The "Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats" (Version EUR15) is a scientific reference document compiled by Carlos Romão from DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) and adopted by the Habitats Committee on April 25, 1996. The manual aims to provide clear, operational scientific definitions for the habitat types listed in Annex I of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, which establishes a network of special areas of conservation called Natura 2000 to protect wild animal and plant species and natural habitats of Community importance. The manual addresses the challenges posed by the CORINE Biotopes classification, which was the only existing classification at the European level when the directive was drafted. It includes descriptive sheets for 164 European natural habitat types, focusing on priority habitat types. These sheets provide pragmatic definitions using characteristic plants and consider regional variations. The manual also incorporates contributions from national experts and updates the definitions based on the CORINE 1991 classification and the PHYSIS database. The manual covers various habitats, including coastal and halophytic habitats, open sea and tidal areas, sea cliffs and shingle or stony beaches, salt marshes and salt meadows, coastal sand dunes and continental dunes, freshwater habitats, temperate heath and scrub, natural and semi-natural grassland formations, raised bogs and mires, and forests. It provides detailed descriptions and distribution information for each habitat type, emphasizing the importance of regional variations and the need for flexible interpretation in areas with fragmented habitats influenced by human activities. The manual is available from the European Commission, Directorate-General XI, and is intended to be updated periodically to reflect scientific developments in habitat understanding.The "Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats" (Version EUR15) is a scientific reference document compiled by Carlos Romão from DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) and adopted by the Habitats Committee on April 25, 1996. The manual aims to provide clear, operational scientific definitions for the habitat types listed in Annex I of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, which establishes a network of special areas of conservation called Natura 2000 to protect wild animal and plant species and natural habitats of Community importance. The manual addresses the challenges posed by the CORINE Biotopes classification, which was the only existing classification at the European level when the directive was drafted. It includes descriptive sheets for 164 European natural habitat types, focusing on priority habitat types. These sheets provide pragmatic definitions using characteristic plants and consider regional variations. The manual also incorporates contributions from national experts and updates the definitions based on the CORINE 1991 classification and the PHYSIS database. The manual covers various habitats, including coastal and halophytic habitats, open sea and tidal areas, sea cliffs and shingle or stony beaches, salt marshes and salt meadows, coastal sand dunes and continental dunes, freshwater habitats, temperate heath and scrub, natural and semi-natural grassland formations, raised bogs and mires, and forests. It provides detailed descriptions and distribution information for each habitat type, emphasizing the importance of regional variations and the need for flexible interpretation in areas with fragmented habitats influenced by human activities. The manual is available from the European Commission, Directorate-General XI, and is intended to be updated periodically to reflect scientific developments in habitat understanding.