The UK SPA & Ramsar (Avian) Scientific Working Group

   

The SPA & Ramsar (Avian) Scientific Working Group (SPAR SWG) was established by Defra in November 2001 to provide scientific advice on matters relating to the UK Special Protection Area network.  Matters relating to avian elements of the Ramsar network were added to the Group's remit in January 2004.

 

Abernethy Forest SPA © Helen Baker, JNCC

The SPAR SWG comprises representatives from government, the statutory country conservation agencies and non-government organisations from the conservation, land use and marine sectors.
 

The Group was established at the same time as the UK SPA network review [-SPA Review -] was published. The culmination of eight years of work, the review is a comprehensive assessment of the status of the UK network of SPAs in the early 1990s. Both the review process and consultations on the SPA network have highlighted the need for additional development of the network - an issue that will be addressed by the SPAR Scientific Working Group.

 

The working practice of the Group is set out in its revised Terms of Reference (pdf 42Kb), which also include an overview of the issues identified for consideration. It meets three times per year and is supported by a  provided by JNCC.

 

Papers and Minutes

Annual Report: 2006

• 2006 Annual report approved (PDF, 64 kb)

Papers September 2006

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 62 kb)
• Implications of recent site casework for the definition of SPA boundaries and the application of the Habitats Regulations (PDF, 218 kb)

Papers February 2006

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 73 kb)
• Additional Ramsar Site Selection Guidance from CoP9 (PDF, 144 kb)
• Summary note to N2RSC on possible scope and costs of the 2008-2010 SPA & Ramsar Review (PDF, 44 kb)

Annual Report: 2005

• 2005 Annual report approved (PDF, 94 kb)

Papers October 2005

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 68 kb)

Papers May 2005

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 82 kb)

Papers January 2005

• Approved Minutes (PDF,127 kb)

Annual Report: 2004

• 2004 Annual Report approved (PDF, 400 kb)

Papers from September 2003

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 50 kb)
• SPA for Ring Ouzel (PDF, 12 kb)
• Status of Little Egret in the UK (BTO): http://www.bto.org/survey/webs/webs-special-egrets.htm

Papers from May 2003

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 46 kb)

Papers from January 2003

Annual Report: November 2001- December 2002

• 2001-2002 Annual Report Approved (PDF, 283 kb)

Papers from September 2002 meeting

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 37 kb)
• Cropped Habitats Information Project (CHIP) (PDF, 154 kb)

Papers from May 2002 meeting

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 48 kb)
• Selection of sites for wintering waterbirds: 'minimum of 50' rule (PDF, 78 kb)
• Passage waders: progress report (PDF, 35 kb)
• SPAs for Ring Ouzels (PDF, 31 kb)
  

Papers from March 2002 meeting

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 45 kb)
• The Public Release of Bird Data (PDF, 50 kb)
• The Issue of Inclusion of Cropped Habitats in "Most Suitable Territories" (PDF, 22 kb)
• Additional SPAs for Chough (PDF, 30 kb)
• Review of SPA suite for Spotted Crakes (PDF, 29 kb)
• Twite Carduelis flavirostris in the UK: consideration of treatment under Article 4 of the Birds Directive (PDF, 40 kb)

Papers from January 2002 meeting

• Approved Minutes (PDF, 36 kb)
• Avian Population Estimates Panel (APEP) (PDF, 15 kb)
• Waterbird and wader estimates (PDF, 34 kb)
• Statutory Conservation Agency/RSPB Annual Breeding Bird Survey (SCARABBS) (PDF, 38 kb)
• Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) developments (PDF, 22 kb)
• Common Standards Monitoring (PDF, 12 kb)