The Birds and Habitats Directives, also known as the Nature Directives, are currently under review as the European Commission carries out its ‘Fitness Check’ of legislation.

As a result of the Nature Alert campaign being led by BirdLife Europe, WWF, Friends of the Earth and the European Environmental Bureau, more than half a million people, the overwhelming majority of responses, called on the Commission to maintain and fully implement the Directives.

Now nine European countries are telling the Commission to keep the laws as they are and improve their implementation. A letter, led by the German environment minister, has been signed and formally handed over to EU Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, calling for these important nature laws not to be re-opened.

The letter comes at a crucial time for the Nature Directives. Earlier this month, the European Commission’s own mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 highlighted the importance of the laws. Next month, the European Commission will present the first results of the ‘Fitness Check’, and discuss proposals for further action.