The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Insertion of new regulation 8C

12.  After regulation 8B, insert—

“Management objectives of the national site network

8C.— (1) The Department shall, in co-operation with any other authority having a corresponding responsibility, manage, and where necessary adapt, the national site network, so far as it consists of European sites, with a view to contributing to the achievement of the management objectives of the national site network.

(2) The management objectives of the national site network are—

(a) to maintain at, or where appropriate, restore to a favourable conservation status in their natural range (so far as it lies in the United Kingdom’s territory, and so far as is proportionate)—

(i) the habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive; and

(ii) the species listed in Annex II to that Directive whose natural range includes any part of the United Kingdom’s territory; and

(b) to contribute to ensuring the survival and reproduction in their area of distribution of—

(i) species of birds listed in Annex I to the Wild Birds Directive which naturally occur in the United Kingdom’s territory; and

(ii) regularly occurring migratory species of birds not listed in that Annex which naturally occur in the United Kingdom’s territory.

(3) In complying with the obligation in paragraph (1), the Department shall have regard—

(a) in relation to any European site which is not of a kind mentioned in regulation 9(1)(d), to the considerations mentioned in paragraph (4); and

(b) in relation to European sites of a kind mentioned in regulation 9(1)(d), to the consideration mentioned in paragraph (5).

(4) The considerations mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) are—

(a) the importance of the sites for the maintenance at, or restoration to, a favourable conservation status, throughout their natural range, of—

(i) a natural habitat type specified in Annex I to the Habitats Directive; or

(ii) a species specified in Annex II to the Habitats Directive;

(b) the importance of the sites for the coherence of the national site network; and

(c) the threats of degradation or destruction to which the sites are exposed.

(5) The consideration mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) is the importance of the sites for ensuring the survival and reproduction of the species mentioned in regulation 8A(2) in their area of distribution.

(6) In paragraph (2)(a), “proportionate” means proportionate to the relative importance of—

(a) the part of the natural range lying in the United Kingdom’s territory; and

(b) the part of the natural range lying outside the United Kingdom’s territory;

for achieving a favourable conservation status.”.