In the UK there are several legal designations that protect areas for their special landscape, geology or wildlife.
What are protected sites?
These are sites that are protected under UK law. The Brecon Beacons National Park is one such designation but smaller areas within the National Park can have one or more further designations, designed to protect special geology or wildlife.
For information on the different designations, choose from the links below. More information on Wales' special landscapes is available from the Countryside Council for Wales.
Where are they?
You can view an interactive map of protected sites on the Countryside Council for Wales website. Please note this map does not give high enough resolution for detailed planning application and the precise location of boundaries needs to be checked with the local Countryside Council for Wales office.
Two designations have particular relavence; Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) designated under UK law; and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), designated under European law.
Use the navigation bar on the left to find out more on these two key designations.
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