Regulation amending and supplementing Presidential Decree No. 357 of 8 September 1997 implementing Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

The present Regulation has been enacted in order to lay down some amendments and addenda to Presidential Decree No. 357 of 1997 which has provided for the implementation of Directive 92/43/EEC relative to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Firstly, article 2 containing several definitions to specify the application scope is hereby supplemented. Definitions of species , population , hybrid , autochthonous , non autochthonous and introduction are inserted. Moreover, proposed sites of a Community importance are added to the list of sites connected with particular conservation measures. Such sites are to be designated by the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces and thereafter transmitted to the Ministry of the Environment. The latter shall then inform the European Commission for the purpose of examining its inclusion in the list of special sites. As per new article 6, the Network Nature 2000 shall comprise the Special Protected Zones referred to in Directive 79/409/EEC as well as the zones specified in article 1, paragraph 5 of Act No. 157 of 11 February 1992. Article 4-bis, whose text is laid down in article 5 hereto, shall be inserted after article 4. After the consultation procedure referred to in article 5 of Directive 92/43/EEC has been initiated, the Ministry of the Environment shall provide the European Commission with scientific data relative to the area concerned. Moreover, the following articles are hereby amended or supplemented: article 3 on Special Conservation Zones; article 4 on conservation measures to be adopted by the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces; article 5 on assessment of the impact that territorial planning and programming may have on sites of a Community importance; article 6 on Special Protection Zones; article 7 on the monitoring, protection and management of habitats and species; article 12 on introduction and reintroduction of wildlife species.