Official Statistics

Local Sites in positive conservation management in England

Updated 27 January 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-sites-in-positive-conservation-management--2/local-sites-in-positive-conservation-management-in-england

Publication last updated: 2026

Latest data available: 2025

Contact

Enquiries on this publication to: biodiversity@defra.gov.uk

Tel: 03459 335577 (Defra enquiries) Find out more about call charges at – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Responsible statistician: Clare Betts

Website: Biodiversity and wildlife statistics – Gov.UK

Introduction

Local Sites are sites designated locally for their substantive nature conservation importance, either for wildlife or geology. Sites in positive conservation management are defined as those sites which are being managed in order to conserve their nature conservation interest.

Assessing the extent of positive management can help to identify sites where positive management is lacking and will help to focus the efforts of Local Site Partnerships in ensuring Local Sites are managed and their nature conservation value is maintained or enhanced.

To reduce the burden on Local Authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Defra did not request data in 2020 or 2021 resulting in a gap in the time series.

Key results

In the 5 years prior to 31st March 2025, 38% of Local Sites across England, for which we received data, were in positive conservation management. This is an increase of 6 percentage points since 2008/9 when data were first collected, and a loss of 1 percentage point since 2023/24 when the data were last collected (Figure 1).

The response rate in 2024/25 (46%), has decreased slightly since the data were last collected, but is still around half what it was in 2008/9 (98%) when these data were first published (Figure 2). Overall there is a pattern of a long-term decreasing trend that began before COVID-19 impacted the response rate. This has impacted the quality of the indicator (see Further detail).

Figure 1. Proportion of Local Sites in positive conservation management, England, 2008/09 to 2024/25

Source: Data collected directly from Local Authorities, compiled by County Councils, Wildlife Trusts and Local Environmental Recording Centres

Notes for Figure 1:

  • Each point on the time series represents the percentage of local sites in positive conservation management for the 5 years prior to 31st March of that year.

  • The total number of responding local authorities and number of sites varies between years. In 2024/25, 69 (46%) local authorities were included in the analysis.

  • No data were requested from local authorities in 2019/20 and 2020/21 due to the anticipated resourcing issues resulting from complying with COVID-19 restrictions. This gap is represented by the grey vertical lines and shaded area.

Figure 2. Proportion of Local Authorities returning data, England, 2008/09 to 2024/25

Source: Data collected directly from Local Authorities, compiled by County Councils, Wildlife Trusts and Local Environmental Recording Centres

Notes for Figure 2:

  • Each line on the time series represents the percentage of local authorities who provided a data return that year (blue) and plus those that have been imputed (orange). Imputed responses are those that have been carried forward from a previous submission, for up to a maximum of three consecutive years.

  • The total number of responding local authorities and number of sites varies between years. In 2024/25, 69 (46%) local authorities were included in the analysis.

  • No data were requested from local authorities in 2019/20 and 2020/21 due to the anticipated resourcing issues resulting from complying with COVID-19 restrictions. This gap is represented by the grey vertical lines and shaded area.

In the 42 authority areas (28% of the total number of local authorities) that responded with further details, on average 93% of the Local Sites were designated as Local Wildlife Sites and the rest were Local Geological Sites or other. 36% of these Local Wildlife Sites were in positive conservation management in the 5 years prior to 31st March 2025, compared to 21% of Local Geological Sites (Table 1). We also asked for total area of Local Sites from each local authority for the first time this year. However, coverage is not yet broad enough to report the total figure here. According to the Local Wildlife Sites System Status Review the total cumulative coverage of LWS from all the respondents combined was 750,475 hectares (ha).

Table 1. Additional breakdown of Local Sites into wildlife and geological, 2023/24 to 2024/25

Year Total number of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) reported Percentage of LWS in positive conservation management Total number of Local Geological Sites (LGS) reported Percentage of LGS in positive conservation management
2023/24 8,644 35.4% 906 24.2%
2024/25 13,313 35.6% 1,035 20.6%

Notes for Table 1:

  • The total number of Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites only includes those reported directly to this statistic and, due to low response rates, is still well below the approximately 44,000 sites estimated in England.

Further Detail

Some local authorities chose to explain the reasons for changes to their results from previous years. Although this is not necessarily representative of all local authorities, it does give an insight into possible reasons for change.

This year typical reasons for a reduction in proportion of sites in positive conservation management given include:

  • land management schemes such as Countryside or Environmental Stewardship coming to an end, and few new agri-environment scheme options due to the gradual transition to Environment Land Management Schemes

  • inaccessibility of some private sites

  • existing management plans becoming outdated.

