The birds Directive Annex 1 is a list of bird species that are given special protection under the European Union’s Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. This directive, also known as the Birds Directive, was adopted in 1979 and aims to protect wild bird populations in the EU through habitat conservation and other measures. Annex 1 lists 194 species and sub-species of birds that are considered threatened in Europe and require enhanced conservation efforts from EU member states.
Background on the Birds Directive
The Birds Directive was one of the EU’s earliest pieces of environmental legislation and remains a cornerstone of its biodiversity conservation efforts. It was adopted unanimously by member states in April 1979 and came into force in 1981. The directive requires EU members to designate Special Protection Areas for endangered species listed in Annex 1 as well as for migratory birds. It also establishes rules around hunting seasons and methods in order to protect wild birds.
The goal of the Birds Directive is to maintain populations of naturally occurring wild birds by preserving, maintaining, and re-establishing sufficient areas of habitat for them. Under the directive, member states are required to take special conservation measures to ensure the survival and reproduction of Annex 1 species within the EU. They must also preserve, maintain, and re-establish biotopes and habitats to include the creation of protected areas, management of habitat features, and reestablishment of destroyed biotopes.
While initially focused only on Annex 1 species, the Birds Directive also requires member states to protect migratory bird species that are not threatened but could benefit from habitat conservation measures. The directive applies to birds, their eggs, nests and habitats and covers the entire lifespan of birds – protecting them from deliberate capture or killing as well as indirect harm from pollution or habitat degradation.
Key Provisions
Some of the key provisions of the Birds Directive include:
- Creation of Special Protection Areas for threatened and migratory species
- Protection and management of habitats inside and outside protected areas
- Measures for sustainable hunting and harvesting
- Ban on large-scale non-selective killing and capturing methods
- Prohibition of sale or keeping of most wild birds
- Requirement for member states to undertake research and monitoring
By setting minimum standards for avian protection across the EU, the Birds Directive aims to limit differences in implementation between member states so that threatened species receive equal levels of protection throughout their range.
The Annex I List of Species
Annex I of the Birds Directive lists 194 endangered species and subspecies that require special conservation measures. The annex is periodically reviewed and updated; the latest revision was made in 2017. Species are added if they meet one or more criteria indicating unfavorable conservation status such as small or declining populations, limited distribution, dependence on vulnerable habitats, or high extinction risk.
The Directive protects all naturally occurring wild bird species naturally present in the EU, but Annex I species require establishment of Special Protection Areas with management plans tailored to their needs. These species are also subject to more stringent provisions around hunting, capturing, disturbance, trade, and habitat protection.
The Annex I list contains many birds that are globally threatened according to the IUCN Red List such as the Dalmatian pelican, sociable lapwing, and Balearic shearwater. Several species have extremely small world populations concentrated in Europe, including the Basque Country’s Eurasian spoonbill and the Spanish imperial eagle found only in Spain and Portugal.
While the majority are native European species, Annex I also lists some migratory birds like the aquatic warbler that breed in Europe and winter in Africa. Vulnerable subspecies with restricted ranges like the Balearic shearwater are listed separately from more widespread subspecies of the same species.
The table below shows some examples of birds listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive:
Common Name | Scientific Name | IUCN Red List Category | Population Trend | Key Threats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dalmatian Pelican | Pelecanus crispus | Vulnerable | Decreasing | Wetland habitat loss, pollution, disturbance |
Spanish Imperial Eagle | Aquila adalberti | Vulnerable | Increasing | Electrocution, habitat loss, illegal poisoning |
Corncrake | Crex crex | Least Concern | Decreasing | Agricultural intensification, mowing of meadows |
Balearic Shearwater | Puffinus mauretanicus | Critically Endangered | Decreasing | Predation by invasive mammals, bycatch, habitat destruction |
Criteria for Inclusion
For a species to be listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, it must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- It is globally threatened, categorized as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- It has an unfavorable conservation status in Europe (i.e. populations are small or declining)
- It has a restricted distribution in Europe, even if more widespread globally
- It is dependent on vulnerable habitat types that require conservation action (e.g. wetlands)
- It has high susceptibility to habitat fragmentation and other threats in the EU
- It is subject to high mortality from specific causes that can be mitigated (e.g. hunting or bycatch)
- It would benefit from international cooperation regarding management and recovery
These inclusion criteria aim to capture all species for which focused conservation efforts are needed to achieve favorable conservation status in Europe. Even species classified as Least Concern globally may be included if their European populations are in jeopardy.
Review and Update Process
Annex I species are not permanently fixed; the list is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect the latest conservation status of Europe’s birds. Updates take into account new population and threat data as well as changing global and regional Red List categories.
