Habitat types listed in the Habitats Directive
The Habitats Directive requires that Member States designate areas for protection in order to guarantee favourable conservation status. These habitat types are listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. Habitat types are a factor in the selection process for Natura 2000 sites. Selection criteria for these sites is listed in Annex III. The EU-wide Natura 2000 network, established under the Habitats Directive, plays an important role in contributing to the achievement of a favourable conservation status for the habitats and species targeted by the directive. However, the Natura 2000 network alone is not sufficient to reach this goal, as a significant proportion of the occurrences of the habitat types and species listed in the Directive are located outside the network.
Names and codes of Habitat Directive's habitat types found in Finland:
Habitats Directive's habitat types in Finland, not accessible (pdf, 151.27 KB)Habitat type reports of the Habitats Directive
The Member States of the European Union report to the Commission every six years on the implementation of the Habitats Directive. The results of directive reporting play a significant role in the EU's nature conservation policy, for example in the implementation of the EU's biodiversity strategy.
The report includes an assessment of the conservation status of all habitat types and species referred to in the directive. The evaluation of the conservation status for the reporting period 2001–2006 was done in 2007, for the period 2007–2012 in 2013, for the period 2013–2018 in 2019 and for the period 2019-2024 in 2025. From the development of the conservation status, it can be concluded, among other things, how effective the implemented conservation measures have been.
For each habitat type, the report contains information on the assessment criteria, based on which the overall assessment of the conservation status has been prepared. The evaluation criteria are range, area covered by habitat, structure and function, and the future prospects of the habitat type. In addition, the reports include information on the threats and pressures and concervation measures for each habitat type. Since 2013, the surface area of the habitat type in Natura 2000 areas has also been reported.
Numerous experts participate in the work
Under the leadership of the Ministry of the Environment, a wide group of experts from several different organizations have participated in Finland's reporting. The main responsible parties have been the Finnish Environment Institute, Metsähallitus and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the Åland Provincial Government.
Important partners in the compilation, production and evaluation of materials have also been Natural Resources Institute Finland and the Geological Survey of Finland.
Results of the conservation status assessment of habitat types have been published for the first time as a Syke report
The Syke report presents the method used for assessing the conservation status of habitat types and explains the background and concepts related to the assessment. In addition, it introduces the data and methods used in the assessment of the habitat types. The report reviews the results within the habitat type groups defined by the Habitats Directive.
The results of the conservation status assessment have gained importance also due to the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation. The area sizes of the habitat types serve as baseline data for setting targets in the national restoration plan. The results include, among other things, expert assessments of favourable reference areas for habitat types, based on ecological criteria. A favourable reference area refers to the ecologically sufficient minimum area of a habitat type. The proportion of area in good and poor condition is also regularly assessed as part of the conservation status evaluation. Both are essential knowledge bases for the preparation of the restoration plan.
Reporting 2019–2024: results and summaries
In 2025, the period 2019–2024 was reported to the EU Commission. There were 68 reportable habitat types.
Reporting 2013–2018: results and summaries
In 2019, the period 2013–2018 was reported to the EU Commission. There were 68 reportable habitat types.
Assessments of conservation status of species and habitats (EIONET)
Reporting 2007–2012: results and summaries
In 2013, the period 2007–2012 was reported to the EU Commission. There were 66 reportable habitat types.
Assessments of conservation status of species and habitats (EIONET)
Reporting 2001–2006: results and summaries
In 2007, the period 2001–2006 was reported to the EU Commission. There were 69 reportable habitat types.
More information
Special coordinator Marita Arvela, Finnish Environment Institute, marita.arvela@syke.fi