Habitat Protection

Most threatened animals cannot be properly protected without conservation of their habitats. There are legal provisions for the protection and management of areas where threatened species occur.

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves and Marine Nature Reserves are selected and protected under British law because they are examples of important habitats and often contain rare invertebrates.

• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are chosen under the Habitats Directive for other animals and plants needing habitat protection in Europe as a whole. Among these species are the Stag beetle and White clawed crayfish.

• Other areas in the UK are designated under the Ramsar Convention, a world-wide agreement on the conservation of wetlands.

Habitat Action Plans have been drawn up for priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.