The species and/or habitats of European importance are known as
‘features’. Species are dependent, at least in part,
on supporting habitats; these are called ‘sub-features’
in the Conservation Objectives for the Severn Estuary EMS. The features
and sub-features for each of the designations on the Estuary are
shown below:
Severn Estuary SPA
Severn Estuary Ramsar
Severn Estuary pSAC
| Severn Estuary SPA |
| Features |
Sub features |
| Internationally important populations of regularly occurring
Annex 1 species: Bewicks swan |
Intertidal mudflats and sandflats
Saltmarsh
Shingle and rocky shore
|
Internationally important populations of 5 regularly occurring
migratory bird species:
Shelduck, Dunlin, Redshank, European white-fronted goose, Gadwall
|
Intertidal mudflats and sandflats
Saltmarsh
Shingle and rocky shore
|
| Internationally important assemblage of wintering waterfowl |
Intertidal mudflats and sandflats
Saltmarsh
Shingle and rocky shore
|
| Severn Estuary Ramsar |
| Criterion 1 |
Immense tidal range affecting physical environment
and biological communities |
| Criterion 2a |
Unusual estuarine communities, reduced species diversity and
high productivity |
| Criterion 2b |
Important for the run of migratory fish between the sea and
rivers via the estuary
Important for migratory birds during passage periods in spring
and autumn |
| Criterion 3a |
Regularly supporting in winter over 20 000 waterfowl |
| Criterion 3c |
Regularly supporting, during the same period, internationally
important populations of five species of waterfowl |
| Severn Estuary pSAC |
| Habitats and/or Species |
Reason for Selection |
| Alosa alosa (Allis Shad) |
For which the area is considered to support a significant
presence |
| Alosa fallax (Twaite Shad) |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Atlantic salt meadows |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Estuaries |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Lampetra fluviatilis (River Lamprey) |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Petromyzon marinus (Sea lamprey) |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
| Reefs |
For which the area is considered to support a significant
presence |
| Sandbanks |
For which this is considered to be one of the best areas in
the UK |
Return to whats special about Severn Estuary
SPA and Ramsar.
|
