Research and analysis

Farming Sector Environmental Objectives: Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Published 22 October 2026

Applies to England

1. Objective title

Defra will have actions ‘on track’ on 50% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest features identified as requiring agri-environment scheme intervention to support favourable management by 2030.  

2. Objective overview

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an area of land designated in accordance with the duty in law placed upon Natural England (in England) to notify as a SSSI any area of land which, in its opinion, is of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, geological, or physiographical features.

Many species at risk of extinction depend on a small number of sites that support the habitats and features they require. Improving the condition of SSSIs therefore supports the abundance of these species, as well as other species at risk.

Defra aims to deliver this objective through agri‑environment schemes (AES), supporting farmers and land managers to address the key pressures affecting SSSI condition, including water pollution, grazing impacts, invasive species, and degraded aquatic systems.

3. Relevant targets and commitments

30by30

Under the Global Biodiversity Framework, the UK government has agreed to:

• effectively conserve and manage 30% of our land and sea for nature by 2030

The framework does not set specific pathways to meet the target, which are devolved to the individual nations. Defra has produced the 30by30 on land: Delivery plan which focusses on the creation, restoration and long-term management of wildlife-rich habitat to meet the target. Features restored under this objective will contribute to 30by30 target by maintaining the wildlife-rich status.

Environment Act 2021

The Environment Act 2021 sets several statutory targets focussed on species abundance and extinction risk, stating:

• halt the decline in species abundance by 2030

• increase species abundance so that by 2042 it is greater than in 2022 and at least 10% greater than in 2030

• reduce the risk of species extinction by 2042 compared to 2022 levels

Environmental Improvement Plan

To support delivery of the statutory targets set under the Environment Act 2021, the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 sets an interim target for Sites of Special Scientific Interest:

• by December 2030, 50% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) features to have actions on track to achieve favourable condition

4. Delivery approach

Methodology

Natural England carries out condition assessments of SSSI features to monitor their condition, assess environmental pressures that affect their condition, and identify actions that can be done to tackle those pressures. This objective focusses on SSSI features that are identified as requiring agri-environment scheme (AES) intervention in order to reach favourable condition.

Progress towards this objective is measured and monitored through Natural England’s action on track data; delivery is not monitored directly using agri‑environment scheme data. The number of SSSI features requiring AES intervention will be reviewed approximately every three years, in line with Spending Review cycles, using the latest evidence from SSSI monitoring.

The number of SSSI features requiring AES intervention will be reviewed approximately every three years, in line with Spending Review cycles, to reflect updated condition assessments.

Baselines and Assumptions

For this objective, the definition of ‘favourable condition’ is in accordance with Natural England. A designated feature is considered to be adequately conserved when monitoring results show that it meets all site‑specific requirements set for that feature. These requirements define the minimum condition needed for the feature to be classed as being in favourable condition. While meeting these requirements indicates adequate conservation, there may still be scope for further, voluntary enhancement beyond this baseline.

As of November 2025, 32% of SSSI features had an up-to-date condition assessment. Natural England is committed to ensuring all SSSIs have an up-to-date condition assessment by 2032. For an identified feature to contribute towards this objective, it must be designated as either ‘on track’ or ‘completed’ to achieve favourable condition by Natural England.

An SSSI feature can only count as having actions ‘on track’ where it has an up-to-date condition assessment and the actions needed to achieve or maintain favourable condition progressing as planned.

5. Technical information

Objective	Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Related commitments	Wildlife-rich habitat creation targets
Reporting status	Interim
Contributing schemes	CS, CSHT, SFI
Aggregation method	Features with ‘on track’ status that require AES intervention
Geographical scope	England
First reported	October 2026
Last updated	October 2026