Bottlenecks in fully implementing the Natura 2000 network in Italy. An analysis of processes leading to the designation of Special Areas of Conservation.

Biodiversity protection in the European Union has its legal foundations in two directives (Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, the so-called “Habitats Directive”, and Directive 2009/147/EC, the so-called “Birds Directive”), which establish an international, coordinated network of protected areas known as “Natura 2000”. In this article, the implementation of the network is qualitatively analyzed by looking at the processes whereby Special Areas of Conservation are currently being designated in Italy, following a preliminary and required establishment of site-specific conservation measures which can optionally be included within appropriate management plans. Through a thorough documental analysis, four topics were examined as follows: integration of conservation measures in ordinary spatial plans; institutions and tiers of government involved in the management and planning of Natura 2000 sites; stakeholders’ inclusion in the identification of conservation measures; nature and role of conservation measures in the Italian planning framework. The key outcome of the analysis is that processes greatly differ among regions, and a variety of approaches, more or less scientific and technocratic, more or less democratic and inclusive, emerge.