The EU habitats directive and the German Natura 2000 network of protected areas as tool for implementing the conservation of relict species

Abstract

This study analyses whether the Natura 2000 network of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) is able to protect relict species in the taxonomic groups of higher plants, molluscs, dragonflies and damselflies as well as butterflies (only Rhopalocera) in Germany. Altogether, a total of 157 species from all groups are identified as relict species in Germany. Fourteen of these are included in Annexes II, IV or V of the Habitats Directive. Most glacial relicts are well covered by an indirect protection regime of the European Union (EU) Habitats Directive as they occur in 46 of Annex I habitat types, and their occurrences are to a large extent covered by Natura 2000 sites (SCIs). For a few relict species and certain relict plant communities a gap remains in the EU protection regime, which can be filled by a national protection regime, for example, in nature reserves. The best way to protect local relict species is to include them in special management plans for their conservation.