4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3938373636 English Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-03-03T12:00:39.693Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Ardaloedd Cadwraeth Arbennig (ACA) Candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) Special Areas Conservation.LYR Sites (SAC) 2022-11-28 NRW_DS98766 This spatial dataset contains digital boundaries of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales. The EC Habitats and Species Directive came into effect in 1992 with the aim of maintaining a rich variety of wildlife by protecting vulnerable habitats, and the plants and animals they support. The Habitat Directive together with the 1979 Birds Directive will lead to the establishment of a series of sites throughout Europe that will be known as 'Natura 2000'. This represents the cream of European sites and will ensure their survival for future generations. SACs have been designated over a number of years, from 1993 to the present day, and are on-going. These sites have been mapped on paper since the mid 1990s and then there was a major review from 2000 with the 'SAC Moderation Project' when the data was captured digitally for the first time. This spatial dataset contains digital boundaries of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales. The EC Habitats and Species Directive came into effect in 1992 with the aim of maintaining a rich variety of wildlife by protecting vulnerable habitats, and the plants and animals they support. The Habitat Directive together with the 1979 Birds Directive will lead to the establishment of a series of sites throughout Europe that will be known as 'Natura 2000'. This represents the cream of European sites and will ensure their survival for future generations. SACs have been designated over a number of years, from 1993 to the present day, and are on-going. These sites have been mapped on paper since the mid 1990s and then there was a major review from 2000 with the 'SAC Moderation Project' when the data was captured digitally for the first time. Mae'r set ddata ofodol hon yn cynnwys ffiniau Ardaloedd Cadwraeth Arbennig (ACA) a ddynodwyd yng Nghymru. Daeth Cyfarwyddeb Cynefinoedd a Rhywogaethau'r Gymuned Ewropeaidd i rym ym 1992 gyda'r nod o warchod bioamrywiaeth trwy ddiogelu amrywiaeth eang o gynefinoedd a rhywogaethau anifeiliaid a phlanhigion. Mae pob ACA, ynghyd ag Ardaloedd Gwarchodaeth Arbennig (AGA) a ddynodwyd o dan Gyfarwyddeb Adar Gwyllt y Gymuned Ewropeaidd i ddiogelu rhywogaethau adar prin a mudol, yn cynnwys rhwydwaith o safleoedd ar draws yr UE a elwir yn 'Natura 2000'. Cynigiwyd y rhan fwyaf o ACA yng Nghymru yng nghanol y 1990au ac fe'u dynodwyd yn ffurfiol yn 2004. Cafodd ACA eu mapio ar bapur yn wreiddiol ond ers tua 2000 mae'r data ffiniau wedi ei gipio'n ddigidol. Mae'r safleoedd ACA a ddangosir yn y set ddata hon wedi cwblhau'r broses gyfreithiol lawn o ddynodi. Datganiad priodoli Yn cynnwys gwybodaeth Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru © Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a Hawl Cronfa Ddata. Cedwir pob hawl. Yn cynnwys data Arolwg Ordnans. Rhif Trwydded Arolwg Ordnans AC0000849444. Hawlfraint y Goron a Hawl Cronfa Ddata. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Protected sites GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme habitats (see also specific types of habitats) species (see also endangered species) conservation (see also conservation of specific subjects) geographical information systems (GIS) NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Habitat characterisation Habitat extent SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml Provisioning Services (SMNR) Regulating Services (SMNR) Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR) Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR) Geodiversity (SMNR) Sea and Coast (SMNR) Cultural Services (SMNR) Ecosystem Services (SMNR) Landscape (SMNR) Management Areas (SMNR) Soil and Land (SMNR) NRW SMNR Keywords 2024-06-26 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and copyright of the owners. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. Open Government Licence English biota environment imageryBaseMapsEarthCover oceans SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 benthic boundary layer Wales (WLS) -5.777741 -2.608865 51.240829 53.513067 2000-01-01 2019-02-22 Please refer to EC Habitats and Species Directive 1992 for reasons for capture of original designation. Before Special Areas of Conservation or fully designated they go through a stage of being a cSAC or candidate Special Area of Conservation, these reside in a separate layer. In addition to the NRW has also created a subset of this dataset just showing those which are Marine Special Areas of Conservation, this is available on the marine planning portal. Geographic Information System ESRI Feature Class https://datamap.gov.wales/layers/inspire-nrw:NRW_SAC WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link View and Download https://datamap.gov.wales/capabilities/layer/380/?ows_service=wms OGC:WMS Web Mapping Service 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 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false In 2005 all SACs were re-designated/designated and the number of sites doubled in Wales, so this entire dataset originated as digital data to OS Landline. In 2008 the whole dataset was updated to OS MasterMap (mostly to CCW 2006 OS update). If any underpinning Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are re-notified the overlying SAC designation will likewise be put to the latest release by NRW of OS MasterMap. With the coming of GIS and its use in government departments and commercial companies mobilising the data in this way, advances the protection of these sites and the efficiency of decision making. This data has been checked by NRW staff. However please refer to the designation map as the legal definitive boundary. Large SACs that have been printed on a smaller scale map than OS Landline, please refer to OS MasterMap edition at time of transposition to view the definitive boundary. In 2005 all SACs were re-designated/designated and the number of sites doubled in Wales, so this entire dataset originated as digital data to OS Landline. In 2008 the whole dataset was updated to OS MasterMap (mostly to CCW 2006 OS update). If any underpinning Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are re-notified the overlying SAC designation will likewise be put to the latest release by NRW of OS MasterMap. With the coming of GIS and its use in government departments and commercial companies mobilising the data in this way, advances the protection of these sites and the efficiency of decision making. This data has been checked by NRW staff. However please refer to the designation map as the legal definitive boundary. Large SACs that have been printed on a smaller scale map than OS Landline, please refer to OS MasterMap edition at time of transposition to view the definitive boundary.