Monach Islands

Site details

UK map showing location of Monach Islands Special Area of Conservation/Site of Community Importance.
Location of Monach Islands SAC/SCI/cSAC
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority  Western Isles / Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Centroid* NF644622
Latitude 57 31 30 N
Longitude 07 36 30 W
SAC EU code UK0012694
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 3646.58
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.

General site character

Marine areas. Sea inlets (83.7%)
Tidal rivers. Estuaries. Mud flats. Sand flats. Lagoons (including saltwork basins) (3%)
Coastal sand dunes. Sand beaches. Machair (8%)
Shingle. Sea cliffs. Islets (5%)
Bogs. Marshes. Water fringed vegetation. Fens (0.3%)


Boundary map and associated biodiversity information on the NBN Gateway.

Natura 2000 data form for this site as submitted to Europe (PDF format, size 30kb).

 

Note:

When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

21A0 Machairs
Monach Islands complex is representative of machair types found in the Outer Hebrides and is similar to that found on North Uist. These islands consist almost entirely of machair and support some of the best examples of grazed uncultivated machair in the Outer Hebrides. There are rich calcareous grasslands as well as transitions to loch and acidic grassland. The islands are separated from outside human influences by 10 km of sea, and have been uninhabited and uncultivated since 1947. There are few human visitors, and therefore little interference with ecological processes compared with other machair systems. They provide a reference point for measuring the impact of human activities on machair systems.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

2120 Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (`white dunes`)
2130 Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)  * Priority feature

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

1364 Grey seal  Halichoerus grypus
The Monach Islands, off the Outer Hebrides, offer a wide area of largely undisturbed habitat for breeding grey seal Halichoerus grypus, and there is easy access to the grassy swards and dune systems of the islands. These islands hold the largest breeding colony in the UK, contributing over 20% of annual UK pup production.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

Not applicable.


Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.


 
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