Natura 2000 – Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

The Natura 2000 network is at the heart of the European Union’s nature conservation policy and is a key element of the objective of halting biodiversity loss.

This network, set up under the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive, aims to ensure the long-term survival of particularly endangered species and habitats, with high conservation challenges in Europe. It consists of a set of natural, terrestrial and marine sites, identified for the rarity or fragility of the species of flora and fauna and the natural environments they shelter.

The structuring of the Natura 2000 network includes:

* **Special Protection Areas (SPAs)**, for the conservation of wild bird species listed in Annex I to the Birds Directive or used as breeding, moulting, wintering or relay areas for migratory birds;

* **the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)** for the conservation of habitat types and animal and plant species listed in Annexes I and II to the Habitats Directive.

Natura 2000网络（Natura 2000 network）是欧盟自然保护政策的核心，亦是欧盟遏制生物多样性丧失目标的关键组成部分。

该网络依据1979年《鸟类指令》（Birds Directive）与1992年《生境指令》（Habitats Directive）设立，旨在保障欧洲境内面临高强度自然保护挑战的濒危物种及其生境得以长期存续。该网络由一系列自然陆地与海洋场地构成，这些场地因栖息的动植物物种具备稀有性或脆弱性，以及其所庇护的自然环境而被遴选纳入。

Natura 2000网络的架构包含以下两类区域：
* **特别保护区（Special Protection Areas，SPAs）**：用于保护《鸟类指令》附件一所列的野生鸟类物种，以及作为候鸟繁殖、换羽、越冬或中转停歇地的野生鸟类栖息场所；
* **特殊保育区（Special Areas of Conservation，SACs）**：用于保护《生境指令》附件一与附件二中所列的生境类型以及动植物物种。