Glossary

Special Area of Conservation

Sites designated under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), officially approved by the European Commission and officially designated by the national government.

They are named as follows:

• SAC, in the UK;
• ZSC, Zone Spéciale de Conservation, in France;
• ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservación, in Spain;
• ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservação, in Portugal.

Several steps are required to designate SACs and differ depending on the country.

In the UK:

1. dSAC, draft SAC, the relevant authorities officially recommend site designation to the government;
2. pSAC, possible SAC, site designation is approved by the government and the consultation begins;
3. cSAC, candidate SAC, site designation is submitted to the European Commission;
4. SIC, site designation is officially approved by the European Commission;
5. SAC, the British government has officially designated the site.

From the "cSAC" stage onwards, the site is considered "designated". Before that, it is only "proposed".

In France:

1. pSIC, proposition de Site d'Importance Communautaire (proposal of Site of Community Importance), site designation is officially submitted to the European Commission;
2. SIC, Site d'Importance Communautaire (Site of Community Importance), site designation is officially approved by the European Commission
3. ZSC, Zone Spéciale de Conservation (Special Area of Conservation), the French government has officially designated the site.

From the "SIC" stage onwards, the site is considered "designated". Before that, it is only "proposed".

In France, the ZNIEFF (Zones Naturelles d'Intérêt Ecologique Faunistique et Floristique, natural areas of ecological interest for fauna and flora) served as a basis for the inventory of the French natural heritage. These sites then served as a basis to identify and select sites which may be designated under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).

In Spain:

1. LIC, Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria, site designation is officially approved by the European Commission;
2. ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservación, the Spanish government has officially designated the site.

From the "LIC" stage onwards, the site is considered "designated".

In Portugal:

1. SIC, Sítio de Interesse Comunitário, site designation is officially approved by the European Commission;
2. ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservação, the Portuguese government has officially designated the site.

From the "SIC" stage onwards, the site is considered "designated". Before that, it is only "proposed".

Site of Community Importance

Sites designated under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), which have been officially approved by the European Commission but are yet to be designated by the national government.

They are named as follows:

• SCI, Site of Community Importance, in the UK;
• SIC, Site d'Importance Communautaire, in France;
• LIC, Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria, in Spain;
• SIC, Sítio de Interesse Comunitário, in Portugal.

Once designated nationally, these "SCI" sites become:

• SAC, Special Area of Conservation, in the UK;
• ZSC, Zone Spéciale de Conservation, in France;
• ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservación, in Spain;
• ZEC, Zona Especial de Conservação, in Portugal.

Special Protection Area

Sites designated under the "Birds" Directive (2009/147/EC), officially designated by the national government.

They are named as follows:

• SPA, Special Protected Areas, in the UK;
• ZPS, Zone de Protection Spéciale, in France;
• ZPS, Zona de Protección Especial, in Spain;
• ZPE, Zona de Protecção Especial, in Portugal.