Editing Special Protection Area

{{short description|Type of protected areas in the European Union defined by the Birds Directive}}
A '''special protection area''' ('''SPA''') is a designation under the [[European Union]] [[Birds Directive|Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds]]. Under the Directive, Member States of the [[European Union]] (EU) have a duty to safeguard the [[habitat (ecology)|habitats]] of [[Bird migration|migratory birds]] and certain particularly threatened birds. Together with [[Special Area of Conservation|special areas of conservation]] (SACs), the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the EU, called [[Natura 2000]]. Each SPA has an EU code – for example the North Norfolk Coast SPA has the code ''UK9009031''.<ref name=EUBirdDir>{{cite web | title = The Birds Directive | work = Environment | publisher = [[European Union]] | url = http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/birdsdirective/index_en.htm}}</ref>

==In the United Kingdom==
As at 21 September 2006, there were 252 classified SPAs and 12 proposed SPAs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 implement the terms of the Directive in Scotland, England and Wales. In [[Great Britain]], SPAs (and SACs) designated on land or in the [[intertidal]] area are normally also notified as [[Site of Special Scientific Interest|Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs), and in [[Northern Ireland]] as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). For example, the [[Broadland SPA]] in eastern England is a conglomeration of some 28 SSSIs. SPAs may extend below [[Tide|low tide]] into the sea, and for these areas SSSI notification is not possible. In Scotland, some SPAs have been classified without any underpinning designation by SSSI.{{Clarify|date=February 2010}}<!-- Are these terrestrial or marine? -->

==In Poland==
{{Further|Special Protection Areas in Poland}}
''Special Protection Areas'' for [[Birds]] in [[Poland]] are called OSOPs ({{langx|pl|Obszar Specjalnej Ochrony Ptaków}}). As of 2005, there were 72 OSOP Areas designated as such.

==In the Netherlands==
In the Netherlands, ''Special Protection Areas'' for birds are called ''Vogelrichtlijngebied''.

==In Portugal==
The [[Castro Verde SPA]] extends into six municipalities of [[Baixo Alentejo Subregion]]: [[Aljustrel]], [[Almodôvar Municipality]], [[Beja Municipality]], [[Castro Verde Municipality]], [[Mértola]] and [[Ourique]] Municipality, a total area of 79,007 hectares (790&nbsp;km <sup>2</sup>).

==In Spain==
The Spanish term is ''ZEPA''.
There were 658 Spanish sites as at 2021.<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = "Zonas de especial protección para las aves de España"
 | work = Environment
 | publisher = [[Ministry of Environment (Spain)|Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO)]]
 | url = https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/espacios-protegidos/red-natura-2000/zepa.aspx
}}
</ref>

== In the Czech Republic ==
The Czech Republic uses the term ''Ptačí oblast'' (PO, bird area) for SPAs. Between 2004 and 2009, 41 bird areas were declared by government directives.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2008-11-27 |title=Nařízení vlády |url=https://www.mzp.czcz/narizeni_vlady |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Ministerstvo životního prostředí |language=cs}}</ref> They cover 9% of the state area.

== See also ==
*[[Area of Special Protection]] (UK designation unrelated to Special Protection Area)
*[[Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats]]
*[[List of conservation topics]]
*[[List of Special Protection Areas in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Protected areas of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Ramsar Convention]]
*[[Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance]]
*[[UK sites recognised for their biodiversity conservation importance]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Special Protection Areas}}
*[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31979L0409:EN:HTML Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Special Protection Areas| ]]
[[Category:Protected areas]]