Special Protection Area

A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC).

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Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.

Related Topics:
European Union - Habitats

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Each SPA has an EU code, e.g. the North Norfolk Coast SPA has the code UK9009031.

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SPAs are composed of one or more SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific Interest) or ASSIs (Areas of Special Scientific Interest), e.g. Broadland SPA is a collection of 28 SSSIs. Together with Special Area of Conservation or SACs, the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the European Union, called Natura 2000.

Related Topics:
Site of Special Scientific Interest - Special Area of Conservation - European Union - Natura 2000

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There is a total 87 proposed or designated SPAs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Related Topics:
England - Scotland - Wales - Northern Ireland

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