Protected areas in the UK

Marcus Yeo

Overview

• The international and EU context

• Protected areas in the UK – facts and figures

• Protected areas in the Overseas Territories

• New thinking on nature conservation – implications for protected areas

A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values

The international context

Convention on Biological DiversityBy 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through ... systems of protected areas ...

OSPAR ConventionEstablish an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas in the north-east Atlantic by 2012 and ensure it is well-managed by 2016

Ramsar ConventionEach Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance. Wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology.

World Heritage Convention

The EU contextBirds DirectiveMember States shall classify ... the most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species

Habitats DirectiveA coherent European ecological network of special areas ofconservation ... shall enable natural habitat types and the species' habitats concerned to be maintained or, where appropriate, restored at a favourable conservation status in their natural range

Marine Strategy Framework DirectiveEstablish coherent and representative networks of marine protected areas that will contribute to achieving Good Environmental Status of Europe’s seas

EU Biodiversity StrategyMember States and the Commission will ensure that the phase to establish Natura 2000, including in the marine environment, is largely complete by 2012

UK targets

UK Marine Policy StatementThe UK administrations are committed to substantially completing an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas by 2012

England Biodiversity StrategyBy 2020, at least 17% of land and inland water, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, conserved through effective, integrated and joined up approaches to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services including through management of our existing systems of protected areas and the establishment of nature improvement areas

Country targets for condition of protected areasFor example: Scottish Government target to increase the proportion of protected nature sites which are in satisfactory condition; or are recovering, with the necessary management measures in place

National Protected Areas

Sites/ Areas of Special Scientific Interest

Marine Protected

Areas

National & Local Nature

Reserves

National Parks,

AONBs, National

Scenic Areas

Hab

itats

Dire

ctiv

eBirds Directive

Marine (S

cotland) Act 2010

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

Wildlife and C

ountryside

Act

Con

vent

ion

on w

etla

nds

UK MPA network

MCZs

Nature Conservation MPAs

SACs

SPAs

SSSIs

Ramsar

sites

Protected Areas in the UK (as at end March 2011)

Designation Number of sites Area (000 ha)

Special Areas of Conservation 636 4,296

Special Protection Areas 268 2,746

Ramsar 146 783

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (GB) 6,607 2,366

Areas of Special Scientific Interest (NI) 330 102

National Nature Reserves 367 256

Marine Nature Reserves 2 18

Local Nature Reserves 1,613 54

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England, Wales, NI)

46 102

National Scenic Areas (Scotland) 40 1,378

National Parks 15 1,171

Heritage Coasts (England & Wales) 46 1,552 km

Natura sites & A/SSSIs in the UK

Extent of protected areasin the UK

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005M

illio

n H

ecta

res

Marine

Terrestrial

Total

SACs across the EU

UK Overseas Territories

South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands MPA

Chagos Marine Reserve

Comparison with other MPAs

MPA Jurisdiction Area (km2)

South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands MPA UK 1,070,000

Chagos Marine Reserve UK 636,000

Phoenix Islands Protected Area Kiribati 408,342

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Australia 343,480

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument USA 334,154

Mariana Trench Marine National Monument USA 247,179

Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument USA 212,788

Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area South Africa 180,633

Data from Toropova et al. 2010. Global ocean protection (IUCN).

Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas

Factors causing unfavourable condition

Lack of remedial management

Over-grazing

Under-grazing

Invasive species

Forestry

Agricultural operations

Water management

Water quality

Recreation/disturbance

Burning

Game or fisheries management

Grazing (unspecified)

Development with planning permission

Coastal squeeze

Coastal management

Natural events

Air pollution

Other (unspecified)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Number of A/SSSI features (UK)

No man protected area is an island

MPA network design principles

• Representativity

• Replication

• Adequacy

• Viability

• Connectivity

• Protection

• Evidence

Assessing ecological coherence

Protected areas and ecosystem services

What are we “protecting” and why?

• The entire biosphere is now more or less anthropogenic

• Conservation is about development and management of novel systems as well as “protection”

• Ecosystems are dynamic – change will happen

• Biodiversity at genetic level is an important aspect of conservation

We should be prepared to manage for (not against) change, and learn the lessons from our mistakes in the last half century

The 7 habits for highly effective protected areas• We should lead, not follow

• We should celebrate our past, but manage for the future

• We need to promote the role of protected areas in human and ecological wellness

• We must engage proactively in global dialogues

• We must look outwards from protected areas, not inwards

• We must embrace change and work with, not against, the grain of nature

• We must learn from local communities, farmers and fishers and not assume “we know best”