What is Natura?
All the Core Forest Sites are part of a European-wide network. Called Natura 2000, this network grew from the commitment of EU member states to protect the variety of the continent’s wildlife. Natura is now a major way that both the UK and the EU are working to achieve goals set by the Biodiversity Convention, agreed by 150 countries at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
In 1992 the EU passed a new law to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This ‘Habitats Directive’ works with the earlier ‘Birds Directive’. The Natura network is a crucial way in which the directives are making a real difference for scarce wildlife across Europe.
Dynamic Duo
There are two types of Natura area. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are for birds. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), such as all the Core Forest sites, have wider wildlife interests. Some places can be designated as both SPA and SAC.
National treasures
Within these internationally important areas, you’ll typically find national-scale designations, especially Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). One of our major partners, Scottish Natural Heritage is the key body assisting government in work linked to Natura sites in Scotland. It helps people to carry out practical management in places designated for their natural heritage value.
Bio-duties
Through the Nature Conservation Scotland Act, all of our government-linked partners have a duty to work in ways that cherish Scotland’s biodiversity – the variety of life, from the simplest microbes to the largest mammals. But that’s nothing new to them, since many aspects of their woodland-linked work have taken account of wildlife interests during recent years.
BAP boosts
All of our partners are helped by initiatives, from local to national level, linked to biodiversity. Local Biodiversity Action Plans (such as the one drawn up by one partner – South Lanarkshire Council) are one way to achieve action for wildlife on the ground. At UK level, the UKBAP process has identified key species and habitats for priority UK action to fulfil our international commitments, both at EU and global levels.
Top Core
All the Core Forest Sites woodland types are priority habitats for UK biodiversity action. Within them are many species that are also listed as top creatures or plants for UK-Conservation. In the Core Forest Sites, this includes well-known species, such as otter and peregrine, and rare plants known only by their scientific names.
What all these different habitats and species have in common, whether you’re familiar with their names or not – is that they’re part of something big – a trove of biological richness and variety that’s important to the whole planet.
|
|
|
Desktop Pictures >> Help yourself to a refreshing and beautiful desktop picture, from Core Forest Sites. Download>> |
