nature conservation: local sites in positive conservation

Defra Official Statistics – Nature Conservation: Local Sites in positive conservation management

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Public enquiries: 08459 335577 or Press

enquiries: 020 7238 1542 Public enquiries & user feedback: [email protected]

Website: www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Nature Conservation: Local Sites in Positive Conservation

Management in England, 2008-9 to 2011-121

Official Statistics Release: 29 November 2012

In 2011-12, 45 per cent2 of Local Sites across England were in positive conservation management. This represents an increase of 13 percentage points in the number of sites in positive management since 2008-9 when the data was first collected.

These official statistics give information on Local Sites (i.e. sites designated locally for their substantive nature conservation importance, either for wildlife or geology) which are being managed so as to conserve their nature conservation interest (i.e. are in “positive conservation management”). The data for 2010-11 and 2011-12 were collected by Defra from unitary and higher tier local authorities. Data for 2008-9 and 2009-10, previously published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, are also included here.

The data allow assessment of the proportion (percentage) of the total number of

Local Sites in England where positive conservation management is being

implemented, or has been in the last five years. 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.

Figure 1: Proportion of Local Sites in positive conservation management,

England, 2008-9 to 2011-12

1 Local Authority Single data list 160-00 on local nature conservation/biodiversity

2 In 2011/12, 81.5% of LAs submitted their data on local sites. Where LAs did not submit data in 2011-12, the

most recently submitted data for those LAs was used to calculate the overall percentage of sites in positive conservation management.


Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Public enquiries: 08459 335577 or Press

enquiries: 020 7238 1542 Public enquiries & user feedback: [email protected]

Website: www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment

Background

Local Sites are non-statutory areas designated at local level for their significant nature conservation value. They include both local wildlife sites (designated for significant biodiversity value) and local geological sites (designated 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.

There are more than 40,000 Local Sites in England, covering contrasting landscapes in coastal, rural and urban situations. Although they do not have any statutory status, many are equal in quality to the representative sample of sites that make up the series of 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), although Defra uses the common term Local Site.

More background can be found here.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/protected/nationally/local-sites/


Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Public enquiries: 08459 335577 or Press enquiries: 020 7238 1542

Public enquiries & user feedback: [email protected] Website: www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment

Data for Local Sites in positive management, by Local Authority, 2008-9 to 2011-12

The score given for each local authority is the percentage of Local Sites in positive conservation management out of the total

number of Local Sites in the local authority area. The table also shows the total number of Local Sites in each local authority area.

Data for 2008-9 and 2009-10 were collected by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the National

Indicator set (NI 197), replaced by the Single Data List from 2010-11.

Local Authority Total no. of local sites

2008/9

Score 2008/9

Total no. of local sites

2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11

No. of Local Sites where positive conservation management is being or has been implemented in 5 years prior to 31/3/2011

Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Barking & Dagenham LB

28 29% 28 29% 30 13 43% 28 12 43%

Barnet LB 67 33% 67 39% No report in 2011

No report in 2011 No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Barnsley MD 62 16% 62 16% 62 10 16% 71 13 18%

Bath & N E Somerset UA

365 21% 365 25% 365 102 28% 365 103 28%

Bedfordshire CC (Former County Council)

387 43% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Bedford 124 51% 122 70 57% 123 70 57%

Bexley LB 54 28% 54 39% 54 24 44% 54 24 44%

Birmingham MD 166 50% 166 52% 166 90 54% 167 93 56%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Blackburn with Darwen UA

104 10% 99 5% N/A N/A N/A N/A

Blackpool UA 13 31% 13 31% N/A N/A N/A N/A

Bolton MD 70 29% 70 39% 70 25 36% 68 26 38%

Bournemouth UA

13 46% 14 50% 14 7 50% 14 8 57%

Bracknell Forest UA

60 38% 60 43% 62 30 48% 59 29 49%

Bradford MD 192 11% 192 14% 192 67 35% 192 67 35%

Brent LB 62 34% 62 63% 62 40 65% 62 41 66%

Brighton & Hove UA

62 19% 62 32% 62 34 55% 62 35 56%

Bristol UA 95 32% 94 39% 94 50 53% 99 58 59%

Bromley LB 94 64% 94 64% 94 61 65% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Buckinghamshire CC

407 26% 418 41% 429 185 43% 440 223 51%

Bury MD 50 12% 49 14% 50 8 16% No report in No report in 2012





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

2012

Calderdale MD 41 17% 41 34% 41 18 44% 41 18 44%

Cambridgeshire CC

410 40% 414 47% 416 237 57% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Camden LB 36 31% 36 47% 36 18 50% 36 21 58%

Central Bedfordshire

N/A 263 55% 261 149 57% 265 155 58%

Cheshire CC 684 30% 311 34% No report in 2011

No report in 2011 520 130 25%

City of London 10 20% 10 20% 10 2 20% 10 2 20%

Cornwall Council

615 64% 615 67% 615 433 70% 619 434 70%

Coventry MD 41 49% 56 59% 57 34 60% 71 38 54%

Croydon LB 75 51% 75 45% 74 34 46% 74 34 46%

Cumbria CC 728 31% 759 40% 823 341 41% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Darlington UA 45 13% 26 31% 25 9 36% 27 10 37%

