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      World Heritage SiteThe Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast site was inscribed as a World Heritage Site (WHS) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in...
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      Special Protection AreasSpecial Protection Areas (SPAs) are designated under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (as amended). These regulations implemented...
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      Special Areas of ConservationSpecial Areas of Conservation (SACs) are those which have been given greater protection under The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1995 (Northern Ireland) (as...
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      National Nature ReservesIn Northern Ireland statutory nature reserves are areas of importance for flora, fauna, geological or other special feature for conservation purposes and to provide the...
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      Areas of Outstanding Natural BeautyNorthern Ireland has a great variety of scenic countryside and although there are no National Parks, large areas of landscape of distinctive character and special scenic value...
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      Ramsar SitesRamsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. Sites proposed for selection are advised by the UK statutory nature conservation...
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      Landscape Character AreasThe Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment subdivided the countryside into 130 Landscape Character Areas (LCAs), each based upon local patterns of geology, landform,...
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      Areas of Special Scientific InterestAreas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI ) provide statutory protection for the best examples of Northern Ireland's flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. An...