Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and regionally important geological site (RIGS) are designations used by local authorities in the United Kingdom for sites of substantive local nature conservation and geological value. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recommended the generic term 'local site', which is divided into 'local wildlife site' and 'local geological site'.
There are approximately 35,000 local sites, and according to the former Minister for Biodiversity, Jim Knight, they make a vital contribution to delivering the UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans and national and Local Geodiversity Action Plans, as well as maintaining local natural character and distinctiveness. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and local nature reserves (LNRs) have statutory protection, but they are only intended to cover a representative selection of sites, and Local sites are intended to provide comprehensive coverage of sites of nature conservation value. Local sites do not have statutory protection (unless they are also SSSIs or LNRs), but local authorities are expected to take account of the need to protect them in deciding their planning and development policies.[1][2]
Local sites are designated by local authorities in cooperation with Wildlife Trusts,[3] RIGS Groups or Geology Trusts, or their equivalents. For example, in Kent, local wildlife sites are identified by the Kent Wildlife Trust). Selection is objective and is normally based upon a recent survey specifically designed for SNCI, but selection on the basis of existing, published information may also occur. The approach is similar to that used for the selection of biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), but the thresholds are lower.
Selection is primarily for habitats of inherent wildlife interest, but some sites may be selected for supporting rare or scarce species of plants or animals outside such habitats. The areas concerned may be areas of 'natural' habitats, or they may be man-made – for example, the 40-acre (160,000 m2) West Norwood Cemetery is designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation by the London Borough of Lambeth
Once identified, designation and protection of the areas are done by local authorities through planning policies in their development plans. National government guidance (PPS 9) requires all development plans to include such policies. The variation in names for the designation reflects its separate existence in the different development plans for different areas.
In some areas, the designation is subdivided, or additional, more local designations are also used. For example, in Greater London SINCs are divided into the following grades:[4]
Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation
Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (Grade I and Grade II)
^"Local sites". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
^"Local Sites Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management" (PDF). Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation(PDF). Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. 2005. ISBN0-11-753954-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2007.
"Wildlife Sites Guidance Wales". Wales Biodiversity Partnership. February 2008.
April 11, 2024
site, nature, conservation, interest, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Site of Nature Conservation Interest news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Site of Nature Conservation Interest SNCI Site of Importance for Nature Conservation SINC and regionally important geological site RIGS are designations used by local authorities in the United Kingdom for sites of substantive local nature conservation and geological value The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has recommended the generic term local site which is divided into local wildlife site and local geological site There are approximately 35 000 local sites and according to the former Minister for Biodiversity Jim Knight they make a vital contribution to delivering the UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans and national and Local Geodiversity Action Plans as well as maintaining local natural character and distinctiveness Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSIs and local nature reserves LNRs have statutory protection but they are only intended to cover a representative selection of sites and Local sites are intended to provide comprehensive coverage of sites of nature conservation value Local sites do not have statutory protection unless they are also SSSIs or LNRs but local authorities are expected to take account of the need to protect them in deciding their planning and development policies 1 2 Contents 1 Selection methodology 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksSelection methodology editLocal sites are designated by local authorities in cooperation with Wildlife Trusts 3 RIGS Groups or Geology Trusts or their equivalents For example in Kent local wildlife sites are identified by the Kent Wildlife Trust Selection is objective and is normally based upon a recent survey specifically designed for SNCI but selection on the basis of existing published information may also occur The approach is similar to that used for the selection of biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSI but the thresholds are lower Selection is primarily for habitats of inherent wildlife interest but some sites may be selected for supporting rare or scarce species of plants or animals outside such habitats The areas concerned may be areas of natural habitats or they may be man made for example the 40 acre 160 000 m2 West Norwood Cemetery is designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation by the London Borough of LambethOnce identified designation and protection of the areas are done by local authorities through planning policies in their development plans National government guidance PPS 9 requires all development plans to include such policies The variation in names for the designation reflects its separate existence in the different development plans for different areas In some areas the designation is subdivided or additional more local designations are also used For example in Greater London SINCs are divided into the following grades 4 Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation Grade I and Grade II Site of Local Importance for Nature ConservationSee also editSite of Special Scientific Interest Local nature reserveReferences edit Local sites Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 29 November 2012 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Local Sites Guidance on their Identification Selection and Management PDF Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 2006 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Local Wildlife Sites The Wildlife Trusts Retrieved 6 October 2017 Wildlife sites London Wildlife Trust External links editPlanning Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation PDF Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2005 ISBN 0 11 753954 6 Archived from the original PDF on 2 July 2007 Greenspace Information for Greater London a database which covers most publicly accessible London SINCs Protected areas designations directory Joint Nature Conservation Committee Wildlife Sites Guidance Wales Wales Biodiversity Partnership February 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Site of Nature Conservation Interest amp oldid 1148798203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
