Legislation on NATURA 2000 at national level

Menu left NATURA 2000 Network Legislation on NATURA 2000 at national level

1. Legislation on NATURA 2000 at national level

   Approximation Lithuania’s legislation to the provisions of the EU Directives was implemented before the date of accession (1st of May 2004). The request for transitional period up to 2010 to implement the Directives on Birds and Habitats were not satisfied by EC. Ratification of negotiations documents was implemented by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in 2001.
   State Service of Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment coordinates activities of institutions implementing the protection and management of the Special Protected Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
   As provided by the Law on Protected Areas, the resolution on granting the status of SPA according Birds Directive or SAC according Habitats Directive to the national protected areas or any parts there of is passed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. In case, when the area is not under protection, the national protected area shall be established and then upon a resolution of the Government an additional status of SPA or SAC is granted to the area.
   The provisions of the directives were transferred to the Law on Protected Areas and related secondary legislation.
   By the resolutions of the Lithuanian Republic Government in 2004, the following issues have been approved: 1) General regulations of territories important for conservation of birds and natural habitats (SPAs and SACs); 2) List of protected territories of the Republic of Lithuania of any parts there of containing areas important for conservation of birds (SPAs).
   In 2001-2004 the Ministry of Environment has approved: 1) Selection criteria for the territories important for conservation of birds (national criteria elaborated by Bird Life International: number of individuals or pairs, minimal number of breed pairs, minimal number of individuals, etc.); 2) Selection criteria for the territories important for conservation of natural habitats (specific criteria for forest habitats - the main level trees age and minimal habitat size); 3) Monitoring programs for SPAs and SACs (main parameters and monitoring rhythm are settled); 4) List of the proposed Sites of Community Importance prepared and together with relevant database submitted to the European Commission.