**Acknowledgements**

*Habitats of the World - Biodiversity and Threats*

*(Reggio Calabria, Italy)—(Ph. C.M. Musarella).*

that return regularly [3].

**Figure 1.**

concerning the conservation of wild birds.

see some examples in the chapters of this book.

The European Union has launched two important Community Directives for the protection of nature. With the "Habitats" Directive 92/43/CEE, the objective of safeguarding biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats was proposed, as well as of wild flora and fauna in European territory of the member states to which the treaty applies [2]. The "Birds" Directive 79/409/EEC (the first EU directive on nature conservation) aims at the conservation of wild birds, aiming to protect the habitats of the species listed in Annex I and the migratory ones not listed

*Habitat 7140 "Transition mires and quaking bogs" in the SAC IT9350134 "Canolo Nuovo Zomaro, Zillastro"* 

For the recognition of habitats and for the correct application of the directive, the "Interpretation Manual of the European Union Habitats" was produced, thanks to which it is possible to analyze and describe the extraordinary European naturalistic heritage [4]. All the member states applied these directives to preserve habitats in their territories. To guarantee the long-term maintenance of natural habitats and of species of flora and fauna threatened or rare at community level, the EU has established the Natura 2000 Network [5]. It consists of the Sites of Community Interest (SIC), which each member state has been identified in accordance with the Habitat Directive. Currently, the SCIs have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (**Figure 1**). Natura 2000 Network also include the Special Protection Areas (SPAs) established pursuant to Directive 2009/147/EC "Birds"

There have been several scientific contributions by various scholars who have studied this important aspect of nature conservation [6–19]. The habitats are studied under several points of view, covering all their aspects [20–29]. We will also

Based on the current world situation in which many habitats are at risk of extinction (not only, therefore, individual species), the knowledge of "places," in which every living being occupies an important part in the global balance, is more urgent than ever. Only an appropriate and adequate study of all the habitats of the world (including the discovery of new ones), from natural to anthropized ones, will allow us to preserve the biodiversity of our planet as long as possible. The study, however, must necessarily be accompanied by the will of man, the most destructive and invasive species in the world, to limit as much as possible the alterations

**4**

**4. Conclusions**

The content of this chapter is found on the activities carried out within the Research Project "Coordination of monitoring activities of natural and semi-natural habitats of the flora and fauna species of the Natura 2000 Network present in Calabria" by the Academic Editor of this book, Carmelo Maria Musarella.
