Protected Natural Heritage Sites

Natural Heritage Areas were established under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and represent the basic designation for wildlife protection. They were derived from Areas of Scientific Interest (ASI) and include some of the best remaining areas of Ireland’s natural and semi-natural habitats.

 Sites may have been selected on the basis of having special scientific significance for one or more species, communities, habitats, landforms, geological or geomorphological features, or a diversity of natural attributes.

Depending on their quality and significance, NHAs or parts of them may have other designations such as Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Statutory Nature Reserve (NR), Refuge for Fauna and Flora (RFF) or National Park (NP). 

For more details on sites in County Donegal, see: www.npws.ie   

Special Areas of Conservation are defined and regulated by the European Union Habitats Directive 1992 (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 94/97). Member states are obliged to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect and conserve habitats and species of importance in a European Union context. 

Habitats listed on Annex I of the Directive are habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation. Some of these are priority habitats for which there is a particular obligation for protection. Animal and plant species of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation are listed on Annex II of the Directive.

All Special Areas of Conservation are also Natural Heritage Areas. There is a list of Notifiable Actions which apply to each annexed habitat and species. These are activities for which consent must be sought from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage within Special Areas of Conservation.

There are 47 designated SACs in County Donegal and more details are available at:  www.npws.ie  

Special Protection Areas are designated for the protection of birds, especially listed rare and vulnerable species and regularly occurring migratory species. They are defined and regulated by the European Union Birds Directive 1979 (Council Directive 79/409/EEC) and the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I.94/97) concerning the long-term protection and management of all wild bird species and their habitats in the EU.

Under the Directive, Ireland is required to take measures to protect all wild birds and to preserve a sufficient diversity of habitats for all species naturally occurring within their territories, so as to maintain populations. Species whose status is a cause for concern are specifically identified for special conservation measures in Annex I of the Directive, and SPAs have been designated based on either the presence of these species or the presence of significant numbers of wintering waterfowl.

County Donegal has the largest population of Corncrakes in Ireland. Also protected under the directive are wetlands, especially those of international importance, that attract large numbers of migratory birds. Lough Swilly is one of the most important wetlands for birds in Ireland with 22 waterfowl species in nationally important numbers and three species in internationally important numbers. All Special Protection Areas are also Natural Heritage Areas.

There are 26 designated SPAs in County Donegal and more details are available at:  www.npws.ie  

The general principles under which National Parks were designated and managed were set out by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1969.

National Parks are areas that are set aside to preserve, promote and enhance natural heritage. National Parks are assets of great ecological, social, educational, recreational and aesthetic value which are accessible to the public and their appreciation and enjoyment are encouraged.

With an area of 16,958 hectares, Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal, is the second largest of the six National Parks in Ireland.

For more information, see www.npws.ie   

The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), more popularly known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are 45 sites in Ireland, covering 66,994 hectares, and four sites in County Donegal.  

Ramsar sites in the Republic of Ireland 

www.irishwetlands.ie 

Protected under Sections 15 and 16 of the Wildlife Act 1976, Nature Reserves are set aside for the conservation of fauna, flora and their habitats. The majority are state-owned, however, some are in private ownership.

There are ten nature reserves in County Donegal. More information is available at: www.npws.ie 

Wildfowl Sancturies are areas protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 (Open Seasons) Orders where shooting is prohibited so that game birds can feed undisturbed. 

For more details see: www.npws.ie  

Geology is now recognised as a fundamental component of our natural heritage. In 1998, the Geological Survey of Ireland established the Irish Geological Heritage (IGH) Programme, which is a partnership between The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Under the IGH Programme, important geological sites to be conserved as Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) are being identified. Those not selected for NHA designation are being promoted as County Geological Sites (CGS). There are approximately 102 Irish Geological Heritage (IGH) sites in County Donegal.

The Heritage Act, and the planning legislation in particular, place responsibility upon Local Authorities to ensure that geological heritage is adequately addressed.

Several sites of geological interest in County Donegal or County Geological Sites are set out in the County Development Plan.