Official Statistics

Nature conservation: Local Sites in positive conservation management in England, 2008-09 to 2022-23

Updated 6 February 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-sites-in-positive-conservation-management--2/nature-conservation-local-sites-in-positive-conservation-management-in-england-2008-09-to-2021-22

Publication last updated: 2023

Latest data available: 2023

Contact

Enquiries on this publication to: enviro.statistics@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 identified 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 2023, 43% of Local Sites across England, for which we received data, were in positive conservation management. This is an increase of 11 percentage points since 2008/9 when data were first collected, and a loss of 1 percentage points since 2021/22 when the data were last collected (Figure 1).

The response rate in 2022/23 (45%), was the lowest it has been since this publication began, and less than half what it was in 2008/9 (98%) when these data were first published (Figure 2). Although COVID-19 has impacted the response rate in previous years, this represents a long-term decreasing trend.

Figure 1. Proportion of Local Sites in positive conservation management, England, 2008/09 to 2022/23

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

Download the data for Figure 1 in ods format

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 2022/23, 68 (45%) 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 a dotted line.

Figure 2. Proportion of Local Authorities returning data, England, 2008/09 to 2022/23

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

Download the data for Figure 2 in ods format

Notes for Figure 2:

  • Each point on the time series represents the percentage of local authorities who provided a data return that year.

  • The total number of responding local authorities and number of sites varies between years. In 2022/23, 68 (45%) 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 a dotted line.

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

  • reduced staffing having reduced the ability for councils to produce management plans for, and provide advice to, landowners of Local Sites

  • COVID-19 having impacted staff’s ability to visit sites, as well as the amount of positive conservation works that could be undertaken.

Out of the 150 local authorities expected to submit their results this year, 68 (45%) did so. The majority of local authorities that did not submit data this year also failed to provide data in 2021/22 when these data were last published, or in a number of previous years. 15 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

  • COVID-19, as well as 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 2018 The state of England’s Local Wildlife Sites estimated there to be over 40,000 Local Sites in England, while the data we collected for that year covered only 20,600 sites, our most recent data for 2022/23 covers just 19,613 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 state of England’s Local Wildlife Sites 2018, there are estimated to be more than 40,000 Local Sites in England, covering coastal, rural and urban situations. Although they do not have any 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.

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 2022/23, 45% of local authorities submitted data on Local Sites, compared with 47% in 2021/22 when data were last collected. A total of 68 local authorities were included in the analysis in 2022/23 and 67 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). Data imputation was resumed this year as there has been at least one years worth of data returns since the gap in collection. A total of 15 local authorities were imputed, bringing the total number of data points up to 83 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 2022/23, there were 150 authorities, compared with 149 authorities the year before.

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 (Special Sites of 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 networks 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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