Brussels, 17/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission approved the first list of sites that Member states will be held to protect in accordance with the "Habitats" Directive. These are sites (now belonging to the protected network "Natura 2000") in the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira (called the biogeographic region of "Macaronesia") that provide protection for natural habitats and rare and endangered plant and animal species. On the basis of proposals presented by Member States, the Commission will still have to define five other lists that will cover as many geographic regions: Alpine, Continental, Mediterranean, Boreal and Atlantic. "The Spanish and Portuguese authorities are to be congratulated on the significant contribution they have made to conservation in designating more than 30% of the territories of these islands for special protection under Natura 2000, considerably contributing to the conservation of these species, " commented Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, who encourages other Member States to finalise their decisions on proposed sites.
The list of sites of Community interest for "Macaronesia" comprises 208 different sites and covers an area of 3,487 square kilometres of land and 1,848 square kilometres of marine areas, or 34% of the total land area of the islands. Although it is the smallest of the biographic regions concerned, these volcanic islands are home to a unique range of wildlife due to the fact that they have never been in direct contact with mainland Europe. They possess very diverse flora and fauna, including a high percentage of species that are endemic to these islands (they are found nowhere else in the world). For example, the percentage of endemic plants per unit of surface (some 32%) is the highest in Europe, only equalled by Galapagos and surpassed by the Philippines and New Caledonia. The endemic animals include such remarkable species as the giant Lizard of Hierro, probably the rarest reptile in Europe and one of the most endangered species in the world.. The contribution of these islands to nature conservation in Europe is demonstrated by the fact that, with only 3% of the EU's surface area, they support a greater number of important species identified for protection in the Directive than the Atlantic Region which occupies 24% of the EU.. The Commission stipulates that the subtropical climate of these islands and their geography creates three main types of habitats - coastal cliffs and dunes, open mountain areas and forests including rainforests such as humid evergreen laurel forest.
You may recall that the initial timetable for the "Habitats" directive provided for the lists being defined in 1998 at the latest, but the process of drawing up national lists was considerably delayed. The text of the Commission's decision, as well as the list of the Macaronesian sites may be consulted at the following address: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/environment/whatsnew.htm.