Establishment of the Natura 2000 Sites

The most important instrument for biodiversity protection predicted in EU legislation - the European ecological network Natura 2000. The number of different threats for biodiversity increase. Applying necessary protective measures, the negative impact can be avoided or at least reduced. The article presents an analysis of the establishment and current situation of Natura 2000 sites in Lithuania. The national network of protected areas in Lithuania covers 992359 ha and makes 15.2 % of the total area of the country. After the implementation of the EU Directives on Habitats and Birds in Lithuania the area of protected areas should cover about 1/5 of the total national territory. According to biogeographical zonning Lithuania is assigned to the Boreal region, therefore, the predicted basic management of protected areas established in the countries of the region should be similar. The article discussed the volume of the Natura 2000 sites in Lithuania and neighbouring countries, the status of sites in the EU countries. The paper analyses the support measures provided by the Natura 2000 areas of land usersVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij