SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Under
the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981 (amended 1985)
the
government has a duty to notify as an SSSI any land
which in its opinion is of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna,
geological or physiographical features. In Northern Ireland some areas are designated
as Areas Of Special Scientific Interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity
Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, but as this is essentially the same thing
(although there are some important differences), this page is mostly relevant
to both designations.
SSSIs are designated by Natural
England,
Scottish Natural Heritage,
Countryside Council for Wales,
or DoENI.
This body is known as the designating body. An SSSI is not necessarily owned
by a conservation organisation or by the Government - in fact, they can be
owned by anybody. The designation is primarily to identify those areas worthy
of preservation. An SSSI is given certain protection against damaging operations,
and any such operations must in theory be authorised by the designating body.
So there is not a list of just what can and cannot be done on an SSSI -it
varys site to site, and sometimes over time. The status also affords a certain
amount of planning protection, depending on the reasons for designation.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has made some
significant changes to SSSI legislation in England and Wales. To see our analysis
click here.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 strengthened the law giving greater
power to the designating body to enter into management agreements, to refuse
consent for damaging operations, and to take action where damage is being
caused through neglect or inappropriate management. Local Authorities and other
public institutions now also have a statutory duty to further the conservation
and enhancement of SSSIs both in carrying out their operations, and in exercising
their decision-making functions, which includes planning decisions.
SSSIs form the basic unit of UK protected area legislation -
most higher designations are superimposed (sometimes a little loosely) onto
existing SSSIs.
If you want to know more about an SSSI the definitive document
is called the 'Citation'. This is the legal document describing the site,
showing its boundaries and why it is special. In England, under the Countryside
and Rights of Way Act 2000, Natural England had to notify the owners and
occupiers of all SSSIs of its views about the management of the SSSIs. So
in England you can usually also see Natural England's 'Views about Management'
about every SSSI. The VAM is an account of the basic management that is needed
to conserve and enhance the wildlife or geological features of the SSSI.
The views place no additional obligation on the owner or occupier of a SSSI
nor do they replace any more detailed management advice which Natural England
may have already given, such as advice in a Site Management Statement or
a Management Agreement.
English SSSI maps and documents can be found via Natural England's
'Nature
on the Map'. For other countries see the appropriate national agency.
More
detailed information on SSSI legislation and history.
Pages marked with this symbol are exclusively written for
Naturenet