Protected sites in England offer a golden opportunity to drive nature’s urgently needed recovery but they are failing to deliver the outcomes needed, says a new report published by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
The report, ‘Review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England’ takes an in-depth and comprehensive look at how the regulations covering Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs); Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being put into practice.
These sites cover treasured locations including the Fens and the Broads, the Lake District and coasts and moors from Cornwall to Northumberland, as well as former industrial sites reclaimed for nature and the estuaries of the Thames and the Tees.
Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the OEP, said: “This government is focused on sustainable growth, on infrastructure and building homes, and is reviewing the regulatory systems that support these. It is also committed to nature’s recovery, of which protected sites are a cornerstone. These programmes must move forwards in tandem to ensure the government achieves its desired ‘win-win’ for the environment and for growth.
“It is in this context that we have explored England’s protected sites. These sites play a pivotal role in conserving and restoring nature. They are a crucial component in halting and reversing the decline of biodiversity, in building connected landscapes resilient to climate change and in providing health and socio-economic benefits.
“We are custodians of globally significant habitats such as chalk streams, heathlands and temperate forests. Threatened species such as roseate tern, lady’s slipper orchid and avocet live predominantly within protected sites, and large parts of the world populations of migratory birds, such as knot and brent goose, are sustained within England’s wildlife sites network.
“Nature is the foundation on which the economy is built. A thriving environment is essential to underpin a successful economy and healthy society. Protected sites have a critical role in this, but they are not delivering the outcomes that are so urgently needed.
“Protected sites represent a golden opportunity to drive nature’s recovery, but that opportunity is not being grasped as well as it must. We have found that the legislation itself is not the problem – it is not being implemented effectively, or at the pace and scale needed.”
According to recent data, the area of SSSIs in ‘favourable condition’ has dropped to just over a third. While some of those in unfavourable condition are recovering, about one in five are not improving, or are deteriorating. Work to designate further SSSIs has been slow and has now largely stalled.
The OEP report identifies four main reasons why the legislation is not delivering the intended outcomes:
• insufficient action from government to drive progress
• insufficient investment to achieve outcomes
• a lack of incentives and engagement for owners and occupiers of protected sites
• gaps in evidence to inform and underpin decision-making.
The report makes 15 recommendations for Defra, Natural England and other public authorities, whilst also recognising that the achievement of positive environmental outcomes relies upon the actions of many private landowners and occupiers. The recommendations are across six themes: governance; resources; designation; monitoring, evaluation and reporting; land management incentives and advice; and regulatory tools and enforcement.
“Dan Corry’s recent independent review of Defra’s environmental regulatory landscape found it is not working as well as it should to support either nature’s recovery or economic growth,” added Dame Glenys.
“Our findings broadly align with that assessment. We believe there is opportunity to support the government’s aim for a ‘win-win’ that delivers more for society via growth alongside nature improvements by better applying, and potentially strengthening, protected site laws.
“A stronger focus is needed on achieving outcomes, at greater scale and pace. To achieve this, government and public bodies will need to work more effectively together, and the resources that are made available should be aligned with what is needed to achieve the outcomes being sought. Incentives, advice and regulation should be used more effectively to ensure protected sites and the areas around them are being well-managed by owners and occupiers.”
You can read the report and find an infographic summarising its findings here.
