SSSIs (Hansard, 10 February 2003)

§ Lord Whitty

The Government are committed to their public service agreement target of bringing 95 per cent of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) in England into favourable condition by 2010. Some public bodies, as major landowners of SSSIs, are important partners in achieving this target. Public bodies have a duty under Section 28G of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This requires them to "take reasonable steps, consistent with the proper exercise of the authority's functions, to further the conservation and enhancement of the features by reason of which the site is of special scientific interest". By the end of March 2003, the condition of all SSSI land in England, including that owned by the Crown, will have been assessed by English Nature.

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English Nature is directly responsible for 62,000 ha of SSSIs, as owners and managers of a large proportion of national nature reserves (NNRs). Seventy per cent of this area is currently on target By March 2004, English Nature is committed to increasing this percentage to 80 per cent, and 90 per cent by 2006. Within the NNR management budget, money is specifically targeted at recovery projects to achieve improved condition in NNRs currently failing the PSA target. Through this, for example, fen restoration work has been funded this financial year at Bure Marshes NNR in Norfolk, and next year peat hog restoration work will be funded at Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR in Cumbria. In 2003–04 over £1½ million will be spent on recovery projects in NNRs.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is committed to protecting and enhancing SSSIs under its control and is currently working closely with English Nature to review factors affecting MoD SSSIs and to develop an action plan for consideration by the Minister's Environment and Conservation Advisory Group (MECAG) to meet the PSA target. This approach is supported by the joint declaration of intent between the MoD and English Nature signed in July 2002. Action has already taken place to address unfavourable condition on many sites. In the last year, for example, the MoD has been a proactive partner in the EU Life partnership on Salisbury Plain, improving the condition of chalk grasslands, and the Heritage Lottery's Fund Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage, which has enabled improvements to be made to many heathland MoD SSSIs in Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire. Locally, the MoD has over 120 conservation groups covering the defence estate where statutory bodies such as English Nature, and non governmental organisations such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts are standing members. Many projects to improve the condition of SSSIs are carried out under the direction of these groups with funding from the establishment budgets or from the rural elements of the estate strategy (REES) project.

Defra and English Nature will continue to work closely with the wide range of organisations that can contribute to achieving the PSA target over the period from now to 2010 and beyond.