More areas may be designated Special Areas for birds, habitats

A LARGE number of additional areas countrywide are being evaluated with the objective of designating them as Special Areas under the European Union Birds and Habitats Directives, according to European Parliament member Marian Harkin.

She urged individuals and representative bodies to be vigilant about extensions to designated areas under the directives.

“Following European Court of Justice judgments there is an ongoing process with up to 100 sites currently being evaluated in the context of these directives,” she said.