The Birds Directive Selection Guidelines for Special Protection Areas

About this book

In 1979 the European Community adopted the Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC). This Directive is usually referred to as the Birds Directive. It provides for the protection, management and control of all species of naturally occurring wild birds in the European territory of Member States. In particular it requires Member States to identify areas to be given special protection for the rare or vulnerable species listed in Annex I (Article 4.1) and for regularly occurring migratory species (Article 4.2) and for the protection of wetlands, especially wetlands of international importance. These areas are known as Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

These guidelines have been prepared to assist the selection of SPAs in the UK. The process involves two stages. The first stage is intended to identify areas that are likely to qualify for SPA status. These areas are then considered further using one or more of the judgements in Stage 2 to select the most suitable areas in number and size for SPA classification. Stage 1’s fourth guideline gives consideration, using the Stage 2 judgements, to cases where a species’ population status, ecology or movement patterns may mean that an adequate number of areas cannot be identified from Stage 1’s first three guidelines alone. In addition, these Stage 2 judgements are particularly important for selecting and determining the boundaries of SPAs for thinly dispersed and wide-ranging species.

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