1.5 Site selection criteria and principles in the UK
1.5.1 Summary of site selection criteria and principles
As noted in Section 1.3.2, Annex III of the Directive includes
criteria for selecting sites eligible for identification as Sites
of Community Importance and designation as Special Areas for
Conservation (SACs). The text of the Directive also includes
reference to selection of sites using the selection criteria and
relevant scientific information. In preparing the UK national list
of candidate SACs (for terrestrial and inshore habitats), as well
as the Annex III selection criteria, additional principles for site
selection were developed, which interpret and supplement the Annex
III selection criteria. These additional principles extend beyond
the specific criteria that are included in Annex III and occur at
various points in the Directive, and were developed in the light of
discussions between Member States and the European Commission at
the 1994 Atlantic Biogeographical meeting (Hopkins & Buck 1995). The selection
criteria and additional principles for site selection are shown in
Table 1.4 below. The interpretation of these main factors and the
judgements made in applying them to selection of a high-quality
site list are described below.
Table 1.4 Summary of site assessment criteria and
additional principles used for site selection in the
UK
| Site assessment criteria: Annex I
habitats |
Reference |
| i.) Representativity |
Annex III Stage 1A(a); Article 1e; Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 4). |
| ii) Relative surface area of
habitat |
Annex III Stage 1A(b); Article 1e; Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 4). |
| iii) Conservation of structure and function |
Annex III Stage 1A(c); Article 1e. |
| iv) Global assessment |
Annex III Stage 1A(d). |
| Site assessment criteria: Annex II
species |
Reference |
| v) Proportion of UK population |
Annex III Stage 1B(a); Article 1I; Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 7). |
| vi) Conservation of features important for species
survival |
Annex III Stage 1B(b); Article 1i. |
| vii) Isolation of species populations |
Annex III Stage 1B(c); Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 7). |
| viii) Global assessment |
Annex III Stage 1B(d). |
| Additional principles |
Reference |
| ix) Priority/non-priority status |
Annex III Stage 1D; Article 1d; Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 3). |
| x) Geographical range |
Article 1e. |
| xi) Special UK responsibilities |
Article 3.2; Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic Biogeographical
Region (para. 6) |
| xii) Multiple interest |
Annex III Stage 2.2(d); Conclusions of 1994 Atlantic
Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 2). |
| xiii) Rarity |
Conclusions of
1994 Atlantic Biogeographical Region Meeting (para. 5). |
The process of site selection as a whole in the UK has been one
of considering, in respect of the relevant criteria and principles
in Table 1.4, the relative value of the proposed sites in relation
to the whole national resource of each habitat type and each
species separately. Information on how this is applied in each case
is included in the accounts that follow.
To meet the requirements of the EC, all qualifying interest
features are identified on each site, i.e. all occurrences of Annex
I habitats and Annex II species which are considered to be of
European importance. Fragmentary habitat occurrences, small
populations of species, and habitats and species occurring outside
their natural range have generally been treated as 'non-significant
presences'. These habitats and species are listed on the Natura
2000 standard data forms but do not require conservation objectives
and are not protected under the Directive (as stated in the EC
guidance document
Managing Natura 2000 sites: the provisions of Article 6 of the
'Habitats' Directive 92/43/EEC (European Commission
2000)). In general, the standard used to select Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England, Scotland and Wales, and
Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland
has been used as the threshold to distinguish between
non-significant presences and qualifying interest features. This
approach is based on the assessment of criteria similar to those
listed in Annex III of the Directive, and provides a standard
benchmark for use across the UK.
Application of the criteria and principles in Table 1.4 has led to
the selection of a list of sites, all of which, subject to
consultation, have been or will be submitted as eligible for
identification as sites of community importance (SCIs).