What is the Habitats Directive?

The full name of the Habitats Directive is Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Its aim is to preserve species and habitats of EU importance by ensuring that they have a favourable conservation status. Latvia is obliged to ensure that the natural range of habitats of EU importance and the area they cover remain stable or increase, and that the structure and functions needed for their long-term existence are present and are likely to remain so in the near future.