2. PROTECT THE BEST

a) MARINE

Our performance indicator:

A complete Marine Protected Area network (including Natura 2000 sites, OSPAR MPAs, Nationally Important Marine Sites, and Highly Protected Marine Reserves) identified and notified by 2010.

ASSESSMENT - AMBER (upgraded from AMBER/RED in 2009)

Site protection in the marine environment continues to lag decades behind that on land.  The Marine & Coastal Access Act received Royal Assent in November 2009 and is a significant step in the right direction and, given proper implementation of the new law, provides the legal tools to better deliver marine protection.

The Act provides for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to be designated to contribute to a representative and ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which will also include Natura 2000 sites.  Regional site selection projects are already being set up to identify MCZs in our seas.  Separately, some additional marine Natura 2000 sites are also being considered but progress is still slow, and for Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in particular, coverage is still inadequate. The Government’s current timetable is for the MPA network to be established by 2012, meaning that the above target will therefore not be met. The Government should also ensure comprehensive and effective application of management measures to existing and future Natura 2000 sites.

b) TERRESTRIAL AND FRESHWATER SITES

Our performance indicator:
95% of UK SSSI / ASSIs in favourable condition by 2010 ³.

ASSESSMENT - GREEN/AMBER (unchanged since 2009)

The latest analysis from Natural England suggests that the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target in England (95% of SSSIs by area in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition by December 2010) will be met.  This reflects the very real efforts made by Government and its agencies to improve the condition of England’s SSSIs, and the effective way in which they have worked with stakeholders to focus attention on delivery of the target.

The latest assessment forEngland(01 November 2009) is that 44% of SSSIs are in ‘favourable’ condition, 45% are ‘unfavourable-recovering’, 7% ‘unfavourable – no change’ and 4% ‘unfavourable declining’⁴.  Under Natural England’s analysis, the favourable and recovering categories are combined to give a figure of 89%.  This compares with 57% in March 2003, 72% in March 2006, 80% in January 2008 and 84% in December 2008. 

It is important to note that most progress towards the PSA target has been made in the transition of large areas from ‘unfavourable’ to ‘unfavourable recovering’ condition.  This has been triggered by the introduction of management and associated funding intended to address the causes of unfavourable condition.  However, it will take time to see whether or not this is effective, and even where it is, some sites will take many years to recover. Over the life of the target there has, in fact, been a slight decline in the area achieving ‘favourable’ condition.  This means that the commendable progress to date is very vulnerable to reversal linked to threatened cuts in public sector spending.  We are concerned that the progress to date may not be sustained, and may not therefore lead to real improvements in the condition of SSSIs on the ground.

As we move through 2010 and beyond, the emphasis must now shift to delivery of favourable condition to ensure that the good work to date is sustained and not wasted.  Sound scientific understanding of the causes of unfavourable condition, and of the efficacy of management measures, will be key to assessing the extent to which measures now in place will deliver the desired results. It is clear that greater investment in science to ‘crack’ particular issues (e.g. the effects and management of diffuse pollution in fresh water ecosystems) will be necessary along the way.

Further assessments:

Stop the Rot
Restore the Rest
Full Progress Assessment (pdf)