• About Natura 2000 sites
• Protected Area Network "Natura 2000" sites

Natura 2000 is a comprehensive European Ecological Network covering the Area of the European Union. It contains:

• - Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) delimitated under the Habitat Directive for natural sites of plants and animals.
• - Special Protection Areas (SPA) delimitated under the Birds Directive for bird sites conservation

If it is possible, areas surrounding SACs and SPAs should be used in a way that enables migration, dispersion and genetic exchange of wild species.

The essential aim of the Habitat Directive is to secure biological diversity in Member States by retaining wild flora and fauna species and their sites in a state that enables their protection considering economy, social and cultural needs and regional and local characteristics of the areas.

The aim of the Birds Directive is protecting and retaining of birds populations on the level that is appropriate to ecological, scientific and cultural requirements. In the region of Oświęcim you can find a few areas nominated to be a part of Natura 2000 Network: "Brzeszcze Ponds", "Lower Sała Valley" and "Lower Skawa Valley"..