Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) form the Natura 2000 network. In turn, the Natura 2000 network forms part of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) and is considered the EU’s contribution to the Emerald Network.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are sites designated under the European Union’s Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). ¹ The aim of SPAs is to safeguard the European bird species considered to be of particular importance and therefore listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, as well as regularly occurring migratory bird species which are not necessarily listed in Annex I. The Birds Directive also applies to birds’ eggs, nests and habitats. 

Articles 6(2), 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, which apply to Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and outline some protection measures such as the obligation to prevent the deterioration of the sites and to undertake appropriate assessments for any potentially harmful development, also apply to SPAs. ² Article 6(1) of the Habitats Directive which obliges Member States to apply conservation measures to the sites does not apply to SPAs; however, the Birds Directive has analogous Articles (4.1 and 4.2) that do apply to SPAs. ³ Articles 4(1) and 4(2) say that Member States must designate the most suitable territories of their country as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), in order to apply conservation measures to the birds and habitats in question. ¹

Unlike SCIs and SACs which must be approved by the European Commission, Member States select and designate SPAs directly without need for approval from the European Commission. Member States also have a margin of discretion in determining the most appropriate criteria for selecting SPAs, although the criteria must be entirely scientific. ⁴ They must then fully apply those criteria in a way that ensures that all the ‘most suitable territories’, both in number and surface area, are designated. The European Commission then determines whether the designated sites across the European Union are sufficient to form a coherent network for the protection of vulnerable and migratory bird species.

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) form the Natura 2000 network. In turn, the Natura 2000 network forms part of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) and is considered the EU’s contribution to the Emerald Network.