User:Mrchris/Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny

Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny, Ireland, include Hugginstown Fen south-west of Ballyhale, The Loughans near Urlingford, Cullahill Mountain on the Castlecomer Plateau near Johnstown, Spahill and Clomantagh Hill which form part of an escarpment which links the Slieveardagh Hills with the Castlecomer Plateau, Galmoy Fen north of Johnstown, the Lower River Suir south of Thurles, the freshwater stretches of the River Barrow and River Nore and Thomastown Quarry, near Thomastown.

These are part of the European Union's Natura 2000 network of sites with special flora or fauna. Special Areas of Conservation have been, and are being designated, under the European Union Habitats Directive to conserve habitats and species of European importance. In Ireland, SACs cover an area of approximately 13,500 sq. km. Roughly 53% is land, the remainder being marine or large lakes. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the designation of conservation sites in Ireland.

Legal framework for protection
A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are to protect the 220 habitats and approximately 1000 species listed in annex I and II of the directive which are considered to be of European interest following criteria given in the directive. They must be chosen from the Sites of Community Importance by the State Members and designated SAC by an act assuring the conservation measures of the natural habitat.

SACs complement Special Protection Areas and together form a network of protected sites across the European Union called Natura 2000. This, in turn, is part of the Emerald network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) under the Berne Convention.

Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny
The following is a list of Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny.


 * Hugginstown Fen, south-west of Ballyhale.
 * The Loughans, near Urlingford.
 * Cullahill Mountain, on the Castlecomer Plateau near Johnstown.
 * Spahill and Clomantagh Hill, which form part of an escarpment which links the Slieveardagh Hills with the Castlecomer Plateau.
 * Galmoy Fen, north of Johnstown, Lower River Suir.
 * Lower River Suir, south of Thurles, the freshwater stretches of the Barrow/River Nore.
 * River Barrow and River Nore.
 * Thomastown Quarry, near Thomastown.

List of Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny
The following is a list of Special Areas of Conservation in County Kilkenny.


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