Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2013 Jul 15;72(1):14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.03.036. Epub 2013 Apr 28.
The European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) provides for the designation and management of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and requires that impacting activities are subject to 'an appropriate assessment' of their implications for the 'integrity' of the site. We define the term 'site integrity' from a legal and an ecological perspective. We demonstrate that 'site integrity' is the maintenance of ecological processes and functions that support the wider delivery of ecosystem services. 'Site integrity' can be influenced by SAC management. Management that seeks to support 'site integrity' may include the use of buffer zones or connecting areas that extend beyond the SAC site's designated features. We conclude that 'site integrity' and 'favourable conservation status' are powerful legal terms that if fully transposed into the law and policy of Member States can enable the achievement of broader European and International goals for marine conservation.
欧盟栖息地指令（92/43/EEC）规定了特别保护区（SAC）的指定和管理，并要求受影响的活动必须对其对“完整性”的影响进行“适当评估”站点。我们从法律和生态角度定义了“站点完整性”一词。我们证明，“站点完整性”是维护支持更广泛提供生态系统服务的生态过程和功能。“站点完整性”可能会受到 SAC 管理的影响。旨在支持“站点完整性”的管理可能包括使用缓冲区或连接区域，这些区域超出了 SAC 站点指定的特征。我们的结论是，“站点完整性”和“有利的保护状况”是强有力的法律术语，如果充分转化为成员国的法律和政策，可以使欧洲和国际海洋保护的更广泛目标得以实现。
