Submit documents for the Natura 2000 preliminary assessment

In the preliminary assessment, a rough estimate is made as to whether adverse effects on a Natura 2000 site can be ruled out as a result of the project. If the preliminary assessment shows that adverse effects can be ruled out, the project does not conflict with any Natura 2000 provisions. However, if significant adverse effects cannot be ruled out, the compatibility of the project must be analysed in more detail as part of a Natura 2000 impact assessment.

The project sponsor can use the questions in this form to carry out an initial assessment and send it to the responsible nature conservation authority, which will then carry out the actual preliminary assessment.

Even in the case of projects that do not require official authorisation or other notification to an authority, it is necessary to check whether the project may have a significant impact on the protection and conservation objectives of a Natura 2000 site. In order for the nature conservation authority to carry out this assessment, it must be notified of the project.

A Natura 2000 preliminary assessment or a Natura 2000 impact assessment only analyses the possible effects of the project on the protection and conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site. These assessments do not replace an impact assessment, a possibly required special species conservation assessment for species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and for European bird species or a possibly required environmental impact assessment.