Protected Sites

The UK has a responsibility to ensure the conservation and enhancement of habitats and species in both a national and international context. One approach to achieving this is the establishment of a system of protected sites. The national suites of sites providing statutory protection for flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (Areas of Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland) and Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs). As well as underpinning other national designations (such as National Nature Reserves), this system also provides statutory protection for terrestrial and coastal sites which are important within Europe (Natura 2000 network) and globally (such as Wetlands of International Importance). Further designations exist for sites outside of the national suite (such as Local Nature Reserves), varying in the level of protection afforded. Apart from designations for sites with particular natural features, there are also landscape designations which aim to protect areas of either national (e.g. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) or international (e.g. natural World Heritage Sites) significance in terms of their outstanding scenic importance.

 

International agreements containing provisions for establishing networks of protected sites include the Ramsar, World Heritage and OSPAR Conventions. The issue of protected areas is also addressed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation are established under the EC Birds Directive and Habitats Directive respectively, and together form the Natura 2000 network. The statutory basis for site protection in the UK is provided by various pieces of national legislation; in particular, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981¹ (as amended) and, in relation to European sites, the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994² (as amended). New and/or amended Habitats Regulations are shortly to be introduced to provide a mechanism for the designation of offshore SACs and SPAs. Marine nature conservation provision in the UK, including mechanisms such as marine protected sites, was reviewed under Defra's Review of Marine Nature Conservation. The Irish Sea Pilot Project conducted by JNCC in 2002-04 formed part of that review, and examined current and possible future legislation for marine conservation in the Irish Sea.

 

The JNCC acts on behalf of the statutory conservation agencies and their associated government departments in collating information on sites for nature conservation in the UK (including the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) designated under International Conventions and European Directives. The JNCC assists in the interpretation of criteria for site selection and the development of additional guidelines to aid this process.

 

Work undertaken by JNCC includes:

 

Using the navigation users can access information relating to SACs (list of sites and details of each site, background to site selection, downloadable GIS data, information on offshore marine SAC selection), SPAs (list of sites, site selection guidelines, review of UK sites, information on marine SPA selection), and Ramsar sites (list of designated sites in the UK and UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, UK Ramsar National Reports). A statement on common standards for monitoring designated sites is available online. Also available is a directory of site designation types in the UK, covering international and European, national, and local, as well as landscape designations, with links to further sources of information where available.

 

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¹ In Northern Ireland the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, and the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

²In Northern Ireland the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1995 (as amended).