The annex was substantially expanded in the early 1990s as it became clear more species needed attention. The last major revision was completed in 2017 following a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of all wild birds in the EU. Scientifically informed proposals for additions, deletions or taxonomic changes can be submitted by EU member states, NGOs and other stakeholders.
Additions and deletions must be approved unanimously by the EU Commission after input from the Ornis Committee made up of delegates from all member states. Deletions are permitted only for species that have achieved favorable conservation status. Proper justification must be provided for any changes using the latest scientific and monitoring evidence.
Conservation Significance
The Birds Directive has played a major role in protecting threatened birds within the EU. Designation of Special Protection Areas under the directive has allowed the establishment of coordinated networks of protected habitats encompassing internationally important sites for Annex I species. Management of these areas has involved measures tailored to the needs of specific species such as control of disturbance during breeding, reestablishment of optimal hydrological conditions, creation of artificial nest sites and reintroduction of species.
For Annex I birds, EU member states are required to take special measures to ensure their survival and reproduction. This includes conserving or re-establishing sufficient habitats and designating Special Protection Areas at the most suitable territories in terms of number, distribution and area.
Legal protection from killing, capturing, disturbance and trade has also benefited Annex I species. Stringent limits on hunting have been implemented including bans on keeping or sale of protected species. Required assessment of projects for negative impacts has reduced habitat loss and degradation in key areas.
Transboundary cooperation around policies, research and monitoring has further aided conservation of migratory and range-restricted birds under the Birds Directive. Overall, the directive has played a major role in safeguarding many Annex I species that had declined dramatically, improving the status of species like the Spanish imperial eagle, white-tailed eagle and osprey.
Challenges
Despite its successes, implementation of the Birds Directive has not been without challenges. Conservation of Annex I species is still hindered by issues such as illegal killing, inadequate management of protected areas, spatially biased designation of Special Protection Areas, and poor integration of environmental concerns into policies like agriculture and regional development.
The dynamic nature of bird populations and the emergence of new threats from accelerating environmental change means Annex I may fail to adequately capture species in need of protection. Expanding renewable energy infrastructure has become a rising concern for migratory birds in Europe, while climate change is allowing increased expansion of generalist predators.
The Birds Directive only applies within the EU, whereas many of Europe’s birds migrate to Africa and are impacted by habitat degradation in those regions. Its legal provisions require active enforcement, which has been inconsistent among member states. Full realization of the directive’s conservation goals will require addressing these varied challenges.
Case Studies of Annex I Species
Spanish Imperial Eagle
The Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) is found only in Spain and Portugal. It has been listed on Annex I since the inception of the directive in 1979. Classified as Vulnerable on the global Red List, it had declined to just 30-35 breeding pairs in the 1960s.
Its small and fragmented population led to its inclusion on Annex I and designation of core breeding areas as Special Protection Areas. Targeted conservation under the Birds Directive has increased the population to over 300 pairs as of 2015. Threats remain from habitat loss, electrocution on power lines, and illegal poisoning.
Red Kite
The red kite (Milvus milvus) is a European endemic formerly common across the continent. Widespread persecution and poisoning caused catastrophic declines through the 20th century. In the 1980s, it was confined to small populations in the UK, Spain and Germany.
Listing on Annex I in 1989 galvanized conservation action including reintroductions, feeding programs, and campaigns against illegal poisoning. Red kites have recolonized much of their former range aided by reduced persecution and protection of breeding sites. But lead poisoning and illegal killing remain threats to fully successful recoveries.
Aquatic Warbler
The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) has a predominantly eastern European breeding distribution wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Loss of fen mire habitat saw continental populations reduced to just 10,000 pairs by 1990 when it was added to Annex I.
Conservation efforts under the Birds Directive have since stabilized the population. Collaboration around managing breeding habitat and eliminating mowing during nesting has been key. But remaining concentrations in fewer than 10 sites make the species vulnerable, highlighting the need for continued habitat protection.
Conclusion
The Birds Directive Annex I has provided vital protections for some of Europe’s most threatened bird species. Conservation networks centered around Special Protection Areas have benefited endangered breeding residents like the Spanish imperial eagle as well as migratory species like the aquatic warbler that are dependent on wetland habitats.
Legal safeguards on killing and capturing have allowed recovery of species persecuted to near extinction in the 20th century such as the red kite. Continental-scale cooperation on monitoring, research and habitat management engendered by the directive has also been crucial.
However, Annex I species continue to face threats from modern pressures such as renewable energy infrastructure and climate change. Full realization of the directive’s conservation goals requires continued habitat protections, upholding of legal safeguards, and integration with policies beyond the environmental sector. Only through sustained commitment can Europe ensure a bright future for its most vulnerable birds.