International Protected Sites and Natura 2000 Sites

Sites designated as Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance - link opens in a new window), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are internationally important and are protected by European legislation. SPA and SAC sites also make up the Natura 2000 network of sites.

Natura 2000 is a European network of protected sites which represent areas of the highest value for natural habitats and species of plants and animals which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community. These sites symbolise conservation across Europe of precious wildlife sites for the year 2000 and beyond. To learn more about Natura 2000 please visit the Nature and Biodiversity website (link opens in a new window).

There are many internationally designated sites that are accessible to the public. To find out more about Kents SACs visit Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Comittee (JNCC) websites (links open in a new window).

SPAs are areas that have particular importance to birds. Find out more about Kent's SPAs by going to JNCC website (link opens in a new window). Ramsar sites in Kent include areas in the North Kent Marshes. Many areas within the Ramsar designations are accessible to the public, visit the JNCC website (link opens in a new window) for more information.