Nearly all ancient habitat has been lost to various human activity over the centuries but fragments remain often as a result of legal protection afforded them. Despite protection our remaining ancient habitats are still under threat and the system is always being tested by planning applications for various purposes being submitted, each one trying to push back the boundaries of protection.
This encroachment on legally protected sites is happening all of the time. For example, the route of the high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham passes through various protected ancient woodland sites and this was allowed by the Department of the Environment provided ten times as many trees were planted on other sites nearby to cancel out the loss. It takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to create ancient woodlands; they cannot be replaced with some trees planted somewhere else. This is compounded, of course, by the fact a woodland is not just trees but a whole community of flora and fauna which cannot be 'replanted'.
Some idea of the protection of habitat that the law provides might be helpful?
Site of Special Scientific Interest:
SSSI's, as they are known, are intended to "conserve and protect the best of our wildlife, geological and physiographical heritage for the benefit of present and future generations". So says a government paper on the matter. It claims that there are over 4,000 SSSIs in England covering 8% of the country.
To be granted SSSI status and to benefit from protection a site has to be notified by the government's advisory body, Natural England. To be notified the site has to have particular features or species that are either rare or threatened. As part of the notifying process the condition of the site has to be recorded and a management plan put in place to maintain or improve its condition. Owners of land designated as a SSSI have clear guidelines on what they can and cannot do with the land outlined in the management plan. Land owners can apply for funds to fulfill their responsibilities under the management plan.
The system of creating and managing SSSIs was set up under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
National Nature Reserves:
Some of the best wildlife sites in Britain are designated as National Nature Reserves. These reserves receive the highest level of protection and the highest degree of management input from Natural England. Dorset is blessed with several National Nature Reserves including the wonderful Durlston Country Park and the lesser known, but none less impressive, Hog Cliff.
Local Nature Reserves:
Local authorities have the power to designate local nature reserves. A local nature reserve does not have to be a SSSI and does not have to have any specific wildlife 'value'. They can be designated to protect vulnerable species but more often they are designated to provide people with local green space for exercise and relaxation (which is a commendable purpose in its own right). Local Nature Reserves are protected from development (unless the local authority decides to withdraw the protection) but are often subjected to extreme pressures from local human habitation (dog fouling, mountain bikes, trials bikes, small fires, vandalism, etc). Despite this local nature reserves are a valuable resource.
International Protection:
In addition to UK legislation there are European directives, known as Natura 2000, which provide protection and sites can be designated as being of 'special areas of conservation' or 'special protection areas'. There are also international protections afforded by RAMSAR agreements for wetlands of international importance, UNESCO biosphere reserves and World Heritage Sites; in Dorset we have the Jurassic Coast world heritage site of course. In Britain we also have the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It should be borne in mind that not all SSSIs are nature reserves and not all nature reserves are SSSIs. A site being a SSSI or a nature reserve does not guarantee its protection but every little helps! A protected site left unmanaged to maintain its ancient characteristics will become pretty well worthless.
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