:Protected areas of Wales

{{main|National parks of Wales}}

Wales is home to three national parks.

Snowdonia National Park ({{langx|cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri}}) – was established in 1951 as the third national park in the UK, following the Peak District and the Lake District. It covers {{convert|827|sqmi|km2}}, and has {{convert|37|mi|km}} of coastline.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/travel-national-parks--the-complete-guide-to-britains-national-parks-1108194.html|title=National Parks - The complete guide to Britain's national parks |author=Alison Culliford |date=24 July 1999|newspaper=The Independent}}

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ({{lang|cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro}}) – is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales. It was established as a National Park in 1952, and is the only one in the United Kingdom to have been designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline. It covers an area of {{convert|629|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/PCNP/live/sitefiles/related_items/NPMP.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508071649/http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/PCNP/live/sitefiles/related_items/NPMP.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-05-08 |format=PDF |date=March 2003 |access-date=13 April 2011 |title=National Park Management Plan 2003-2007 |author=Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority |author-link=Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority }}

Brecon Beacons National Park ({{lang|cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog}}) – founded in 1957, stretching from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the east, covering {{convert|1344|km2}}{{cite web |url=http://www.breconbeacons.org/visit-us/feature-stories/welcome-to-the-brecon-beacons-national-park |title=Welcome to the Brecon Beacons National Park |publisher=Brecon Beacons National Park Authority |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127015554/http://www.breconbeacons.org/visit-us/feature-stories/welcome-to-the-brecon-beacons-national-park |archive-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead }} and encompassing four main regions – the Black Mountain in the west, Fforest Fawr and the Brecon Beacons in the centre, and the Black Mountains in the east.

File:ThreeCliffsBay.jos.500pix.jpg and Tor Bay on the Gower Peninsula, the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be designated in the United Kingdom]]

{{main|Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty|Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales}}

Five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have been designated in Wales, one of which, the Wye Valley AONB, straddles the Anglo-Welsh border.{{cite web |url=http://www.aonb.org.uk/wba/naaonb/naaonbpreview.nsf/Web%20Default%20Frameset?OpenFrameSet&Frame=Main&Src=%2Fwba%2Fnaaonb%2Fnaaonbpreview.nsf%2F%24LU.WebHomePage%2F%24first!OpenDocument%26AutoFramed |title=An Introduction to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty |publisher=National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624084952/http://www.aonb.org.uk/wba/naaonb/naaonbpreview.nsf/Web%20Default%20Frameset?OpenFrameSet&Frame=Main&Src=%2Fwba%2Fnaaonb%2Fnaaonbpreview.nsf%2F%24LU.WebHomePage%2F%24first!OpenDocument%26AutoFramed |archive-date=24 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}

The Gower ({{lang|cy|Penrhyn Gŵyr}}) is a peninsula on the south west coast of Wales, on the north side of the Bristol Channel in the southwest of the historic county of Glamorgan. Referred to colloquially as 'the Gower', this was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated as an AONB, in 1956, and covers {{convert|188|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/0/8/AONB%20Leaflet.pdf |format=PDF |title=Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty |publisher=City and County of Swansea |date=May 2005 |access-date=13 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326015927/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/0/8/AONB%20Leaflet.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}

Llŷn ({{lang|cy|Penrhyn Llŷn}} or {{lang|cy|Pen Llŷn}}) is a peninsula which extends {{convert|30|mi|km}} into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. Much of the coastline and the ex-volcanic hills are part of the Llŷn AONB, confirming the peninsula as one of the most scientifically important in both Wales and Britain. The AONB was created in 1956, and covers {{convert|155|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.ahne-llyn-aonb.org/lln_aonb_-2.aspx |title=Llŷn AONB |publisher=Llŷn AONB |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724230917/http://www.ahne-llyn-aonb.org/lln_aonb_-2.aspx |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Anglesey ({{lang|cy|Ynys Môn}}) was designated an AONB in 1966, in order to protect the aesthetic appeal and variety of the island's coastal landscape and habitats from inappropriate development. The AONB covers most of Anglesey's {{convert|125|mi|km|0}} coastline, as well as inland areas, such as Holyhead Mountain and Mynydd Bodafon.{{cite web |url=http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=3470 |title=The Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) |publisher=Isle of Anglesey County Council |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524123441/http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=3470 |archive-date=24 May 2011 |url-status=dead }} The AONB covers around {{convert|221|km2}}, about a third of the county, making it Wales' largest AONB.

The Wye Valley AONB ({{lang|cy|AHNE Dyffryn Gwy}}), designated in 1971, is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales.{{cite web |title=Our countryside |url=http://www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk/index.php/ourcountryside/ |publisher=Wye Valley AONB |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003003536/http://www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk/index.php/ourcountryside/ |archive-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain. The River Wye ({{lang|cy|Afon Gwy}}) is the fifth-longest river in the United Kingdom.{{cite book |title=Rivers and the British Landscape |year=2005 |author=Susan Margaret Owen |publisher=Carnegie Publishing |isbn=978-1-85936-120-7}} The upper part of the river passes through the settlements of Rhayader, Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye, but the area designated as an AONB surrounds only the 58-mile stretch lower down the river, from just south of the city of Hereford to Chepstow.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley ({{lang|cy|Bryniau Clwyd a Dyffryn Dyfrdwy}}) is a series of hills and mountains in north east Wales that runs from Llandegla in the south to Prestatyn in the north, with the highest point of the Clwydian Range being the popular Moel Famau.{{cite web |url=http://www.clwydianrangeaonb.org.uk/about/ |title=About the Range |publisher=Clwydian Range AONB |access-date=13 April 2011}} It was designated as an AONB in 1985.{{cite web |url=http://www.clwydianrangeaonb.org.uk/aonb-designation/ |title=AONB Designation |publisher=Clwydian Range AONB |access-date=April 13, 2011}}

The Clwydian Range AONB was extended in 2011 to include the hills around Llangollen, including the Eglwyseg escarpment and Llantysilio Mountain, and is {{convert|389|km2}} in extent.

File:Marloes peninsula, Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, UK.JPG Peninsula Heritage Coast, seen from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path]]

{{main|Heritage Coast (England and Wales)}}

There are fourteen heritage coasts in Wales. They are "stretches of outstanding, undeveloped coast in England and Wales", which are not protected by law (except where covered by other protected areas), but are given special consideration by planning authorities.{{cite web |url=http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/heritage-coasts.aspx?lang=en |title=Heritage Coasts – Wales’ unspoilt coastline |publisher=Countryside Council for Wales |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927033854/http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/heritage-coasts.aspx?lang=en |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} They are:

• Glamorgan Heritage Coast – {{convert|22.5|km}}{{cite web |url=http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/enjoying/coast.aspx |title=Heritage Coastal Path |publisher=Vale of Glamorgan Council |access-date=13 April 2011}}
• Great Orme Heritage Coast
• Gower Heritage Coast
• North Anglesey Heritage Coast – {{convert|28.6|km}}
• Holyhead Mountain Anglesey Heritage Coast – {{convert|12.9|km}}
• Aberffraw Bay Anglesey Heritage Coast – {{convert|7.7|km}}
• Llŷn Heritage Coast
• South Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• Marloes and Dale Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• St Brides Bay Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• St Davids Peninsula Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• Dinas Head Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• St Dogmaels & Molygrove Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast
• Ceredigion Heritage Coast – {{convert|35|km}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9024 |title=Heritage Coast |publisher=Ceredigion County Council |year=2009 |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704083701/http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9024 |archive-date=4 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}

{{main|Site of Special Scientific Interest|List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Wales}}

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon them, including national nature reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation. Sites notified for their biological interest are known as Biological SSSIs, and those notified for geological or physiographic interest are Geological SSSIs. Many SSSIs are notified for both biological and geological interest.

;Lists of SSSIs

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Brecknock
• Carmarthen & Dinefwr
• Ceredigion
• Clwyd
• East Gwynedd
• Gwent
• Mid & South Glamorgan
• Montgomery
• Preseli & South Pembrokeshire
• Radnor
• West Glamorgan
• West Gwynedd

{{div col end}}

File:Cors Fochno Aberleri Nature Reserve.jpg ({{lang|cy|Cors Fochno}}) is a Special Area of Conservation near Borth, Ceredigion.]]

{{further|List of Special Areas of Conservation in Wales}}

A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are to protect the 220 habitats and approximately 1000 species listed in annex I and II of the directive which are considered to be of European interest following criteria given in the directive. They must be chosen from the Sites of Community Importance by the State Members and designated SAC by an act assuring the conservation measures of the natural habitat.{{Cite web |url=http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/EEAGlossary/S/special_area_of_conservation |title=SAC definition in the Directive |access-date=2011-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718184419/http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/EEAGlossary/S/special_area_of_conservation |archive-date=2006-07-18 |url-status=dead }}

{{further|List of Special Protection Areas in Wales}}

A Special Protection Area (SPA) is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.{{cite web | title = The Birds Directive | work = Environment | publisher = European Union | url = http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/birdsdirective/index_en.htm}} Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds. Together with Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the EU, called Natura 2000. Each SPA has an EU code – for example the Burry Inlet SPA has the code UK9015011.

File:ValeCrucisAbbey ChapterHouse.JPG is one of a number of Scheduled Monuments maintained by Cadw.]]

{{see also|List of Cadw properties|Lists of scheduled monuments in Wales}}

Scheduled monuments in Wales are in the care of Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government.

{{further|List of local nature reserves in Wales}}

Local nature reserves (LNR) have their origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee (Conservation of Nature in England and Wales, Command 7122, 1947) which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite of protected areas comprising national nature reserves, conservation areas (which incorporated suggestions for Sites of Special Scientific Interest), national parks, Geological Monuments, local nature reserves and local educational nature reserves. There are now 73 LNRs in Wales, covering {{convert|55.6|km2}}.

Many areas of nature conservation and geoconservation interest not protected by any of the above designations are notified as SINCs and RIGS respectively.

Seven areas within Wales are designated by UNESCO including four World Heritage Sites, two UNESCO Global Geoparks and a Biosphere Reserve. There are also two International Dark Sky Reserves.

{{Biota of Wales}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Protected areas of Wales}}

{{Geography of Wales}}

{{Wales topics|state=collapsed}}

{{Europe topic|Protected areas of|state=collapsed|UK_only=no}}