§3.1.3 Step 3: Identify which Natura 2000 sites may be affected by the plan or project

Identifying the Natura 2000 sites that may be affected should be done by taking into consideration all aspects of the plan or project that could have potential effects on any Natura 2000 sites located within the zone of influence of the plan or project. This should take into account all of the designating features (species, habitat types) that are significantly present on the sites and their conservation objectives. In particular, it should identify: — any Natura 2000 sites geographically overlapping with any of the actions or aspects of the plan or project in any of its phases, or adjacent to them; — any Natura 2000 sites within the likely zone of influence of the plan or project. Natura 2000 sites located in the surroundings of the plan or project (or at some distance) that could still be indirectly affected by aspects of the project, including as regards the use of natural resources (e.g. water) and various types of waste, discharge or emissions of substances or energy; — Natura 2000 sites in the surroundings of the plan or project (or at some distance) which host fauna that can move to the project area and then suffer mortality or other impacts (e.g. loss of feeding areas, reduction of home range); — Natura 2000 sites whose connectivity or ecological continuity can be affected by the plan or project. The range of Natura 2000 sites to be assessed, i.e. the zone in which impacts from the plan or project may arise, will depend on the nature of the plan or project and the distance at which effects may occur. For Natura 2000 sites located downstream along rivers or wetlands fed by aquifers, it may be that a plan or project can affect water flows, fish migration and so forth, even at a great distance. Emissions of pollutants may also have effects over a long distance. Some projects or plans that do not directly affect Natura 2000 sites may still have a significant impact on them if they cause a barrier effect or prevent ecological linkages. This may happen, for example, when plans affect features of the landscape that connect Natura 2000 sites or that may obstruct the movements of species or disrupt the continuity of a fluvial or woodland ecosystem. To determine the possible effects of the plan or project on Natura 2000 sites, it is necessary to identify not only the relevant sites but also the habitats and species that are significantly present within them, as well as the site-specific conservation objectives. Box 4 lists examples of the data sources that can be used for this purpose. Box 4 Sources to use to identify impact on a Natura 2000 site — the Natura 2000 standard data form for the site; — site-specific conservation objectives (set out in the special areas of conservation (SAC) designation acts or in the special protection area (SPA) classification acts, or in the site management plan, or in a separate act); — site management plans (e.g. that identify pressures and threats on the site); — existing surveys and monitoring data on relevant species and habitat types, their distribution in and around the site, conservation status, pressures and threats on them; — current and past maps of the site; — land-use and other relevant existing plans; — existing site survey material; — existing data on hydrogeology; — existing data on relevant substances (e.g. nitrogen deposition, composition of discharged waste waters); — environmental impact assessments for similar projects or plans; — relevant state of the environment reports; — maps and geographical information systems; — site history files, etc. The information provided in the Natura 2000 standard data form (17) is the starting point for identifying the habitat types and species that are significantly present on the site and that could be affected by the plan or project, as well as any existing pressures and impacts on the site. Other information at site-level can be obtained from sources such as the Natura 2000 site management plan, lists of operations that may cause damage or deterioration, the results of monitoring surveys of habitat and species inside the site, as well as sources outside the Natura 2000 site at biogeographic, national and local level. It is important that this data and information is made publically available e.g. through a central database or through online portals and websites from national or regional authorities, and regularly updated, so that all stakeholders and authorities concerned can easily have access to them. Box 5 Key information sources on the designating features of the Natura 2000 sites A standard data form is available for each Natura 2000 site. It contains information on the EU protected species and habitat types present on the site and provides a broad assessment of the condition of each species or habitat type on that site (scored from A to D). It provides information about the surface area, representativeness and conservation status of the habitats present in the site, and gives an overall assessment of the value of the site for conservation of the natural habitat types concerned. For the species present in the site, the form provides information on their populations, status (resident, breeding, wintering, migratory) and on the site’s value for the species in question. The form also includes contextual information about the site, including: — General site characteristics, quality and importance; — vulnerability (pressure on the site from human and other influences and the fragility of habitats and ecosystems); — impacts related to human activities and natural processes that may have an influence, either positive or negative, on the conservation and management of the site as well as the proportion of the area of the site affected; — management body responsible for the site; — site management plans and practice, including traditional human activities; — map of the site. Conservation measures and management plans For special areas of conservation, Member States must draw up conservation measures that correspond to the ecological requirements of the natural habitat types in Annex I and the species in Annex II present on the site (Article 6(1) of the Habitats Directive). This can involve, if need be, management plans specifically designed for the sites or integrated into other development plans, and/or other statutory, administrative or contractual measures. Similarly, special protection areas must also be the subject of targeted conservation measures. Where available, Natura 2000 management plans can provide information about the sites’ conservation objectives, the location and status of the species and habitats occurring in the site, their threats and the conservation measures required to improve their conservation condition on the site. All of this can be useful for the screening stage and for the appropriate assessment. The Commission’s website provides data and maps for all Natura 2000 sites in the EU via the Natura 2000 viewer and the Natura 2000 public database: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/data/indexen.htm. Most Member States also have publically available information on Natura 2000 sites and their features. Geographical information systems (GIS) can also aide in the understanding of the relationship between aspects of a plan or project and the specific features of the Natura 2000 site. Practical tools and information systems are available in different countries to help identify potential impacts from different types of projects and plans on Natura 2000 sites. Box 6 gives some examples of such tools. Box 6 Examples of information systems to identify potential impact from different types of projects and plans on Natura 2000 sites Germany The information needed to assess the potential negative effects of nearly all types of projects is provided by the information system FFH-VP- Info, produced by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. It hosts an extensive database on potential impacts and effects on specific habitat types and species that can be used for the screening and appropriate assessment. It provides detailed information on the sensitivity and potential effects of the impact factors for nearly all habitats and species protected under the nature directives that are present in Germany. It also includes checklists with assessments of the severity/relevance of each impact on habitat types and species. See: http://ffh-vp-info.de/FFHVP/Page.jsp Ireland A GeoTool application is available in Ireland to support the data collection process in Stage 1 (screening) and Stage 2 (the appropriate assessment). It allows the user to select a point on the map and then search for SACs and SPAs within a set distance from the point, which the user can select depending on the level of potential environmental impact from a plan or project. The information given for each Natura 2000 site located in the selected range includes the list of habitats and species for which the sites are designated and a link to the conservation objectives for each site. See: https://gis.epa.ie/EPAMaps/AAGeoTool The Netherlands The Dutch government has produced a tool to quickly assess the potential impact of a project during the initial phase. It describes the procedural steps needed if an assessment of the effects on Natura 2000 sites or protected species is part of the procedure for obtaining a permit. It helps identify potential impacts on individual species and habitat types and provides information about the sensitivity of species and habitat types to different activities. See: www.natura2000.nl (under ‘routeplanner beschermde natuur’ and ‘effectenindicator Natura 2000-gebieden’). Belgium To assess acidification and eutrophication through aerial deposits (deposition of NOx and NH3 linked to activities such as intensive agriculture, industrial heating and energy processes and mobility), Belgium provides an interactive online application to conduct the first screening. It is a quick scan tool to identify potential impacts. If the scan gives a green light, no harmful impact is to be expected. If the tool gives a red light, there may be a harmful impact that merits closer examination via an appropriate assessment. See: https://www.milieuinfo.be/voortoets/ See further details on information and practical tools to support the screening and the appropriate assessment in the annex to this guidance document (Section 1.1).

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07