A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type or of a species and may also contribute significantly to the coherence of Natura 2000, and/or contributes significantly to the maintenance of biological diversity within the biogeographic region or regions concerned.[1]
They are proposed to the Commission by the State Members and once approved, they can be designated as SACs by the State Member.
Definition
[edit]In the environment field, the term is used to define an area:
- which contributes significantly to maintaining or restoring one of the 233 European natural habitat types defined in Annex I of the Habitats Directive or to maintaining in a favourable state of conservation one of the approximately 900 species defined in Annex II;[2]
- which can contribute to the coherence of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas in the European Union;
- and/or which contributes significantly to maintaining the biodiversity of the region in which it is located.
Examples of the habitat types defined in Annex I
[edit]- Open sea and tidal areas
- Sea dunes of the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic coasts
- Phrygana
- Natural grasslands
- Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests
Examples of the species defined in Annex II
[edit]- Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
- Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi)
- Apteromantis aptera
- Centaurea alba
- Lemon-scented jasmine (Jasminum azoricum)
See also
[edit]- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Conservation designations
- Environmentally sensitive area (ESA)
- List of conservation topics
- Protected areas
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- List of Sites of Community Importance by country
- Zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique (English)
References
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