Area designated or managed within a framework of international, Community and Member States' legislation to achieve specific conservation objectives.

Geology characterised according to composition and structure. Includes bedrock, aquifers and geomorphology.

Location and operation of environmental monitoring facilities includes observation and measurement of emissions, of the state of environmental media and of other ecosystem parameters (biodiversity, ecological conditions of vegetation, etc.) by or on behalf of public authorities.

Vulnerable areas characterised according to natural hazards (all atmospheric, hydrologic, seismic, volcanic and wildfire phenomena that, because of their location, severity, and frequency, have the potential to seriously affect society), e.g. floods, landslides and subsidence, avalanches, forest fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions.

Geographical areas characterised by specific ecological conditions, processes, structure, and (life support) functions that physically support the organisms that live there. Includes terrestrial and aquatic areas distinguished by geographical, abiotic and biotic features, whether entirely natural or semi-natural.

Geographical distribution of occurrence of animal and plant species aggregated by grid, region, administrative unit or other analytical unit.

Soils and subsoil characterised according to depth, texture, structure and content of particles and organic material, stoniness, erosion, where appropriate mean slope and anticipated water storage capacity.

Weather conditions and their measurements; precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, wind speed and direction.

Mineral resources including metal ores, industrial minerals, etc., where relevant including depth/height information on the extent of the resource.