Introduction
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 which 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.
In the application of Stage 2 judgements, a preference should
be given to those areas which contribute significantly to the
species population viability locally and as a whole. The protection
of the populations in these areas is considered alongside, and is
complemented by, other non-site-based special measures designed to
maintain populations.
The national implementation of the Natura 2000 network and
other special conservation measures need to be co-ordinated at a
European Union level to ensure the survival and reproduction in the
areas of distribution of each Annex I or migratory bird species. In
the light of this objective, selection of SPAs in the UK has regard
to conservation measures being taken for each species by other
European Union Member States.