Background

The European Commission Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (The Habitats Directive) requires member states to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect some of the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe.

By June 1999, the UK had submitted a list of 340 candidate SACs to the EC, including 21 sites in Northern Ireland. However, along with those of most other member states, the UK list was criticised for its insufficient coverage of a number of habitats and species listed in the Directive.

The latter part of 2000 saw an additional 22 SACs in Northern Ireland, plus additional qualifying features for many of the sites submitted to the EC. These additional sites contain some of our best woodland, for example Breen Wood in County Antrim, Banagher Glen in County Londonderry and Rostrevor Wood in County Down. Significantly, two rivers have been proposed for the first time - the Cladagh in County Fermanagh and Upper Ballinderry in County Tyrone, for their populations of freshwater pearl mussel. A significant number of raised bogs were also included.

In May 2003 a further 9 cSACs were submitted to Europe, Aughnadarragh Lough and Ballykilbeg in County Down, Curran Bog, Dead Island Bog and River Foyle and Tributaries in County Londonderry, Cranny Bogs, Deroran Bog, Tonnagh Beg Bog and Tully Bog in County Tyrone.

The most recent site added to the Northern Ireland suite of SACs is the River Roe and Tributaries.

This now means that 53 Special Areas of Conservation have been designated and a further candidate SAC submitted to the EC as the major part of Northern Ireland's contribution to Natura 2000. These sites have already been declared Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). These proposals have been the subject of consultation with a wide range of interests. Landowners within ASSIs affected by the SAC proposals have been notified and informed about the implications of the Directive.

SPAs and SACs together form the European wide network of sites known as Natura 2000.

The Habitats Directive is implemented in Northern Ireland through The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 as amended by The Conservation (Natural Habitats,etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.