CYMRAEG search COVID-19 (Coronavirus) For details on service changes visit our Coronavirus information and advice page. HABITATS Home / About the National Park / Habitats SHARE THIS The places where animals and plants live are called habitats. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has many habitats which support a wide variety of wildlife; both common and rare. These include beaches, seashore and coastal slopes, heathland and mountain, moor and woodland. Animals and plants are adapted to the environment in which they live. For example, wildlife on the seashore can tolerate the saltwater, those that live on the heathland can tolerate poor acid soil, and woodland dwellers can tolerate shade. The variety of wildlife is called biodiversity and is specific to each habitat. In general, the higher the biodiversity of a habitat, the healthier it is and the more likely it is to survive into the future. It is the duty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to protect the habitats within the Park and to conserve their biodiversity. This is done by monitoring the habitats so we know how well the animals and plants are thriving. Conservation as a job is carried out by Ecologists, Conservation Officers, Biodiversity Officers, Rangers and Wardens. If there is a need, they will manage the habitat to help it keep healthy and increase its biodiversity. Management can include physical work like cutting vegetation, felling trees, planting trees, drainage, fencing, grazing by animals or even burning of species like heather. HELP FOR OUR HABITATS Site managers might use controlled burning to help the heathland grow better. Burning is part of a natural process of regeneration which helps heather species to regrow. They might weed out non-native species such as Japanese knotweed or bracken so native species can compete. They might even replant a woodland area, for example, with native trees to make it bigger. They could encourage small animals and birds to nest in particular places by putting up nesting boxes. CONSERVATION Conservation of habitats and biodiversity has become more important since the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 and Natura 2000, when world leaders pledged to protect their countries’ environments. These two events (and the decisions that came from them) have meant that countries have had to make more effort to monitor their wildlife and protect it. In Europe, the Natura 2000 directive created large areas of protected landscape called Special Areas of Conservation or SAC. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is home to 13 Special Areas of Conservation (three marine SAC overlap about 75% of the Park coastline and account for about 60% of the inshore area), five Special Protection Areas (SPA), one Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), seven National Nature Reserves (NNR) and 60 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK'S HABITATS CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF HABITATS To conserve something means to keep it and protect it from harm. The National Park Authority has a duty to protect every species within the Park from ... READ MORE ON CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF HABITATS INLAND HABITATS As the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is surrounded by the sea on three sides, its climate, even in the more inland areas, has a strong maritime in... READ MORE ON INLAND HABITATS COASTAL HABITATS A coastal environment contains any habitat that is influenced by or connected to the sea. The sea influences all of the habitats within the National ... READ MORE ON COASTAL HABITATS ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SUSTAINABILITY Find out how the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority tackles the issues of sustainability, climate change and sea level rise. READ MORE ON SUSTAINABILITY FACTS AND FIGURES Find out some fascinating facts that highlight what makes the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park so special. READ MORE ON FACTS AND FIGURES ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY We do our best to ensure that you have access to all the best bits, so around 1,000 km of the network of public rights of way in the National Park is ... READ MORE ON ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY ARCHAEOLOGY The historic environment is part of what makes the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park such a special place. People have lived and worked in the park fo... READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY WILDLIFE Explore the amazing wildlife that makes its home on the Pembrokeshire Coast. READ MORE ON WILDLIFE GEOLOGY When you think about the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park you may conjure up images of beautiful beaches, panoramic views from the Coast Path and qua... READ MORE ON GEOLOGY HISTORY In this section we invite you to travel back in time and explore the rich cultural history of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. READ MORE ON HISTORY CULTURE AND HERITAGE Pembrokeshire has a rich and diverse culture which has been shaped down the centuries by waves of invaders and settlers. READ MORE ON CULTURE AND HERITAGE GEOGRAPHY Explore the stunning geography of the Pembrokeshire Coast, which after all is the reason for Pembrokeshire being designated as a National Park. READ MORE ON GEOGRAPHY GET IN TOUCH Contact us and register your details to get the latest updates on what's happening in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. CONTACT US National Park Office Llanion Park Pembroke Dock Pembrokeshire, SA72 6DY Tel: 01646 624800 Email: info@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk VISITING Plan your visit Access for All Carew Castle and Tidal Mill Castell Henllys Iron Age Village Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre QUICK LINKS About the National Park Authority About the National Park Planning Contact Us News Jobs Accessibility Statement Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Cookie Policy Sitemap © 2021 Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Cookie settingsACCEPT