European designation for an area of international importance for wild birds.
areas designated under European Community Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds, requiring the UK government to take special measures to conserve the habitat of rare or vulnerable birds (listed under the directive) and all regularly occurring migratory birds. The government is required to avoid pollution or disturbance to SPA's. The Seasalter coast is part of the designated Swale SPA; both the Reculver Coast and Stodmarsh are proposed as SPA's.
International designation by English Nature (formerly the NCC) to protect the habitats of threatened species of wildlife.
An area identified and protected under the EU Birds Directive as being internationally important for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds.
An area of international importance for the conservation of wild birds, classified under the EC Conservation of Wild Birds Directive.
An area of international importance for rare, threatened or migratory species of birds. Proposed developments must be considered against the risk to the ecological integrity of the site under the terms of EU Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (commonly known as the Birds Directive).
Areas classified by the Scottish Executive in accordance with the EC Birds Directive for the purpose of protecting the habitats of rare, threatened or migratory bird species. See main policy Env\1.
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (http://europa.eu.int/comm/images/language/lang_en3.gif 79/409/CEE).