Protected areas — Natura 2000 (INSPIRE harmonised) WMS

Natura 2000 is the coherent network of protected natural areas in the European Union consisting of Birds Directive and Habitats Directive Areas. Natura 2000 sites are a combination of both and the protected natural monuments therein. In total, these are more than 200 areas, three of which are marine areas in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the North Sea. The Birds Directive areas were largely designated in the period 1986-2000. The Habitats Directive sites are designated with the designation of the Natura 2000 sites concerned. This file contains the boundaries of the definitively designated areas (state of November 2018) and the borders in line with the draft decision of most other areas. Of two Habitats Directive areas (Krammer-Volkerak and Zoommeer) on land, this dataset contains the borders as reported to the European Commission. In this dataset, limits of underground limestone quarries have been added to a number of areas in South Limburg. Unlike the regular Habitats Directive area, only the underground quarries form part of the Habitats Directive area in these areas.