Natura 2000 Network

Natura 2000 is the European ecological network of sites dedicated to biodiversity conservation, established under the main EU environmental directives. It is the world’s largest coordinated network of protected areas, aimed at ensuring the long-term maintenance of natural habitats and threatened or rare animal and plant species at European level.

The network consists of two types of sites:

• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), designated under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (opens in a new window), for the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats and species of plants and animals of Community interest.
• Special Protection Areas (SPAs), designated under the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (opens in a new window), for the conservation of wild bird species and their habitats.

In Italy, Natura 2000 was transposed through Presidential Decree D.P.R. 357/1997 (opens in a new window) and subsequent amendments. Site management is entrusted to the Regions and to the managing bodies of protected areas.

Natura 2000 in the Sinis

The territory of the “Penisola del Sinis – Isola di Mal di Ventre” Marine Protected Area overlaps with two Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), which cover marine, coastal and lagoon environments of exceptional ecological value, for which the Marine Protected Area/Municipality of Cabras is the Managing Body:

• SAC ITB030080 Stagno di Mistras di Oristano: a coastal lagoon system and a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Convention), a key habitat for waterbirds and a breeding area for euryhaline fish species.
• SAC ITB030080 Isola di Mal di Ventre e Catalano: includes the only true granite island on the western coast of Sardinia and the Catalano rock, with Posidonia oceanica meadows, reefs, priority marine habitats and nesting areas for seabirds.

Official information and Standard Data Forms for each site are available on the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) website (opens in a new window) and on the Natura 2000 Network Viewer (opens in a new window) of the European Environment Agency.