List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Wales

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Cadair Berwyn North Top in the Berwyn range, an SSSI. Cadair Berwyn New Top rocks - geograph.org.uk - 1199895.jpg
Cadair Berwyn North Top in the Berwyn range, an SSSI.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in Wales, as elsewhere in United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon them, including national nature reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation. Sites notified for their biological interest are known as Biological SSSIs, and those notified for geological or physiographic interest are Geological SSSIs. Many SSSIs are notified for both biological and geological interest. [1]

Contents

Background

SSSIs in the UK are notified using the concept of an Area of Search (AOS), an area of between 400 km2 (150 sq mi) and 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi) in size. [2] The Areas of Search were conceived and developed between 1975 and 1979 by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), based on regions created by the Local Government Act 1972. [3] Whereas England had its Areas of Search based on 46 counties, those in Wales were based on a combination of the counties and smaller districts. In 1974, Wales was divided into 8 counties, with 37 districts. The NCC created 12 Welsh Areas of Search; they mostly follow county borders, but the larger counties (Dyfed, Powys and Gwynedd) were divided into multiple Areas using district borders. Mid and South Glamorgan were merged into a single AOS, whilst Llanelli district was included in the West Glamorgan AOS.

Due to subsequent local government reorganisation in the UK since 1972, many counties and districts have been divided, merged or renamed. Using the AOS system alone would make it difficult to search for individual SSSI citations via the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) database without knowing 1972 region divisions. As a result, the CCW groups Welsh SSSIs using the subdivisions of Wales formed in April 1996 by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, resulting in 22 principal areas.

For SSSIs elsewhere in the UK, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

There are between 1,019 (as of 2017) [4] and 1,078 (as of 2021) [5] sites of special scientific interest in Wales, accounting for 235,000 hectares (580,000 acres), making up over 12% of Wales' land area. The smallest SSSI is the Lesser Horseshoe bat roost in Pembrokeshire (0.004 hectares (430 sq ft)), while the Berwyn mountain range (24,321 hectares (60,100 acres)) is the largest. [6] [7] In 2021, 17% of SSSIs were in an unfavourable condition, 13% favourable, with the remaining 70% of unknown condition, as part of a report in Wales' SSSIs the first since 2006. [8] Many SSSIs are not monitored due to a lack of funding. [9] Most SSSIs in Wales are in private ownership, however some are under the ownership and management of local wildlife trusts, or other voluntary conservation bodies. The first SSSI designated in Wales was from 1949. [10] 99 coal tips in Wales are also SSSIs. [11]

They are designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, with Natural Resources Wales being the responsible body for SSSIs in Wales. [12]

List

Area of SearchNumber of sitesSites list
BiologicalGeologicalBothTotal
Brecknockshire TBCTBCTBC84 List of SSSIs in Brecknock
Carmarthen & Dinefwr TBCTBCTBC79 List of SSSIs in Carmarthen & Dinefwr
Ceredigion TBCTBCTBC100 List of SSSIs in Ceredigion
Clwyd TBCTBCTBC81 List of SSSIs in Clwyd
East Gwynedd TBCTBCTBC103 List of SSSIs in East Gwynedd
Gwent TBCTBCTBC78 List of SSSIs in Gwent
Mid & South Glamorgan TBCTBCTBC69 List of SSSIs in Mid & South Glamorgan
Montgomeryshire TBCTBCTBC76 List of SSSIs in Montgomery
Preseli & South Pembrokeshire TBCTBCTBC75 List of SSSIs in Preseli & South Pembrokeshire
Radnorshire TBCTBCTBC87 List of SSSIs in Radnor
West Glamorgan TBCTBCTBC56 List of SSSIs in West Glamorgan
West Gwynedd TBCTBCTBC135 List of SSSIs in West Gwynedd

By principal area

By other

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Site of Special Scientific Interest</span> Protected area in the United Kingdom

A site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in Great Britain, or an area of special scientific interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man. SSSI/ASSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in the United Kingdom are based upon them, including national nature reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation. The acronym "SSSI" is often pronounced "triple-S I".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom implemented to comply with European Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. In short, the act gives protection to native species, controls the release of non-native species, enhances the protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and builds upon the rights of way rules in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Act is split into 4 parts covering 74 sections; it also includes 17 schedules.

