Condition monitoring of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are strictly protected sites designated under the EC Habitats Directive. The Habitats Directive has a list of habitat types and species that are considered to be most in need of conservation at a European level (excluding birds, which are covered under the EC Birds Directive). Once sites have been designated, the country agencies work with owners, occupiers and others to secure their management and protection regime. One element of this work is a programme of habitat and species monitoring across the site. Habitat monitoring includes woodland, uplands, wetlands, lowland grasslands and coastal margins. For species, monitoring covers a range of taxa from invertebrates through to mammals (including bat species) and both higher and lower plant. This dataset combines the results of SAC monitoring from across Wales. The purpose of this collation is to assess the condition of features (the reason sites are protected) across these specific sites. The condition of features is monitored using site-specific performance indicators. The scope of performance indicators includes habitats and species across the terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal environments. This data is also used as an important record for aspects of their management, both as an aid to management decisions and for reporting at a variety of scales, including UK through JNCC, and for contributing to UK reports on Conservation Status under the EC Habitats Directive.

Identifier: NRW_DS110194

Alternative Title

Monitro cyflwr Ardaloedd Cadwraeth Arbennig (ACA) Cymru

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: The method for data collection across SACs is Common Standards Monitoring, this involves an assessment of feature condition for protected sites. Performance indicators are devised from JNCC generic guidance ( http://www.jncc.gov.uk ) and modified to reflect local distinctiveness and quantified to reflect the desired state of the feature. Assessment of these performance indicators are made using methods appropriate to the nature and scale of the feature and conclusions drawn depending on whether performance indicators pass or fail. Information relevant to management is also collected. Together the condition assessments and management information provide information to help inform assessments of conservation status. The intention is for every feature on every designated site in the UK to be assessed over a period of six years in a rolling monitoring cycle e.g. 2001 - 2006.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2015-12-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 1999-01-01

Topic category

Biota

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Originator

Various including volunteer recorders

c/o Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Originator

Various contractors

See Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Originator

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)

Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Extent

Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Format Type and Description

Documents Documents ()

Specification

[A] High level data held on Excel spreadsheets. [B] Supporting data (e.g. field data, maps etc) are held typically on excel spreadsheets and MapInfo GIS. Where work is done by contractors: [C] Raw species and habitat data is presented on Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, [D] A report in hardcopy and electronically (provided on CD ROM). [E] Marine monitoring data is held in Marine Recorder. [F] Any polygon data will be supplied in electronic format and imported into MapInfo GIS. See individual metadata entries in 'contains' field for a more specific description.

Data quality

Quality Scope: Dataset

Conformity: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree: false

Lineage: The method for data collection across SACs is Common Standards Monitoring, this involves an assessment of feature condition for protected sites. Performance indicators are devised from JNCC generic guidance ( http://www.jncc.gov.uk ) and modified to reflect local distinctiveness and quantified to reflect the desired state of the feature. Assessment of these performance indicators are made using methods appropriate to the nature and scale of the feature and conclusions drawn depending on whether performance indicators pass or fail. Information relevant to management is also collected. Together the condition assessments and management information provide information to help inform assessments of conservation status. The intention is for every feature on every designated site in the UK to be assessed over a period of six years in a rolling monitoring cycle e.g. 2001 - 2006.

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Species distribution

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (see also Candidate Special Areas of Conservation cSAC)
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) - SAC monitoring
Common Standards Monitoring (CSM)
feature

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2023-12-31

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type: Other restrictions

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations: no limitations

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints: Part of this dataset is sensitive and restricted as it contains data exempt from general release under EIR. Sensitive data must be kept confidential; general release is not permitted due to risk of harm to the environment or third parties. [See NRW guidance on Ecological data and information exempt from general release]

Use Constraints

Use constraints type: Other restrictions

Other constraints: © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under provision and in line with the terms of a NRW licence and NRWs guidance on Ecological data exempt from general release.

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130313934 XML

Metadata Language: English

Parent Identifier: Common Standards Monitoring (CSM)
NRW_DS46198

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-05-31T09:38:43.049Z

Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Publishing Body

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

Condition monitoring of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body