SPA
Review 2016
Since 2009 the statutory nature conservation bodies have led the
SPA and Ramsar Scientific Working Group’s (SPAR SWG)work to undertake
a third Review of the UK Special Protection Area (SPA) network as
requested by Ministers.
This activity has:
i. further developed guidance and
principles to assist the application of UK SPA selection
guidelines;
ii. assessed the adequacy of the SPA
network for relevant species;
iii. assessed gaps in data availability for
species and made recommendations as to how these might be
filled;
iv.
considered issues in relation to the inclusion of cropped habitats
in SPAs;
v. reviewed relevant EU
case-law; and
vi.
undertaken an audit of the content of the network in the 2000s,
assessing change since the second review in the 1990s.
This network of sites of international
importance is central to the conservation of UK birds. The
Review documents the work of the country agencies to implement this
protected area network, especially over the last 16
years.
It also presents an assessment of current population sizes
within individual sites, documents network-scale changes over a
decade, and assesses future conservation needs.
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