Site of Special Scientific InterestA Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic 'building block' of nature conservation legislation, and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations are based upon them, including National Nature Reserves, Ramsar Sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation.
Legal statusThe government has a duty to notify as an SSSI any land which in its opinion is of special interest by reason of any of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features. In practice this means of national, as opposed to local, interest. The designation can be made by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales or the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland). In Northern Ireland some areas are designated as Areas Of Special Scientific Interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, which is essentially similar to SSSI legislation. The body making the designation is, reasonably enough, known as the 'designating body'. An SSSI is not necessarily open to the public, or owned by a conservation organisation or by the Government - in fact, they can be owned by anybody. The current legal framework for SSSIs is provided by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, amended 1985, and the protection of SSSIs was enhanced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. List of SSSIsSSSIs in England
SSSIs in ScotlandSSSIs in WalesSSSIs in Northern IrelandSee alsocy:Safle o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig Categories: Conservation in the United Kingdom |
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