§ Lord Stanley of Alderleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria were adopted by the Nature Conservancy Council in identifying destruction or serious damage to 57 of the key sites of special scientific interest, listed in A Nature Conservation Review; and how many of these sites were considered to be destroyed or seriously damaged as a direct result of agricultural and forestry operations; and how many as an indirect consequence of other agricultural and forestry activities.
§ The Earl of AvonThe Nature Conservancy Council consider a key site to be destroyed when the nature conservation interest has declined to such an extent that the site no longer merits the status of an SSSI.
A key site is considered to be seriously damaged when there is a significant reduction in the nature conservation interest of the area. Each site is assessed 1280WA individually taking into account those factors affecting its viability such as size, fragility, hydrology and any specialised requirements of the habitats and species represented.
Of the 57 sites listed in my reply to Lord Melchett on 4th December 1980 (col. 580) 46 have been affected directly by agricultural and/or forestry operations within the site boundary since their scientific value was first recognised. Eleven sites have sustained damage as an indirect consequence of other agricultural or forestry activities.
The inclusion of one of the 4 sites listed as destroyed (Southern Parphe, Highland) was based on the loss of the peatland interest. The upland and coastal elements of the site remain viable.