The brochure summarizes the European approaches of monitoring habitats under the the Habitats Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.  

Adopted in 1992, the Habitat Directive aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity, taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional requirements. It forms the cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy with the Birds Directive and establishes the EU-wide Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas, safeguarded against potentially damaging developments.

The brochure was prepared and published with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF).