Together with Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) form a network of protected sites across Europe called Natura 2000 sites. (SPAs are areas of particular importance to birds, although there are no SPAs within the National Park.)
The SAC designation provides another level of protection for sites that are also SSSIs. The Welsh Assembly Government, through Natural Resources Wales is responsible to the European Union for ensuring that SACs remain in a condition favourable to the important habitats and species for which they have been designated.
See more information on the role and management of Natura 2000 sites on the Europa website. There is also information on UK Natura 2000 sites on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s (JNCC’s) website.
There are 10 SACs within the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.