NIEA Special Protection Areas (Metadata)

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the EC Birds Directive, which came into force in April 1979. In Northern Ireland SPAs are protected by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995. They are classified for rare and vulnerable birds (as listed on Annex I of the Directive), and for regularly occurring migratory species. The European Commission's website hosts a full copy of the EC Directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC), within which all the Articles and Annexes (including amendments) are given, along with useful interpretation information.