(e) Setting compensatory measures for plans
At a plan stage, there may be some limitations to setting the necessary compensatory measures. The assessment and identification of adverse effects of a plan on the target features of certain Natura 2000 sites provides the basis for defining the need for compensatory measures. If there is enough certainty about the predicted effects on habitats, species or natural processes, and good knowledge about the extent and magnitude of those effects, it may be possible to define appropriate compensatory measures, identify the suitable location and an appropriate timing. Nevertheless, detailed information about the effects of some of a plan’s components may be missing from the plans themselves. In such cases, it may only be possible to define the kind of compensatory measures that will be necessary at the project level, e.g. to compensate the loss of certain habitats, or to provide additional habitats for certain species. As far as possible, a quantification of the needs should be provided, for instance surface area for habitat restoration. In all cases, provision should be made to ensure that the necessary compensatory measures are defined, planned and implemented at the appropriate level. A provisional definition of the compensatory measures could be included in the plan. This should be accompanied by guidelines, criteria and approaches, which would require a more complete and detailed definition when the development of the plan allows for this task to be carried out. Table 13 below provides an overview of issues relevant to the design, implementation and monitoring of the programme of compensation measures. Table 13 Aspects to consider in the programme of compensatory measures for plans Table 14 Summary checklist of key issues to consider when designing compensatory measures
Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-25 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.