The Habitats Directive (more formally known as Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora)[1] is a European Union directive adopted in 1992 as an EU response to the Berne Convention. It is one of the European Union's directives in relation to wildlife and nature conservation, another being the Birds Directive.[2][3] The Habitats Directive, together with the Birds Directive, are also called the "nature directives".[4] The Habitats Directive requires national governments to specify areas that are expected to be ensuring the conservation of flora and fauna species. This led to the setting up of a network of protected areas across the EU, special areas of conservation which together with the existing Special Protection Areas, became the so-called Natura 2000 network established to protect species and habitats.[5] The annexes of the directive outline the protected habitats and species:[1]