1 Ecological criteria

1.1 The ecological significance of the Strait of Bonifacio region was internationally recognized when it was granted the status of specially protected area of Mediterranean importance (SPAMI) at the sixteenth session of the Conference of Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, which took place from 3 to 5 November 2009 in Marrakesh.

1.2 The ecological significance of the French part of the Strait of Bonifacio is recognized by a number of official listings involving a total of 104,000 ha of mainly marine environment:

-	Listing as a nature reserve by a decree of 23 September 1999 (80,000 ha);
-	Listing as a Natura 2000 site, these being a network of European Union areas which, owing to their great environmental value, need the protection of States:
	-	a special protection area under directive No. 79/409/EEC (Birds), "Lavezzi Islands, Strait of Bonifacio", covering 98, 941 ha, designated by inter-ministerial decree of 30 October 2008;
	-	three sites of Community importance under directive 92/43/EEC (Habitat) concerning the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora:
			Strait of Bonifacio, Monk Islands (94, 612 ha); Cerbical Islands and coastal strip (3,698 ha); Pertusato/Bonifacio plateau and Lavezzi Islands (6,071 ha).

1.3 The ecological significance of the Italian part of the Strait of Bonifacio is recognized by several listings, as follows:

The La Maddalena archipelago national park, by decree of the President of the Republic dated 17 May 1996, covering 5,100 ha on land and 15,046 ha at sea;
The Asinara national park, by decree of the President of the Republic dated 13 October 2002, covering 5,170 ha on land;
The Isola Asinara protected marine area, by ministerial decree of 12 August 2002, covering 10,732 ha at sea;
The Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo protected marine area, by ministerial decree of 12 December 1997, amended by ministerial decree of 28 November 2001, covering 15,357 ha;
Listings of Natura 2000 sites, as follows:
Six special protection areas under directive No. 79/409/EEC (Birds):
	Isola Asinara (9,669 ha) Isola Piana – Golfo dell'Asinara (399 ha) Stagno di Pilo, Casaraccio e Saline di Stintino (1,290 ha) Arcipelago La Maddalena (20,955 ha) Isole del Nord-Est tra Capo Ceraso e Stagno di San Teodoro (18,174 ha) Capo Figari, Cala Sabina, Punta Canigione e Isola Figarolo (4,053 ha)
Twelve sites of Community significance under directive No. 92/43/EEC (Habitat), in connection with the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora:
	Coste e Isolette a Nord Ovest della Sardegna (3, 731 ha) Isola Asinara (9,669 ha) Isola Piana (510 ha) Stagno di Pilo e di Casaraccio (1,879 ha) Stagno e ginepreto di Platamona (1,618 ha) Foci del Coghinas (2, 267 ha) Isola Rossa – Costa Paradiso (5,409 ha) Monte Russu (1,971 ha) Capo Testa (1,217 ha) Arcipelago La Maddalena (20,955 ha) Isola Tavolara, Molara e Molarotto (3,764 ha) Capo Figari e Isola Figarolo (851 ha).

1.4 The European Commission approved the above-mentioned list of sites of Community importance by its decision of 22 December 2009 in relation to the Mediterranean biogeographical region enforceable under Directive No. 92/43/EEC.

1.5 The following information is taken from the declaration forms of the Natura 2000 sites mentioned above and from the biological evaluation of the Strait of Bonifacio nature reserve for the 2007-2011 management plan.

1.6 This sector is also covered by the Pelagos Agreement for the Creation of a Mediterranean Sanctuary for Marine Mammals, signed in Rome on 25 November 1999 by France, Italy and the Principality of Monaco. The aim of the agreement is to maintain a level of conservation beneficial to marine mammal populations, and to that end monitor the cetacean populations, strengthen the application of the existing external legislation for certain types of fishing and to reduce pollution, regulate the numbers of tourists who come to observe cetaceans, and improve the information provided for the public. The bottlenose dolphin is a regular visitor to the edges of this area.

1.7 The exceptional ecological wealth of the area comprises a wide range of marine environments, including:

-	inclines and rocky shallows harbouring varied fauna and flora;
-	well preserved Posidonia beds;
-	near Figari, a rare estuary system in which areas emerge at low tide on the island.

1.8 Species and habitats whose rarity or significance are recognized at national, Community or international level find the environmental conditions ideal here.