PPS 2: Planning and Nature Conservation
Statutory Framework: International Obligations: Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

19. The Birds Directive lists rare or endangered species for which SPAs must be provided; it also requires member States to take similar measures to conserve sites used by large numbers of migratory species. Such sites will have first been declared as ASSIs; however, there are proposals to include some marine areas within SPAs, but the means of putting these into effect have not yet been decided.