take over and stifle native species. It can form massive towering growths and has a companion fungus that grows on its roots producing toxins that are poisonous to any local flora and fauna for a seven-year period after the Rhododendron infestations have been eradicated. As a result, there are a number of desolate landscapes. Fauna Mammals in the park include otters, polecats, feral goats, and pine martens. Birds include raven, red-billed chough, peregrine, osprey, merlin and the red kite. The rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle (Chrysolina cerealis) is only found in northern Snowdonia. Conservation designations Snowdonia has a particularly high number of protected sites in respect of its diverse ecology; nearly 20% of its total area is protected by UK and European law. Half of that area was set aside by the government under the European Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation. There are a large number of Sites of special scientific interest (or 'SSSIs'), designated both for fauna and flora but also in some cases for geology. Nineteen of these sites are managed as national nature reserves by Natural Resources Wales. The park also contains twelve Special Areas of Conservation (or 'SACs'), three Special Protection Areas (or 'SPAs') and three Ramsar sites. Some are wholly within the park boundaries, others straddle it to various degrees. Sites of Special Scientific Interest There are numerous SSSIs within the park, the most extensive of which are Snowdonia, Estuary, and . National nature reserves The following NNRs are either wholly or partly within the park: (in multiple parts), (in 2 parts), and Snowdon. Special Areas of Conservation The twelve SACs are as follows: Snowdonia SAC which covers much of the , and the Snowdon massif, Fens (north of Garndolbenmaen), the Oakwoods and Bat Sites - a series of sites between , and and and extending up the . It also includes many of the oakwoods of the and its tributaries. (in 2 parts), , River Dee and (Wales), Forest Mines (north of ) and a part of the / Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains SAC. The Peninsula and the SAC covers the entire Cardigan Bay coastline of the park and the sea area and extends above the high water mark at and around the Dovey and estuaries. Special Protection Areas The three SPAs are Dovey Estuary / (of which a part is within the park), (of which a part is within the park)