EUNIS is the European Nature Information System, developed and managed by the

• European Topic Centre for Nature Protection and Biodiversity (ETC/NPB in Paris) for the
• European Environment Agency (EEA) and the
• European Environmental Information Observation Network (EIONET). [last online access: 20.08.11]

EUNIS includes: [last online access: 20.08.11]

• Data on
  • Species,
  • Habitats and
  • Sites
    
    
• compiled in the framework of NATURA2000 (EU Habitats and Birds Directives),
  
  
• Data collected from frameworks, data sources or material published by the European Topic Centre for Nature Protection and Biodiversity (ETC/NPB) (formerly the ETC for Nature Conservation).
• Information on Species, Habitats and Sites taken into account in relevant international conventions or from International Red Lists.
• Specific data collected in the framework of the EEA's reporting activities, which also constitute a core set of data to be updated periodically.
  

EUNIS data are collected and maintained to be used as a reference tool or dataset:

• for assistance to the NATURA2000 process (EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive) and coordinated with the related EMERALD Network of the Bern Convention,
  • cf. T-PVS Emerald 11e.03 - Development of the Emerald Network , Meeting in Dubrovnik (Croatia), on 14-15 October 2003, cf. page 21: VII. Turkey, reg. the Twinning Covenant TR02-EN-01, contribution of Mr. Mustafa Akincioğlu, MoEF, Turkey. (excerpt)
    
    
• for the development of indicators (EEA Core Set, Bio-IMPS, IRENA)
• for environmental reporting connected to EEA reporting activities
  

The Species part of EUNIS contains information about more than 60.000 taxa with about 300.000 records in Europe of linked information (distribution, conservation, vernacular names etc.). However, the amount of information collected on each species varies in accordance with the potential use of the data:

• Reference data is available for almost all EUNIS species except for the habitat preference parameter.
  
  
• Spatial-temporal information (including species population size and trends) is available for Birds. For other Vertebrates (except Fish) and for Invertebrates and plants species of the EU Directives, only information on the occurrence by country and biogeographic region is available.
  
  
• Data concerning the conservation status has been collected from all national Red Books made available to the ETC-NPB and from other relevant literature.

EUNIS Habitat types classification is a comprehensive pan-European system (using more than 30 classification-systems and more than 1.400 references) to facilitate the harmonised description and collection of data across Europe through the use of criteria for habitat identification; it covers all types of habitats from natural to artificial, from terrestrial to freshwater and marine - actually, more than 5.200 habitats over Europe.

It is built to link to and correspond with other major habitat systems in Europe:

• It cross-references to all EU Habitat Directive types used for EU Member States and can be used as a basis for EU Habitat Directive extension for Accession Countries;
  
  
• It builds on the CORINE and Palaearctic Habitat classifications. It will continue to include the Palaearctic Habitat classification's most detailed units as they are further developed over Europe for the Bern Convention EMERALD network (Resolution No.4);
  
  
• It contains and will continue to include relevant marine habitat types as they are developed in collaboration with the OSPARCOM (Oslo and Paris Commission) marine work;
  
  
• It cross-references to the Corine Land Cover classification, to some regional and national classifications, and to other systems such as the European Vegetation Survey (cf. SynBioSys Europe). [last online access: 20.08.11]

Habitat type is defined for the purposes of the EUNIS habitat type classification as follows:

• 'Plant and animal communities as the characterising elements of the biotic environment, together with abiotic factors operating together at a particular scale.' All factors included in the definition are addressed in the descriptive framework of the habitat classification.
  
  
• The scope of the EUNIS classification is limited to its level 3 (level 4 for Marine habitat types). At level 4 (5 for the Marine types) and below, the component units are drawn from other classification systems and combine these in the common framework.

A criteria-based key has been developed for all units to level 3 and in addition for salt marshes at level 4. The Key takes the form of a sequential series of questions with additional detailed explanatory notes. Depending on the answer chosen, the user is directed to the next question in the series or to a habitat type identified by the parameters.

The user may follow the key question by question, or view the criteria for each habitat level in a series of static diagrams.

developed as a hierarchical - and more or less - simple (easy to use) classification system, by the ETC/NPB for the EEA as a pan-European tool, has 10 major habitat classes.

This system is a successor to the CORINE habitat classification. It uses a common language and links to to other classification systems. The units can be cross-matched to CLC map and habitats in Annex I of the European Habitats Directive, and consequentially to the NATURA 2000 habitat types.

A - Marine habitats
B - Coastal habitats
C - Inland surface water habitats
D - Mire, bog and fen habitats
E - Grassland and tall forb habitats
F - Heathland, scrub and tundra habitats
G - Woodland and forest habitats and other wooded land
H - Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats
I - Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats
J - Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats
X - Habitat complexes

EUNIS Sites is built around 7 data sets regarding sites. It contains more than 64.000 sites with related information. The Site module of the EUNIS application uses data from the following databases:

A. Site networks resulting from legal instruments:

• Designated Areas (protected areas) at National level (common database on designated
  areas - CDDA national)
  [http://www.eea.europa.eu/]
• Designated Areas (protected areas) at International level (common database on designated
  areas - CDDA international)
  [http://www.eea.europa.eu/]
• European Nature Diploma Areas (Council of Europe)
  
• Biogenetic Reserves (Council of Europe)
• Pan-European Nature Conservation Policy and Legislation
  [http://www.eeconet.org/eeconet/index.html]
  

B. Site networks resulting from other initiatives and programs:

• CORINE Biotopes

  Links to other databases:

  • NATURA 2000 sites (European Union)
  • NatureNet
  • Emerald sites (Bern Convention, Council of Europe)

C. Connection between the three modules (species / habitats / sites)

• Data regarding species' preferred habitats have been collected through EU biogeographic seminars and via a network of experts.
• Habitat types 'most typical species' information often comes from the definition and description of the habitat type itself.
• Site datasets contain information about species and habitat types present (Biogenetic Reserves, Emerald, Natura 2000, Corine Biotopes)