SECTION 4 - Identify the designated Natura 2000 sites that are present and list their interest features. << Prev Next >>
Section
- Use this section to identify the designated Natura 2000 sites and features that are present in the area and therefore may be affected by the proposal.
- At this stage this is text entry only but the green ‘N2K Features List’ tab provides a list of features for you to consider. External sources of information will be needed to identify the designated sites and their interest features (links to selected external web sites are available in Section 5 which could help).
- In Section 5 the individual features will be selected from the database
N2K Features List
Natura 2000 Features
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Tips
- Under the green ‘N2K Features List’ tab you can click on the text to view more information on the species and habitats (currently it links to the UK’s JNCC web site).
- See the Grey ‘Case Study’ tab for some examples
Case Study 1
Seaforth River Terminal - Mersey Estuary UK
The reclamation and dredging areas are not within designated sites but Mersey is of high nature conservation importance and the following sites lie near these site:
- The Sefton Coast SSSI and Special Area of Conservation (SAC);
- The Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore pSPA and pRamsar;
- The Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA and Ramsar; and
- Mersey Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) and wetland of international importance (Ramsar site), which as of June 2004 has been extended to include the former New Ferry SSSI.
The closest designated sites to the Channel Deepening areas are the Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA/Ramsar and the Sefton Coast SAC. These sites share a contiguous boundary in the Blundellsands foreshore area which lies at a minimum distance of 250m from the Crosby Shoal which is the nearest proposed Approach Channel deepening area.
The Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA qualifies under Article 4.1 of the EC Birds Directive as it is used regularly by 1% or more of the Great Britain populations of Common Tern, Ruff, Bar-tailed Godwit, Bewick’s Swan, Golden Plover and Whooper Swan. The site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive as it is used regularly by 1% or more of the biogeographical populations of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Knot, Oystercatcher, Pink-footed Goose, Pintail, Redshank, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal.
In summary, the habitats/ species of European priority interest for which the Sefton Coast SAC area has been designated are:
- 2110 - Embryonic shifting dunes;
- 2120 - Shifting dunes along the shoreline with marram (Ammophila arenaria);
- 2130 - Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes);
- 2170 - Dunes with Salix repens ssp. Argentea;
- 2190 - Humid dunes slacks; and
- 1395 - Petalwort.
In addition to these habitats/species there are habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site, as follows:
- 2150 - Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes; and
- 1166 - Triturus cristatus.
The closest designated sites to the reclamation the Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore pSPA and pRamsar. The proposed SPA qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive as it is used regularly by 1% or more of the biogeographical populations of Redshank and Turnstone. Furthermore, the area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive to be a wetland of international importance as it is used regularly by over 20,000 waterfowl in any season including Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Turnstone and Redshank.
Case Study 2
Text to follow..
