SACs are a European designation awarded to sites that will make a significant contribution to conserving the habitats and species listed on Appendix I and II of the directive. The listed habitats and species are those considered to be most in need of conservation at a European level.
Dawlish Warren is a designated SAC for its Annex I habitat of humid dune slacks, which support a population of the Annex II species petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii for which the site is also selected. The site is also considered due to its shifting dunes and fixed dunes (source information: JNCC).