26 November 2012: The European Commission has announced the addition of 235 sites of community importance to its Natura 2000 network of protected sites, representing nearly 25,000 square kilometers (km2) of new conservation areas, including land and marine habitats.

Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas established under the EU Habitats Directive and the EU Birds Directive, which permit commercial and recreational activities within the limits of sustainable use and harmony with the natural environment.

According to the Commission, 20 Member States have committed to protect the new sites, which represent all nine of the network’s bio-geographic regions. With these additional areas, the EC notes, the network of conservation sites now makes up 17.9% of the EU’s landmass and around 4% of its seas.

The Commission reports that the UK, Romania, Latvia, Italy, Sweden, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Slovakia, Estonia and Malta have made commitments towards this expansion. It notes that the most signification addition this year is the UK’s Dogger Bank, a shallow sea area with sandbanks that provide spawning and nursery habitat for many fish species. In terms of land expansion, Romania provides the largest addition of sites, including species-rich meadow and forest habitats. [EC Press Release] [EC Webpage on Nature and Biodiversity Policies]