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons or lakes, grasslands […]

Species of community interest

Those that are endangered, vulnerable, rare, or endemic in the EU and require special attention due to the uniqueness of their habitat and/or the potential impact that their exploitation may have on their conservation.

Priority species

Those whose conservation represents a special responsibility for the Community, given the significant proportion of their natural distribution area included within the EU territory.

“Favorable” conservation status of a habitat

It occurs when its natural distribution area is stable or expanding, there is a specific structure and functions necessary for its long-term maintenance, and the conservation status of its typical species is favorable.

“Favorable” conservation status of a species

This occurs when population dynamics data for the species indicate that it can continue to be a vital element of its natural habitats in the long term, its natural distribution area is not decreasing or threatened with decreasing in the future, and there is sufficient habitat available […]

Conservation status of a habitat

The set of influences that act on a natural habitat and its species and that can affect their natural distribution, structure and functions, as well as the survival of their typical species, over the long term.