Derby UA 62 45% 67 43% 62 30 48% 65 34 52%

Derbyshire CC 1,194 29% 1,209 32% 1,216 394 32% 1217 383 31%

Devon CC 1,987 46% 2,245 57% 2,260 1,357 60% 2260 1498 66%

Doncaster MD 341 9% 366 15% 366 81 22% 362 91 25%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Dorset CC 1,032 33% 1,289 53% 1,335 802 60% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Dudley MD 165 8% 195 19% 195 40 21% 195 40 21%

Durham CC 380 6% 378 10% 378 55 15% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Ealing LB 64 69% 64 73% 64 47 73% 64 51 80%

East Riding of Yorkshire UA

702 8% 642 25% 514 185 36% 461 175 38%

East Sussex CC 339 41% 345 51% 336 183 54% 336 201 60%

Enfield LB 26 38% 26 38% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Essex CC 1,440 4% 1,440 29% 1,566 546 35% 1644 550 33%

Gateshead MD 121 36% 121 39% 126 52 41% 126 55 44%

Gloucestershire CC

954 29% 950 40% 1,063 514 48% 1058 521 49%

Greenwich LB 55 40% 55 49% 55 32 58% 55 37 67%

Hackney LB 24 54% 24 54% 24 15 63% 24 13 54%

Halton UA 51 65% 53 43% 54 28 52% 54 31 57%

Hammersmith & Fulham LB

29 21% 34 21% 34 28 82% 29 24 83%

Hampshire CC 3,757 42% 3,787 44% 3,847 1,602 42% No report in 2012

No report in 2012





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Haringey LB 60 17% 60 22% 60 16 27% 60 19 32%

Harrow LB 30 33% 30 47% 30 20 67% 30 15 50%

Hartlepool UA 45 24% 48 29% 49 17 35% 49 18 37%

Havering LB 89 20% 89 24% 89 22 25% 89 22 25%

Herefordshire UA

857 41% 858 43% 860 496 58% 863 447 52%

Hertfordshire CC

1,760 20% 1,579 25% 1,591 390 25% 1587 373 24%

Hillingdon LB 86 48% 86 48% 88 82 93% 86 43 50%

Hounslow LB 47 51% 47 53% 47 28 60% 47 30 64%

Isle of Wight UA 380 54% 380 60% 380 228 60% 380 228 60%

Islington LB 49 37% 49 53% 51 20 39% 50 23 46%

Kensington & Chelsea LB

22 27% 24 54% 24 16 67% 24 22 92%

Kent CC 437 54% 437 57% 437 253 58% 437 260 59%

Kingston-upon-Hull UA

97 0% No report in 2010

No report in 2011

No report in 2011 101 14 14%

Kingston-upon-Thames LB

51 25% 49 53% 51 23 45% 51 23 45%

Kirklees MD 42 26% 40 55% 40 22 55% 40 22 55%

Knowsley MD 63 11% 63 11% 69 17 25% 69 22 32%

Lambeth LB 40 72% 40 100% 40 39 98% 45 43 96%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Lancashire CC 1,180 16% 1,281 21% 1,282 337 26% 1199 378 32%

Leeds MD 44 45% 43 58% 43 25 58% 43 28 65%

Leicester UA 33 42% 35 66% 35 24 69% 35 26 74%

Leicestershire CC

906 9% 856 30% 855 374 44% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Lewisham LB 63 59% 64 34% 64 37 58% 64 39 61%

Lincolnshire CC 376 56% 539 60% No report in 2011

No report in 2011 720 445 62%

Liverpool MD 23 26% 23 30% 22 8 36% 22 8 36%

Luton UA 25 48% 25 52% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Manchester MD 35 40% 35 43% 35 16 46% 35 17 49%

Medway Towns UA

15 80% 15 67% 15 11 73% 16 12 75%

Merton LB 57 51% 57 60% 57 37 65% 57 37 65%

Middlesbrough UA

17 35% 17 35% 17 8 47% 17 9 53%

Milton Keynes UA

23 48% 23 65% 26 17 65% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Newcastle upon Tyne MD

28 61% 28 61% 28 17 61% 28 17 61%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Newham LB 35 17% 35 14% 35 6 17% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Norfolk CC 1,264 50% 1,273 56% 1,283 782 61% 1304 794 61%

North East Lincolnshire UA

17 65% 41 66% 37 28 76% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

North Lincolnshire UA

66 59% 132 66% 187 131 70% 211 149 71%

North Somerset UA

280 22% 280 37% 282 126 45% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

North Tyneside MD

26 58% 28 64% 28 19 68% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

North Yorkshire CC

731 11% 730 23% 730 213 29% 730 274 38%

Northamptonshire CC

810 22% 813 32% 745 264 35% 744 278 37%

Northumberland CC

221 28% 223 43% 218 77 35% 217 73 34%

Nottingham UA 72 53% 72 54% No report in 2011

No report in 2011 64 23 36%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Nottinghamshire CC