However there have also been signs that positive changes have been taking place, such as:

  • new reviews of management plans by local authorities and other landowners

  • new stewardship schemes becoming available

  • new teams for the management of Local Sites being set up.

Out of the 150 local authorities expected to submit their results this year, 69 (46%) did so. The majority of local authorities that did not submit data this year also failed to provide data in 2023/24 when these data were last published, or in a number of previous years. 16 local authorities did not submit data for the first time this year.

This year typical reasons for not reporting these data to Defra include:

  • fewer surveys being completed due to a lack of funding, which might then impact sites qualifying for future management grants due to out-of-date survey information

  • response rate from local authority districts and boroughs, as well as private landowners, who then report the data to local authorities or Local Sites Partnerships who report to Defra, was lower than in previous years

  • changes and reductions in staffing levels have impacted local authorities’ ability to carry out the assessments needed to provide these data.

The reduction in response rate in recent years has impacted the quality of these data. In 2025 the Local Wildlife Sites System Status Review 2025 estimated there to be over 44,000 Local Sites in England, while our most recent data for 2024/25 covers 20,211 sites.

Background

Local Sites are non-statutory areas identified at local level for their significant nature conservation value. They include both local wildlife sites (identified for significant biodiversity value) and local geological sites (identified for their significant geological value). Local Site systems are operated at a local level, with local authorities working with Local Sites Partnerships made up of key stakeholders.

According to the Local Wildlife Sites System Status Review 2025, there are estimated to be more than 40,000 Local Sites in England, covering over 750,000 hectares of coastal, rural and urban situations. Although they do not have statutory status, many are equal in quality to statutory Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). They are an important component of England’s ecological network and have an important role to play in meeting our national biodiversity objectives.

There are currently a number of different terms in use locally to describe these sites, including Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs) and Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS). Defra uses the common term Local Site.

Defra published guidance on the identification, selection and management of Local Sites in 2006. Work is underway to determine what supplementary information could be helpful to provide on Gov.uk.

Methodology

These data (found in the accompanying data sheet) are from local authority single data list 160-00 on local nature conservation/biodiversity.

The data for 2010/11 to 2018/19, and 2021/22 to present were collected by Defra from unitary and higher tier local authorities. Data for 2008/09 and 2009/10 were previously published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In 2024/25, 46% of local authorities submitted data on Local Sites, compared with 50% in 2023/24 when data were last collected. This includes authorities that have provided a partial data return, for example those with number of Local Sites only. A total of 69 local authorities were included in the analysis in 2024/25 and 65 local authorities were excluded due to not providing data for 3 consecutive years (noting that Defra did not request data in 2019/20 or 2020/21). A total of 16 local authorities were imputed, bringing the total number of data points up to 85 this year.

Some local authorities chose to explain the reasons for changes to their results from previous years. Although this is not necessarily representative of all local authorities, it does give an insight into possible reasons for change.

The number of local authorities changes relatively infrequently over time, with some local authorities merging and others dividing into multiple groups. In 2024/25, there were 150 authorities, the same as the previous year.

Relevance

Local Sites contribute towards our commitments for biodiversity, both nationally through the Environmental Improvement Plan and internationally through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

In England, we have a network of nationally and internationally designated sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites). Local Sites can connect and buffer these areas to provide wildlife refuges for a diverse range of flora and fauna, and essential habitat for populations of rare and declining species.

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) will map existing local wildlife sites as ‘areas of particular importance for biodiversity’. Building on the location of these (and other protected) sites, the LNRS will identify the best locations to connect and buffer these sites, including creating stepping stones and expanding areas of wildlife-rich habitat to support recovery and resilience of the ecological network and the environmental services they provide.

Delivering 30by30 on land in England, published in December 2023, recognised the potential contribution of Local Sites in England to the commitment to protect 30% of the UK’s land by 2030. Where Local Sites are identified for their biodiversity value, there is potential for them to contribute to our ambitious target of halting species decline by 2030 and reversing it by 2042.

A number of these sites also comprise significant UK geodiversity. The UK Geodiversity Action Plan (UKGAP) provides a shared framework for the delivery of geoconservation through a series of objectives and targets. The UKGAP is often supported locally through Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs) developed and delivered by local geoconservation groups and a range of partners.

Local Sites provide many opportunities in addition to conservation action to protect habitats and species. On a local level, these sites provide ecological services to their communities, including natural processes that maintain air, soil and water quality, as well as contributions towards well-being and quality of life. They are also important locations for education and research, where they can act as reference sites for monitoring change in a changing climate.

If you wish to find out more about local sites and their role in nature recovery, see:

Acknowledgements

Thank you to our many data providers who have contributed to these statistics.

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