UK designations • European & International Designations

UK designations

In the UK , there are a range of statutory and non-statutory land designations, the presence of which can influence development and management in the coastal zone. It is not uncommon for a stretch of coast to be subject to more than one designation, with either concurrent or overlapping boundaries.

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• National Nature Reserves
• Marine Nature Reserves
• UK Biosphere Reserves
• Local Nature Reserves
• Environmental Stewardship Schemes
• UK Biodiversity Action Plan
• Landscape, Amenity and Heritage Designations
• National Parks
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Heritage Coast
• National Trust Properties
• Scheduled Ancient Monuments
• Other Designations

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

The UK Government has a duty to notify Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (amended 1985) and given greater protected status under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW). SSSIs are notified where, in the opinion of the Government, the land in question is of special interest due to any component of its flora, fauna or geology. SSSIs are designated by English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland (DoENI), known as designating bodies. In Northern Ireland, certain areas are alternatively designated as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Although very similar, the designations do have important differences and the reader is advised to ensure they are fully aware of the implications of the designation where necessary.

SSSI is the major statutory designation used for wildlife protection in the UK. The designation gives the land certain protection against potentially damaging operations and requires the approval of the designating body before any works can take place within, or adjacent to the site boundary.

For further information on SSSIs, their protected status and implications for development and management proposals, the reader is referred to the website of the relevant nature conservation authority.

National Nature Reserves

National Nature Reserves (NNR) are areas of key wildlife habitat that are managed specifically for wildlife conservation purposes. This contrasts with the management of SSSIs where the primary land use is not necessarily conservation, but where management techniques and practices are agreed that are consistent with the ongoing conservation importance of the area.

Marine Nature Reserves

Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs) are created by statute (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) to conserve marine flora and fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest, while providing opportunities for study of the systems involved. MNRs may be established within 3 nautical miles of the coast under the Territorial Seas Act 1987 or, by an Order in Council, to the limits of UK territorial waters; they include both the sea and the seabed. MNRs can be protected by bylaws.

UK Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere Reserves (BR) are areas of terrestrial and coastal/marine ecosystems which are internationally recognised under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme launched in 1971.

BRs are nominated by national governments, through the national MAB Committee, and must meet a minimum set of criteria and adhere to a minimum set of conditions before being added to the network. Each reserve is identified to fulfill three complementary functions:

• A conservation function to preserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems and landscapes;
• A development function to foster sustainable economic and human developments; and
• A logistic support function to support demonstration projects, environmental education and training, research and monitoring related to issues of conservation and sustainable development.

There are currently 8 BRs in the UK. For further information the reader is referred to the UKMAB 10 website.

Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves (LNR) are designated by local authorities in consultation with English Nature, Their basis for designation is similar to that of NNRs but the emphasis is on local rather than national interest.

Environmental Stewardship Schemes

Environmental Stewardship (ES) was launched in England in March 2005 and replaced the existing agri-environment schemes (Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Countryside Stewardship and Organic Farming Schemes). It is a scheme which provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land. In terms of saltmarsh, farmers can be paid for managing grazing levels to encourage increased bird usage and plant diversity. Another option open to landowners is realigning protected land to create intertidal habitat. Similar schemes also exist in Wales and Scotland.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan

DEFRA hosts a Biodiversity Secretariat to help support the implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity in the UK. The Secretariat promotes the integration of Biodiversity into policies, projects and programmes within Government and beyond. It does this by using the conservation methods outlined in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), UK Steering Group Report (volumes I and II), and the 391 Species Action Plans, 45 Habitat Action Plans and about 162 Local biodiversity Action Plans.

Within the UK BAP, coastal saltmarsh is classified as a “priority habitat” associated with the broad habitat “littoral sediment” which encompasses saltmarsh, mudflats, seagrass beds and sheltered muddy gravels. The action plan is hosted at the UK BAP website and can be accessed at www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=33

Landscape, Amenity and Heritage Designations

In addition to the UK, European and International designations for conservation of wildlife interests, there are also further designations that apply to coasts and estuaries, for the protection of important landscapes and heritage features. Many of these designations overlap with those for wildlife conservation. The Countryside Agency has the responsibility for the designation of National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Heritage Coast (CCW 3 has this responsibility in Wales). There are also areas designated for their archaeological and cultural heritage value.

National Parks

There are twelve National Parks in England and Wales, seven of which have coastal frontages. This includes the Broads, which was set up by a special Act of Parliament in 1988 and the New Forest, the designation of which was announced in June 2004, although a date for designation has not yet been set. There is an inquiry underway at the time of writing (2005) on the proposed South Downs National Park. Two National Parks have been established in Scotland, neither of which support saltmarsh vegetation. As yet, no National Parks have been established in Northern Ireland, although action is currently being taken to designate the Mountains of Mourne.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

AONBs are designated for the primary purpose of conserving natural beauty. The other objectives of the designation are two fold namely, to:

• Facilitate the use of the area for recreation in a manner consistent with the conservation of the area and other users; and
• Take into account the maintenance of local industries and the economic and social well-being of the area.

Heritage Coast

Heritage coasts are selected as the finest stretches of undeveloped coast that require comprehensive conservation and management to ensure their preservation. Heritage Coasts are designated by the same government bodies as for AONBs, in consultation with local authorities, and protected by development plans. Heritage Coasts are managed by local authorities and must have defined management plans.

National Trust Properties

The National Trust (NT) is an independent charity, founded in 1895, with significant land holdings. In 1907, an Act of Parliament gave the NT strong powers to preserve and protect the nation’s buildings and land. Thus, land owned by the NT is fully protected against development. At the end of 2004 the NT had acquired 415 miles (665 km) of coastline in England , Wales and Northern Ireland and also owned/managed 52,600 hectares of coastal hinterland.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM) are the responsibility of English Heritage, CADW (Wales), Historic Scotland, and the Environment and Heritage Service of DoENI. These sites of archaeological and cultural heritage value are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. There are around 35,000 SAMs in the UK, many of which are found in the coastal zone. Any works that may have an impact upon a SAM require ‘scheduled monument consent’ from the relevant competent authority. Consultation with the competent authority would be required prior to any works being carried out on a saltmarsh, regardless of their purpose.

Other Designations

It is possible for land in coastal areas to carry other designations to those given above. Many of these may be subject to protection under planning law, for example, Public Rights of Way