1,340 20% 1,332 21% 1,342 361 27% 1374 389 28%

Oldham MD 38 18% 39 18% 37 9 24% 37 9 24%

Oxfordshire CC 387 34% 391 49% 402 198 49% 404 242 60%

Peterborough UA

107 61% 113 71% 113 84 74% 113 87 77%

Plymouth UA 24 21% 23 43% 23 15 65% 23 15 65%

Poole UA 30 43% 31 45% 30 14 47% 30 14 47%

Portsmouth UA 13 69% 13 69% 13 9 69% 14 11 79%

Reading UA 28 4% 28 14% 24 14 58% 22 13 59%

Redbridge LB 35 40% 35 51% 35 22 63% 35 23 66%

Redcar & Cleveland UA

79 13% 86 20% 86 21 24% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Richmond upon Thames LB

62% 53 74% 53 41 77% 53 37 70%

Rochdale MD 43 23% 43 23% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Rotherham MD 96 17% 127 31% 117 36 31% 119 35 29%

Rutland UA 208 78% 202 90% 201 161 80% 201 193 96%

Salford MD 33 18% 33 24% 33 9 27% 33 9 27%

Sandwell MD 122 20% 122 26% 122 36 29% 122 39 32%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Sefton MD 32 25% 57 28% 58 22 38% 58 24 41%

Sheffield MD 290 32% 290 34% 297 104 35% 322 111 34%

Shropshire Council

846 5% 833 19% 830 241 29% 853 304 36%

Slough BC 7 43% 7 43% 5 2 40% 5 2 40%

Solihull MD 95 39% 95 39% 95 39 41% 97 39 40%

Somerset CC 2,312 34% 2,310 29% 2,310 665 29% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

South Gloucestershire UA

320 44% 320 47% No report in 2011

No report in 2011 320 149 47%

South Tyneside MD

52 37% 52 38% 52 21 40% 53 22 42%

Southampton UA

42 14% 42 14% 42 21 50% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Southend-on-Sea UA

10 30% 10 30% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Southwark LB 59 66% 59 73% 59 43 73% 58 47 81%

St Helens MD 129 12% 129 16% 129 24 19% 129 30 23%

Staffordshire CC 844 30% 844 35% 844 341 40% 844 341 40%

Stockport MD 63 21% 65 23% 64 16 25% 64 16

25%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Stockton-on-Tees UA

58 29% 58 29% 58 22 38% 57 24 42%

Stoke-on-Trent UA

38 37% 40 42% 41 20 49% 41 22 54%

Suffolk CC 921 32% 924 41% 922 464 50% 926 525 57%

Sunderland MD 70 10% 70 13% 70 11 16% 70 7 10%

Surrey CC 734 38% 748 41% 750 305 41% 752 296 39%

Sutton LB 42 57% 42 71% 42 31 74% 46 35 76%

Swindon UA 84 37% 91 46% 92 49 53% 91 54 59%

Tameside MD 55 24% 55 29% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Telford & Wrekin UA

66 21% 66 30% 66 29 44% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Thurrock UA 70 27% 70 37% 70 33 47% 70 33 47%

Torbay UA 86 17% 45 31% 45 14 31% 44 19 43%

Tower Hamlets LB

46 52% 46 54% 46 28 61% 35 25 71%

Trafford MD 52 38% 50 48% No report in 2011


No report in 2012





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Wakefield MD 31 55% 32 53% 31 17 55% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Walsall MD 109 20% 109 21% 109 26 24% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Waltham Forest LB

22 86% 22 86% total number of sites not

reported

9 14 9 64%

Wandsworth LB 31 35% 31 65% 31 14 45% 31 15 48%

Warrington UA 40 38% 40 30% 40 12 30% No report in 2012

No report in 2012

Warwickshire CC

247 34% 275 31% 324 125 39% 353 149 42%

West Berkshire UA

469 42% 468 41% 472 203 43% 473 181 38%

West Sussex CC

340 59% 347 63% 358 266 74% 356 248 70%

Westminster LB 33 52% 33 48% No report in 2011


No report in 2012

Wigan MD 89 10% 89 27% 91 27 30% 91 28 31%

Wiltshire Coucil 1,518 43% 1,522 54% 1,540 998 65% 1550 1088 70%

Windsor & Maidenhead UA

113 15% 90 24% 92 27 29% 93 25 27%





2008/9

Score 2008/9


2009/10

Score 2009/1

0


2010/11


Score 2010/11


2011/12


Score 2011/12

Wirral MD 86 26% 86 36% 86 34 40% 85 36 42%

Wokingham UA 121 37% 120 39% 120 48 40% 121 51 42%

Wolverhampton MD

81 9% 81 10% 81 16 20% 81 16 20%

Worcestershire CC

459 28% 553 31% 553 172 31% 593 250 42%

York UA 42 40% 42 52% 89 34 38% 87 40 46%

Isles of Scilly exempt

A Defra Official Statistics publication

Whilst these statistics are not National Statistics this publication has been

produced in adherence to the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

nature conservation: local sites in positive conservation

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