F1 Schedule 1 - Ramsar Sites and Special Protection Areas

The UK is a contracting party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance which it ratified in 1982. The first conference of the Convention was held in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. Consequently, Ramsar is the term by which sites identified under the Convention have become known. Ramsar Sites are frequently quoted as being important for waterfowl. That is not, however, the sole reason for their importance. The criteria for identifying sites, as amended by the Regina and Montreux conferences of 1987 and 1990, include: rare, vulnerable or endangered species of plant or animal; diversity of flora and fauna: as well as criteria applicable to waterfowl.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are designated by member stares under Article 4 of the European Community Wild Birds Directive (79/409). The aim of this Directive is to conserve the habitat of rare or endangered birds, or birds whose habitat is threatened, by protecting it from pollution, dis-turbance or deterioration. The species are listed in Annex 1 of the Directive which is regularly amended. Members states are also directed to apply similar measures for species whose migra-tory path to breed, moult, winter or rest makes them regular visitors.

English Nature is instrumental in selecting sites under both the Convention and the Directive, but both are designated by the Secretary of State. By April 1995 there were 53 Special Protection Areas and 50 Ramsar Sites in Great Britain.