PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Nature Conservation (7 March 2016)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of protected sites on land in England are in (a) favourable and (b) unfavourable but recovering condition; and what progress is being made on restoring sites in unfavourable condition.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are the country's very best wildlife and geological sites. There are over 4,000 SSSIs in England covering around 8% of the country's land area. Information on the proportion of SSSI land in England that is in (a) favourable and (b) unfavourable but recovering condition is available through Gov.UK: www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest

During the current financial year the proportion of land in favourable condition has increased from 37.6% to 38.5% (as at 8 March) with a further 57% in unfavourable but recovering condition. This is due to successful conservation management by farmers, foresters and other land managers with support principally through agri-environment schemes.

Answered by:
Rory Stewart (Independent)
10 March 2016