New Natura 2000 sites – possible Special Areas of Conservation (pSACs)
As the Government's statutory adviser Natural England is responsible for identifying possible SACs and conducting, on behalf of Government, public consultation on proposals for those sites.
Natural England is holding a new consultation on the proposal to designate Hamford Water and Tankerton slopes and Swalecliffe as SACs.
Fisher’s estuarine moth
The designation process
All European sites in the UK are designated by Government - in England by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Designation involves several stages. Once sites have been identified by Natural England, the scientific case is presented to Defra for initial approval. If there is agreement and Ministerial approval is given then Natural England is requested to undertake a public consultation on behalf of Government, to give everyone who might be affected by the designation or who has relevant scientific information, an opportunity to comment. This includes land owners and occupiers, local planning authorities, other agencies and interested organisations.
Following the public consultation Natural England will collate the responses and draft a report outlining the final site recommendations. This report will be submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration. All stakeholders will then be informed of the status of the proposed designations.
Qualifying features of the proposed designations
Natural England has identified two areas within England that support Fisher’s estuarine moth (Gortyna borelii lunata) which meet the requirements of the European Habitats Directive. These sites are located in the east and south east of England:
These sites are being considered by the UK Government as possible SACs because they support this species of European Importance which is listed on Annex II of the Habitats Directive.
Animal and plant species of Community interest whose conservation requires designation of special areas of conservation (“Natura 2000” sites) are listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Annex II currently identifies a total of 869 species, of which 297 are animal and 572 plant species. This list includes Gortyna borelii lunata (Fisher's estuarine moth).
This species has a very localised population distribution in the UK, due to its specific habitat requirements and the only known UK populations of this species are in north Kent and Essex. The moth’s sole larval food plant is Peucedanum officinale (hog’s fennel), which itself is of nationally rare status. The main stronghold for both the moth and its food plant is the Hamford Water SSSI area of the north Essex coast, where they are found on a number of islands and along stretches of the sea wall on the mainland. Hamford Water is estimated to support 75% of the UK population of the moth. The Tankerton slopes and Swalecliffe pSAC site comprises two distinct areas of coastal grassland habitat situated within 2km of each other on the north Kent coast between Whitstable and Herne Bay. The proposed Tankerton Slopes and Swalecliffe SAC supports between 15 and 20% of the UK population of Fisher's estuarine moth.
Impact Assessment
Case law has established that a decision on whether or not to designate the site can only be taken on the basis of scientific evidence. Nevertheless the Government considers that it is important to be aware of any social and economic impacts of designation. Natural England has therefore prepared consultation Impact Assessments (IA) in accordance with Government guidance for both sites.
The impact assessments are attached below. If you would like to comment on a consultation impact assessment, please complete the IA response form and return it to Natural England. Relevant contact details are set out on the response forms
The purpose of the consultation
The purpose of the consultation is to seek the view of all interested parties on:
The scientific case for the designation of the SACs
The assessment of the likely economic and social impact of the designations
The formal consultation will be conducted over a 12 week period, commencing 2 July 2012 until 24 September 2012.
Consultation documents
The full set of consultation documents are set out below. Please use the contact provided if you would like more information on each site.
Natura 2000 Information leaflet: (45kb)
The possible Special Areas of Conservation
The possible SACs are:
Hamford Water
Site map: (1.33mb)
Reasons for recommendation: (70kb)
Selection Assessment Document: (2.02mb) and Appendices: (508kb)
Key source information cited within the Selection Assessment Document: (4.79mb)
Impact Assessment: (2.22mb)
IA Response form: (33kb)
For more information and responses to be sent to: Else.essexherts@naturalengland.org.ukTankerton Slopes and Swalecliffe
Site map: (2.05mb)
Reasons for recommendation: (70kb)
Selection Assessment Document: (1.14mb) and Appendices: (318kb)
Key source information cited within the Selection Assessment Document: (4.79mb)
Impact Assessment: (414kb)
IA Response form: (34kb)
For more information and responses to be sent to: Phil.williams@naturalengland.org.uk
Privacy
Responses that you send Natural England regarding the proposed designations could form part of the consideration of the designation of the new sites and the responses will be published in a summary report.
If you do not wish your response of details to be publicly available please inform us in writing to the address above so that if we receive a freedom of information request we take this into account. Please note however that we are not bound to the confidentiality of your details irrespective of privacy statements within the responses you send. Please see our Freedom of Information pages for more information.
