Special Protection Area
Encyclopedia
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union
Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds
.
Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union
(EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats
of migratory birds
and certain particularly threatened birds.
Together with Special Areas of Conservation
(SACs), the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the EU, called Natura 2000
.
Each SPA has an EU code – for example the North Norfolk Coast SPA has the code UK9009031.
The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 implement the terms of the Directive in Scotland, England and Wales. In Great Britain
, SPAs (and SACs) designated on land or in the intertidal area are normally also notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSIs), and in Northern Ireland
as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). For example, the Broadland SPA in eastern England is a conglomeration of some 28 SSSIs. SPAs may extend below low tide
into the sea, and for these areas SSSI notification is not possible. In Scotland, some SPAs have been classified without any underpinning designation by SSSI.
s in Poland
are called OSOPs . As of 2005, there were 72 OSOP Areas designated as such.
: Aljustrel Municipality, Almodôvar Municipality, Beja Municipality
, Castro Verde Municipality, Mértola Municipality and Ourique Municipality, a total area of 79,007 hectares (790 km 2).
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds
Birds Directive
The Birds Directive is a European Union directive adopted in 2009. It replaces Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds which was modified several times and had become very unclear...
.
Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
of migratory birds
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
and certain particularly threatened birds.
Together with Special Areas of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
(SACs), the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the EU, called Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
.
Each SPA has an EU code – for example the North Norfolk Coast SPA has the code UK9009031.
SPAs in the United Kingdom
As at 21 September 2006, there were 252 classified SPAs and 12 proposed SPAs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 implement the terms of the Directive in Scotland, England and Wales. In Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, SPAs (and SACs) designated on land or in the intertidal area are normally also notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSIs), and in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). For example, the Broadland SPA in eastern England is a conglomeration of some 28 SSSIs. SPAs may extend below low tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
into the sea, and for these areas SSSI notification is not possible. In Scotland, some SPAs have been classified without any underpinning designation by SSSI.
SPAs in Poland
Special Protection Areas for birdBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
s in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
are called OSOPs . As of 2005, there were 72 OSOP Areas designated as such.
SPAs in Portugal
The Castro Verde SPA extends into six municipalities of Baixo Alentejo SubregionBaixo Alentejo Subregion
Baixo Alentejo is a NUTS3 subregion of Alentejo Region, in Portugal. It consists of 13 concelhos. It has a total area of 8,505 km² and a population of 135,105 ; thus 15.8 people/km².The chief city is Beja....
: Aljustrel Municipality, Almodôvar Municipality, Beja Municipality
Beja Municipality
Beja Municipality is located Beja District. The city of Beja is located in the municipality.-Parishes:* Albernoa* Baleizão* Salvador* Santa Maria da Feira* Beja Santiago Maio* São João Baptista* Beringel* Cabeça Gorda* Mombeja...
, Castro Verde Municipality, Mértola Municipality and Ourique Municipality, a total area of 79,007 hectares (790 km 2).
See also
- Area of Special Protection (UK designation unrelated to Special Protection Area)
- Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural HabitatsConvention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural HabitatsThe Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats 1979, also known as the Bern Convention , came into force on June 1, 1982....
- Ramsar ConventionRamsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
- Protected areas of the United KingdomProtected areas of the United KingdomProtected areas of the United Kingdom are areas in the United Kingdom which need and /or receive protection because of their environmental, historical or cultural value to the nation. Methods and aims of protection vary depending on the nature and importance of the resource...
- UK sites recognised for their biodiversity conservation importance
- Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean ImportanceSpecially Protected Areas of Mediterranean ImportanceSpecially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance are sites "of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the Mediterranean; contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of endangered species; are of special interest at the scientific,...
- List of Special Protection Areas in the United Kingdom
- List of conservation topics