Editing Snowdonia (section)

==Natural history==
[[File:Rain coming in over the lake.jpg|left|thumb|Rain coming in over [[Llyn Cowlyd]] north of [[Capel Curig]]]]
The park's entire coastline is a [[Special Area of Conservation]], which runs from the [[Llŷn Peninsula]] down the mid-Wales coast, the latter containing valuable sand dune systems.

The park's natural forests are of the mixed [[deciduous]] type, the commonest tree being the [[Welsh oak (tree)|Welsh oak]]. [[Birch]], ash, mountain-ash and hazel are also common. The park also contains some large (planted) [[coniferous]] forested areas such as [[Gwydir Forest]] near [[Betws-y-Coed]], although some areas, once harvested, are now increasingly being allowed to regrow naturally.

===Flora===
Northern Snowdonia is the only place in Britain where the [[Snowdon lily]] (''Gagea serotina''), an [[arctic–alpine]] plant, is found and the only place in the world where the Snowdonia hawkweed ''[[Hieracium snowdoniense]]'' grows.

[[File:Llyn y Dywarchen.jpg|right|thumb|Llyn y Dywarchen, near [[Rhyd Ddu]]]]

One of the major problems facing the park in recent years has been the growth of ''[[Rhododendron ponticum]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/3301402/Important-Plant-Areas-in-the-UK.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113055049/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/3301402/Important-Plant-Areas-in-the-UK.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 November 2012|title=Important plant areas in the UK|date=24 July 2007|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> This fast-growing [[invasive species]] has a tendency to take over and stifle native species. It can form massive towering growths and has a companion fungus that grows on its roots producing toxins that are poisonous to any local flora and fauna for a seven-year period after the ''Rhododendron'' infestations have been eradicated. As a result, there are a number of desolate landscapes.

===Fauna===
Mammals in the park include [[Eurasian otter|otters]], [[European polecat|polecats]], [[feral goat]]s, and [[pine marten]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/08/03/if-you-go-down-to-the-woods-today-you-might-find-an-endangered-pine-marten-91466-24300490/|title=If you go down to the woods today you might find an endangered pine marten|last=Turner|first=Robin|date=3 August 2009|publisher=WalesOnline}}</ref> Birds include [[common raven|raven]], [[red-billed chough]], [[peregrine falcon|peregrine]], [[osprey]], [[merlin (bird)|merlin]] and the [[red kite]]. The rainbow-coloured [[Snowdon beetle]] (''[[Chrysolina cerealis]]'') is only found in northern Snowdonia.

=== Conservation designations ===
Snowdonia has a particularly high number of protected sites in respect of its diverse ecology; nearly 20% of its total area is protected by UK and European law.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nationalparks.uk/students/whatisanationalpark/specialqualities/special_qualities_sn |title=Special qualities in Snowdonia |website=National Parks UK |access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> Half of that area was set aside by the government under the European Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation.<ref name="Snowdonia NP">{{cite web |title=Wildlife |url=http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/snowdonia-national-park/wildlife |publisher=Eryri National Park Authority |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194729/http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/snowdonia-national-park/wildlife |archive-date=2 November 2013 }}</ref> There are a large number of [[Site of special scientific interest|Sites of special scientific interest]] (or 'SSSIs'), designated both for fauna and flora but also in some cases for geology. Nineteen of these sites are managed as [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserves]] by [[Natural Resources Wales]]. The park also contains twelve [[Special Area of Conservation|Special Areas of Conservation]] (or 'SACs'), three [[Special Protection Area]]s (or 'SPAs') and three [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar sites]].<ref name="Snowdonia NP"/> Some are wholly within the park boundaries, others straddle it to various degrees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mapping Portal |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=Geoindex Onshore |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>

====Sites of Special Scientific Interest====
There are numerous SSSIs within the park, the most extensive of which are Snowdonia, {{lang|cy|italic=no|Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt, Morfa Harlech, Rhinog, Berwyn, Cadair Idris, Llyn Tegid, Aber Mawddach / Mawddach}} Estuary, {{lang|cy|italic=no|Dyfi, Morfa Dyffryn, Moel Hebog, Coedydd Dyffryn Ffestiniog}} and {{lang|cy|italic=no|Coedydd Nanmor}}.

==== National nature reserves ====
The following NNRs are either wholly or partly within the park:
{{lang|cy|italic=no|Allt y Benglog, Y Berwyn}} (in multiple parts), {{lang|cy|italic=no|Cader Idris, Ceunant Llennyrch, Coed Camlyn, Coed Cymerau, Coed Dolgarrog, Coed Ganllwyd, Coed Gorswen, Coed Tremadog, Coedydd Aber, Coedydd Maentwrog}} (in 2 parts), {{lang|cy|italic=no|Coed y Rhygen, Cwm Glas Crafnant, Cwm Idwal, Hafod Garregog, Morfa Harlech, Rhinog}} and Snowdon.

==== Special Areas of Conservation ====
[[File:Eryri mountains reflection (50879310288).jpg|thumb|Eryri mountains reflection]]
The twelve SACs are as follows:
*Afon Eden – Cors Goch Trawsfynydd
*Afon Gwyrfai a (''and'') Llyn Cwellyn
* Part of the Berwyn a Mynyddoedd De Clwyd / Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains SAC.
* Cadair Idris (in two parts)
*Coedydd Derw a Safleoedd Ystlumod Meirion / Meirionydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites:  a series of sites between {{lang|cy|italic=no|Tremadog, Trawsfynydd}}, and {{lang|cy|italic=no|Ffestiniog}} and {{lang|cy|italic=no|Beddgelert}} and extending up the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Gwynant}}. It also includes many of the oakwoods of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Mawddach}} and its tributaries.
*Corsydd Eifionydd (''Eifionydd Fens'') (north of Garndolbenmaen)
*Eryri/Snowdonia, which covers much of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Carneddau, Glyderau}}, and the Snowdon massif
* Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt
*Mwyngloddiau Fforest Gwydir / Gwydyr Forest Mines (north of Betws-y-Coed)
* The Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC covers the entire Cardigan Bay coastline of the park and the sea area and extends above the high water mark at {{lang|cy|italic=no|Morfa Harlech, Mochras}} and around the Dovey and {{lang|cy|italic=no|Mawddach}} estuaries.
*Rhinog
* River Dee and Bala Lake / Afon Dyfrdwy a Llyn Tegid

==== Special Protection Areas ====
The three SPAs are Dovey Estuary / {{lang|cy|italic=no|Aber Dyfi}} (of which a part is within the park), {{lang|cy|italic=no|Berwyn}} (of which a part is within the park) and {{lang|cy|italic=no|Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt}}.

==== Ramsar sites ====
The three designated [[Ramsar site]]s are the [[Dyfi Biosphere]] (Cors Fochno and Dyfi), Cwm Idwal and Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake).