Trust happy with coast’s new protected status (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Trust happy with coast’s new protected status
2:00pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News
Dorset Wildlife Trust has greeted with joy the announcement that part of the Jurassic Coast will be protected as a Special Area of Conservation.
Defra has announced that the Studland reefs to Portland will be designated in this way.
Peter Tinsley, Living Seas manager said: “We are delighted by this long-awaited announcement.
“This is official recognition of the high, indeed international, value of reef habitats on Dorset’s seabed and the site will make a significant contribution to the network of marine protected areas around the UK.”
He addeed: “The importance of the site was initially highlighted by the work of hundreds of volunteer divers recording seabed species and habitats through Seasearch followed by detailed survey work, particularly the trust’s DORIS seabed mapping project.”
