EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
Defra: Three estuaries - the Dee, Humber and Severn - have been earmarked by the government as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect vulnerable wildlife and habitats. Defra has written to the European Commission to seek SAC status for the three candidate sites, to add to the UK's 611 SACs covering just over two and a half million hectares.
The Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992) requires each Member State to submit a list of Candidate SACs (cSACs) to the Commission to make up a network of high-quality conservation sites known as Natura 2000.
This network consists of SACs and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) established to protect wild birds under the Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979). The Natura 2000 network is internationally recognised as forming part of the global effort to conserve biodiversity.
Press release ~ 'Special Areas of Conservation in England and how they affect you' ~ EU Habitats Directive ~ Sustainable Development Commission ~ Co nservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 ~ Severn Estuary ~ Dee Estuary ~ Humber Estuary ~ Ramsar site ~ Natura 2000 network (select sub-section of link)
DWP: The European Commission has agreed to contribute £2bn to a proposed new £4bn European Social Fund programme for England for 2007 to 2013 – See ‘In the News’ section above for more details.
