Spatial/summary data for UK SACs, SCIs and cSACs
Spreadsheet of UK SAC information
Summary data for all designated and candidate SACs in the UK
is included in a Microsoft Excel 97 spreadsheet, which enables
users of Excel 97 or later versions to carry out a number of
analyses of the SAC list. By using Excel's AutoFilter function
(Data > Filter > AutoFilter), it is
possible, for example, to list all SACs supporting any Habitats
Directive marine features, or, by using the Custom AutoFilter
function, to carry out multiple queries such as identifying all
SACs in Scotland that support both otter and salmon at global grade
A or B. The columns can also be sorted in a variety of ways
(Data > Sort) - for example alphabetically by
SAC name, by feature name, or by SAC area.
The columns are coloured to aid navigation, and an explanatory
note is provided for most columns - to read this, hover your mouse
cursor over the column heading. Further information about Microsoft
Excel is available from
Microsoft.
The spreadsheet has been compressed into a ZIP archive to reduce
download size - you will need compression software such WInZip or
StuffIt to expand the file.
Current version is 31 August 2007 (tranche 34), filename
UK_SAC_data_20070831.xls
The spreadsheet contains a number of worksheets:
- 'SAC feature data' contains a full listing of
all Habitats Directive features occurring on SACs in the UK. This
includes non-qualifying ('D-grade') features that are not a reason
for SAC selection at a particular site. Note that a feature may not
occur on all parts of a site, especially in the case of large
SACs.
- 'SAC site data' contains summary information
about the SACs themselves, including their size, location and date
of designation.
- 'SAC maps' offers a simple mapping facility.
If a particular feature or site is selected in the above worksheets
using the Autofilter function, a dot map will be displayed showing
the location of the site(s).
- 'SAC component SSSIs' lists Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (Areas of Special Scientific Interest in
Northern Ireland) that underpin SACs. Information on SSSIs/ASSIs
can be obtained from the relevant statutory nature conservation
agencies (the Countryside Council for Wales,
Natural England (formally
English Nature) and Scottish Natural Heritage, together
with the Environment and Heritage Service in
Northern Ireland). Details of most SSSIs in England are available
at www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi,
and for ASSIs in Northern Ireland at www.ehsni.gov.uk/natural/natural.shtml.
- 'SAC habitat classes' indicates the percentage
of each SAC comprised of certain broad habitat types. These are
intended to give a general impression of the character of the SAC.
They should not be confused with the Annex I habitats, which
are listed in the SAC feature data worksheet.
- 'SAC physical characteristics' contains
information on landscape, geomorphology, geology and soils. It is
intended to give a general impression of the physical character of
the SAC, and is not a detailed description. Note that some
characteristics listed may form only a minor component of the
site.
Note that the spreadsheet file size is approximately 1.4
Mb in ZIP compressed format. The spreadsheet is updated after any
new SAC information is submitted to the EC, so if you have
previously saved it to your own disk, please check that you are
still using the latest version.
Several columns of subsidiary data for Annex I habitats
and Annex II species are not contained in the spreadsheet.
These columns are seldom required and are omitted to prevent the
spreadsheet becoming unwieldy; however, a fuller version of the
spreadsheet including these columns can be e-mailed on request.
Please
if you
require this information.