Local nature reserve (LNR) is a statutory designation for certain nature reserves in Great Britain. The Wild Life Conservation Special Committee established them and proposed a national suite of protected areas comprising national nature reserves, conservation areas, national parks, geological monuments, local nature reserves and local educational nature reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Wales</span> Designated area for protection in Wales

Wales, a country that is part of the United Kingdom, contains protected areas under various designations. The largest designation by land area is Wales' three national parks, followed by the five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Dixton Wood is a 13.14-hectare (32.5-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 2000. Dixton Wood is recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turvey's Piece</span>

Turvey's Piece is a 1.02-hectare (2.5-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire near Deerhurst, notified in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beddmanarch–Cymyran</span> Protected area of Anglesey, Wales

Beddmanarch–Cymyran is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) on the Welsh island of Anglesey extending to just over 900 hectares, and centred on the Cymyran Strait. It was first notified in 1961 for its coastal botanical and ornithological interest. The site is also a marine protected area as it includes intertidal areas and contains marine components.

Castlemartin Corse is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since February 1985 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 30.4 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Corsydd Llangloffan is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since February 1992 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 56.7 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esgyrn Bottom</span> Protected area in Wales

Esgyrn Bottom is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since January 1957 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological and geological elements. The site has an area of 49.9 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Felin Llwyngwair is a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Newport in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It was designated a SSSI in October 2000 to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 0.01 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport Cliffs</span> Protected area in Wales

Newport Cliffs is a Site of Special Scientific Interest lying a little to the north of Newport in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since January 1954 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 48.23 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Waun Fawr, Puncheston is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since March 1995 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 8.26 hectares.

Wyndrush Pastures is a Site of Special Scientific Interest south-east of the village of Redberth, just south of the A477, and around five km (3.1 mi) to the north-west of the coastal town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since October 1999 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological elements. The site has an area of 45.5 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Scotland</span> Designated area for protection in Scotland

Many parts of Scotland are protected in accordance with a number of national and international designations because of their environmental, historical or cultural value. Protected areas can be divided according to the type of resource which each seeks to protect. NatureScot has various roles in the delivery of many environmental designations in Scotland, i.e. those aimed at protecting flora and fauna, scenic qualities and geological features. Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designations that protect sites of historic and cultural importance. Some international designations, such as World Heritage Sites, can cover both categories of site.

References

  1. ↑ "Protected Sites in Denbighshire" (PDF). Denbighshire County Council.
  2. ↑ Joint Nature Conservation Committee (1998 revision); Guidelines for the Selection of Biological SSSIs, section 4.11, p. 17. ISBN   1873701721.
  3. ↑ Joint Nature Conservation Committee (1998 revision); Guidelines for the Selection of Biological SSSIs, section 4.5, pp. 14–15. ISBN   1873701721.
  4. ↑ "Protected Sites". www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk. 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  5. ↑ Youle, Richard (2021-01-01). "How Wales' landscape is protected and whether it works". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  6. ↑ "Sites of Special Scientific Interest". www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  7. ↑ "Natural Resources Wales / Types of protected areas of land and sea". naturalresources.wales. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  8. ↑ "Wildlife: Almost half of Wales' protected sites 'not monitored'". BBC News. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  9. ↑ "Wales' climate change minister: 'Time to jump start restoration'". BBC News. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  10. ↑ "Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) | DataMapWales". datamap.gov.wales. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  11. ↑ "Coal tip repairs threaten rare wildlife, ecologists warn". BBC News. 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  12. ↑ "Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)". Brecon Beacons National Park Authority . Retrieved 2024-05-10.
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