A: Background and status of the standards
Based on the ruling of the CJEU in the Waddenzee-case the highest national administrative court in Germany (BVerwG) came to the conclusion that a loss of habitat which is part of the conservation objectives in a Natura 2000 site should, in general, considered a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the site. Also the ruling of the CJEU regarding the Galway-Case 11.4.2013 (C-258/11) shows clearly that a strict protection of habitats in Natura 2000 sites is required and that even small losses might be assessed as significant under specific conditions. In order to deal properly with relatively small losses, the standards of Lambrecht & Trautner (2007) provide orientation levels of significance. These standards were developed by scientific research and development projects and then discussed and evaluated through broad expert participation procedure during a six year period. They are now broadly accepted and agreed, recommended in guidelines, officially and regularly regarded by administrative courts and broadly used in appropriate assessments of all kinds.
Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-25 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.