Andrew Houseley welcomes EU protection for Nature sites in Suffolk

11.00.00pm GMT Mon 20th Dec 2004

The European Commission has designated more than 600 locations across Britain as European Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in a bid to protect the best examples of plant and animal life across the continent.

Andrew Houseley, Liberal Democrat PPC for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich, said the recent announcement was a landmark in EU nature conservation. "As well as providing vital protection for world renowned sites such as Dunwich and Minsmere, The Broads and the Alde and Ore estuaries, this new classification provides an opportunity for Suffolk to raise its profile further among nature lovers introducing new areas such as Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens, and the truly magical Staverton Thicks,"

It would help ensure the survival of hundreds of unique species across Europe. He said: "It's too easy for our government to talk fine words about nature protection but to do nothing in practice to curb activities that may threaten it. Now across Suffolk, environmentalists can point to the special European importance of these sites and turn to the courts to defend them."

The sites chosen for special protection were originally identified by English Nature and total more than 1.5 million hectares of land. They include a hugely diverse number of land and marine habitats stretching from the far north of Scotland to the Scilly Isles, and include Suffolk sites such as Breckland, Minsmere, Dunwich Heath and the ancient woodland of Staverton Thicks at Wantisden.

Amongst the natural wonders the designation is intended to protect are stag beetles, Ram's horn snails and Fisher's estuarine moths, habitats including salt meadows and oak woods, and rare plants such as the Lady's slipper orchid.The announcement implements the much-delayed 1992 Habitats Directive, widely regarded as the EU's most important nature conservation law. It requires Governments across Europe to ensure that human activities do not threaten the survival of habitats or species in SACs unless there are reasons of "overriding public interest" for doing so.

Failure to meet this obligation could result in member states being taken to the European Court of Justice. In total some 205 habitat types and 286 animal and plant species across Europe have been identified as requiring special protection to ensure their survival for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

In Britain all the locations have already been declared Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), making it a criminal offence to carry out damaging works such as road building, tree clearance or pond drainage without the consent of English Nature