Editing Special Area of Conservation

{{short description|Protected area in the European Union under the Habitats Directive}}
A '''special area of conservation''' ('''SAC''') is defined in the [[European Union]]'s [[Habitats Directive]] (92/43/EEC), also known as the ''Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora''. They are to protect the 220 habitats and approximately 1,000 species listed in annex I and II of the directive which are considered to be of European interest following criteria given in the directive. They must be chosen from the [[Site of Community Importance|sites of Community importance]] by the member states and designated SAC by an act assuring the conservation measures of the natural habitat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/EEAGlossary/S/special_area_of_conservation |title=SAC definition in the Directive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718184419/http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/EEAGlossary/S/special_area_of_conservation |archivedate=2006-07-18}}</ref>

SACs complement [[special protection area]]s and together form a network of protected sites across the [[European Union]] called [[Natura 2000]].  This, in turn, is part of the [[Emerald network]] of [[Area of Special Conservation Interest|Areas of Special Conservation Interest]] (ASCIs) under the [[Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats|Berne Convention]].

==Assessment methodology in the United Kingdom==
Prior to being designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), sites have been assessed under a two-stage process set out by the [[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]. The value of the proposed site is considered in relation to the whole national resource of each habitat type and of each species.

===Stage one===

Firstly, assessment of the relative importance of sites containing examples of the individual habitat types. Four criteria are used:
* the degree of representativity;
* the area;
* the degree of conservation of habitat structure and functions;
* restoration possibilities and a global assessment of conservation value (i.e. an overall assessment).

Secondly, species assessment evaluates population size and density, the degree of conservation of the features of the habitat that are important for the species and restoration possibilities, the degree of isolation of the population in relation to the species' natural range and a global assessment of conservation value.<ref name="SAC">{{Cite web |title=Cors Caron - Special Areas of Conservation |url=https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0014790 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=sac.jncc.gov.uk |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee}}</ref>

===Stage two===

This stage is often informally referred to as 'moderation'. The criteria used in Stage 2 are intended to be used to assess the sites at the level of the [[Biogeographic regions of Europe|nine biogeographical regions]] and the EU as a whole. The Stage 2 criteria may be summarised as:
*relative value of the site at national level;
*relationship of the site to migration routes or its role as part of an ecosystem on both sides of one or more Community frontiers;
*total area of the site;
*number of habitat types and species present;
*global ecological value of the site at the level of the biogeographical region and/or EU as a whole.

==See also==
*[[List of Special Areas of Conservation in the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[List of Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of Special Areas of Conservation in England]]
*[[List of Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland]]
*[[List of Special Areas of Conservation in Wales]]
*[[Conservation designation]]s
*[[Index of conservation articles]]
*[[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB)
*[[Environmentally Sensitive Area]] (ESA)
*[[Heritage coast]]
*[[Protected area]]
*[[Scheduled monument]]
*[[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI)
*[[World Heritage Site]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1458 List of UK SACs] – Joint Nature Conservation Committee
* [https://magic.defra.gov.uk/magicmap.aspx MAGIC maps] – Natural England – shows SACs and other designations in Britain

{{conservation of species}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:European Union and the environment]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation| ]]
[[Category:Protected areas]]