Selection Criteria for Wildife Sites in the Brecon Beacons National Park

The two local authorities of Brecon Beacons National Park and Powys County Council both have a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), which identifies species and habitats that are rare, endangered, under threat and declining. This plan covers the UK BAP priority habitats and species that occur within the park and some additional species that are of local conservation concern.

The Wildlife Sites project helps to deliver the UK and local Biodiversity Action Plans by helping landowners to identify and conserve the most vulnerable wildlife habitats on their land.

Sites that support significant populations of UK Priority habitats and species will generally be suitable for selection. However habitats that are degraded, modified or 'improved' may fail to reach the selection criteria. These sites may be re-considered at a later date following management improvements or further survey work.

Further information on Priority habitats and species can be found on the National Biodiversity Network; UK Biodiversity Action Plan and Brecon Beacons National Park websites.

In order to become a 'Wildlife Site' the area must be surveyed and evaluated against agreed criteria

'Wildlife Sites' are the most important places for nature conservation, outside of National Nature Reserves and other protected areas.

The Small Print

Non-Statutory Designation

Wildlife Sites are not statutorily designated or protected in law unlike Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protected Areas.

Wildlife Sites and Planning

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority must consider the environmental impacts of all planning applications.

• Wildlife Site status will fore-warn the owner, developer and planning authority of areas where nature conservation issues will be a material consideration in determining planning applications.
• Brecon Beacons National Park Authority will put designated Wildlife Sites on the Local Development Plan

A Wildlife Site designation remains on the land, even after change of ownership.

Land Use

Recognition of a Wildlife Site is simply an acknowledgement of a site's nature conservation interest. Whilst the Wildlife Trust is keen to encourage sensitive management and monitoring this would be voluntary.

• There are no additional restrictions on agricultural operations.
• The all Wales Agri-environment Schemes recognises the importance of Wildlife Sites. Having a County Wildlife Site on your land should be a positive advantage in the application process.
• Wildlife Sites will be a priority for grant aid and management advice from conservation organisations

Access

Sites will only be surveyed with the permission of their owners/managers.

• Most sites are on private land.
• Becoming a Wildlife Site gives no additional access to the public or conservation organizations.
• You will receive a free professional ecological survey with recommendations on conservation management.

If you live in Brecon Beacons National Park and think you may have a potential Wildlife Site (especially land known as 'Habitats' in agri-environment schemes), contact us for free survey and advice. This project runs until February 2008.