Latest Newsletter

Documents marked need
Adobe Reader to view. In the unlikely event that it is not on your computer, it is available free of charge from:-

This page is validated to XHTML 1.0

This page is validated to CSS

Protecting RAMSAR sites from SMP induced coastal erosion

The North Norfolk District Council website includes information on the required legal protection of RAMSAR sites that could be used if the government persists in implementing the proposed Natural England policy suggesting the abandonment of the Norfolk Broads and other vital wildlife reserves of the threatened by marine inundation should the flood defences be allowed to disappear.

In a pdf file on the North Norfolk District Council website in section 3.5.1 it states ....

Sites of International importance

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 include rare wetlands of international importance with particular reference to wildfowl populations. Special Protection Areas (SPAs), designated by member states under Article 4 of the European Community Wild Birds Directive, are designed to conserve the habitat of rare or endangered birds, or birds whose habitat is threatened, by protecting habitats from pollution, disturbance or deterioration. The North Norfolk Coast Ramsar Site and SPA covers eight parishes and the Broadland Ramsar Site and SPA covers part of the parish of Potter Heigham on the edge of the district. Some of Great Yarmouth North Denes SPA is within the North Norfolk District Council area. Both Ramsar sites and SPA's are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's).

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated sites under European and under U.K legislation - Conservation (Natural Habitiats &c.) Regulations 1994. These include species and/or habitats of European importance. The sites will also already be SSSI's. There are currently eight SACs within the North Norfolk District (Appendix 2). There is a category called candidate SACs, which are SACs that have not yet been ratified. SPAs and SACs together make Natura 2000, which is an overall network of protected areas throughout Europe.