Handbook on the UK status of EC Habitats Directive interest features: provisional data on the UK distribution and extent of Annex I habitats and the UK distribution and population size of Annex II species 2000

Abstract

This report provided an overview of the knowledge (at the time of publication) on certain aspects of the conservation status in the UK of habitats (in terms of range and extent) and species (in terms of distribution and estimated population size) which are listed on Annexes I and II of the EC Habitats Directive.

Information on UK habitats and species was first collated in 1995 (Buck & Wright 1995), based on a preliminary survey of data sources. Following extensive consultation with specialists in the country agencies since 1998, much of this information was revised and updated. This work was undertaken primarily to support the UK's proposals in relation to Special Areas on Conservation. In particular, it provided a basis for assessing (a) the proportion of the total UK resource of each habitat an species contained within the site series, and (b) the geographical coverage of the site series. The data also provided contextual information for developing conservation initiatives, both on statutory sites and in the wider environment. This report was designed to be a provisional document based upon the most readily available data sources. The data summarised in this report are of variable quality and due regard should be given to the data source and, in the case of Annex I habitat types, the compatibility of the data source with the Annex I habitat definition.

For each Annex I habitat and Annex II species in the UK this report provided an account which contained the following elements: a UK distribution map; and data on the extent of each habitat, and population size of each species for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the UK as whole, where these data are available.

The report was originally produced as a web-based publication, and was subsequently replaced in 2008 by information produced for the UK’s report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.

A PDF version of the material is provided here for background purposes. A Further information is provided in a number of other resources, including:

• The Habitats Directive: selection of Special Areas of Conservation in the UK (2005, revised 2009) – this document describes the rationale for selection of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and provides background information on the SAC selection process (also previously available as a series of webpages);
• Information on the habitats and species listed on Annexes I and II of the EC Habitats Directive is available on our SAC webpages.
• Information on the conservation status of the habitats and species listed in Annexes I, II, IV and V of the Habitats Directive is available in the UK's Article 17 Habitats Directive reports.