The Environment Chronicle

Art.1(1) of the guideline concerns the conservation of all wild bird species native to the European territories of member states, and covers protection, management, control and use of the species.

Fertilisers may only be traded when their type is permitted by the Ordinance.

Under the act, and the subsequently decreed Heat Insulation Ordinance of 16.08.1994, energy conservation and insulation measures must be used in new buildings or installing heating or air conditioning systems.

The Council of the European Communities has adopted the DIRECTIVE of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing water. Directive 76/160/EEC concerns the quality of bathing water, with the exception of water intended for therapeutic purposes and water used in swimming pools. It lays down the minimum quality criteria to be met by bathing water: the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters; the mandatory limit values and indicative values for such parameters; the minimum sampling frequency and method of analysis or inspection of such water. Member States fix the values that they apply to bathing water in accordance with the guidelines of Directive 76/160/EEC. Member States may fix more stringent values than those laid down in the Directive. Where it does not give any values for certain parameters, Member States are not obliged to fix any.

The Council of the European Communities has adopted the Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste. Known as the Waste Framework Directive, the Directive establishes a framework for the management of waste across the European Community.

The purpose of the act is in particular 1. to maintain forests because of their usefulness and significance for the environment, extending them where necessary, and ensuring an orderly sustainable management. 2. to support forestry. 3. to balance the interests of the public good and the owners of forests.

Within the portfolio of the Environment Minister, an independent federal authority is set up, the Federal Environmental Agency.

§1 It is the purpose of this Act to protect human beings, animals and plants, the soil, water, the atmosphere as well as cultural assets and other material goods against harmful effects on the environment and, to the extent that this concerns installations subject to licensing, also from hazards, considerable disadvantages and considerable nuisance caused in any other way, and to take precautions against the emergence of any such harmful effects on the environment. The act forms the legal basis for numerous regulations on air quality, noise abatement and industrial safety in subsequent years.

CITES aims to protect specific species of flora and fauna from excessive exploitation by international trade. It is legally binding in civil law.

The convention's chief aims are to conserve globally important natural heritage (unique landscapes and geological formations), cultivated landscapes and cultural heritage. It is legally binding in civil law.

The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. Its main goal is the conservation of certain seal species in the southern polar seas.

Since 1972, the European Union (formerly the European Community) has passed over 200 guidelines and directives, which belong to the core sources of environmental law in member states.

To protect the public from danger, substantial disadvantage and significant harm from aircraft noise in the vicinity of airports, noise abatement zones are defined.

The act aims to safeguard public health by limiting the number of lead and other metal substitute compounds in fuels for Otto engines. Where public health is not at issue, supply interruptions, competitive distortions and fuel performance loss should be avoided.

The convention concentrates on the bird and other species whose habitat is wetland. It also supports conservation and sustainable development or use of the areas. It is legally binding in civil law.