Local Wildlife Sites and 30 by 30
Programme summary
Our 868 local wildlife sites, or “Sites of Nature Conservation Interest”, account for 15% of the West of England’s land area and include some of the most important areas for biodiversity in the region.
These precious local places form the bedrock of our nature recovery network - a mosaic of vital sanctuaries that act as reservoirs of biodiversity and stepping stones across the landscape.
Many have not been monitored or managed effectively for nature in decades, and only a small proportion of them have up-to-date management plans or regular monitoring.
Our programme of ecological surveys, ongoing monitoring, landowner engagement and management planning across this huge network of local sites will help improve decision-making, inform policy and efficiently target future funding and investment.
We need to take the pulse of nature at a very local level and feed this into our strategies for long term ecological and climate resilience and our commitment to having 30% of our land managed for nature by 2030 (“30 by 30”).
The Programme will:
- survey our many Sites of Nature Conservation Interest and take the pulse of nature at a really local level
- draw up tailored plans and bring these sites into active monitoring and management
- demonstrate the huge contribution our precious local wildlife site network can make to our “30 by 30” nature recovery ambitions
Programme area
In the UK, the initial focus for the national commitment to “30 by 30” is on providing long-term protection and active conservation management to National Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Natura 2000 sites and managed woodlands. Defra's “30 by30” criteria require land to have a primary purpose of nature conservation, long-term protection, and active management for nature.
Although they do not currently count towards our targets, with effective monitoring and management, our Sites of Nature Conservation Interest could make a significant contribution (15%) to our regional “30 by 30” ambitions. Seeing them restored, reconnected and recovering will increase our ecological and climate resilience for the long term.
Key measures
Regional 30 by 30 baselining
Establish a region-wide baseline assessment and central data hub for what land is currently managed for nature and align policy and criteria across the region, and with national 30 by 30 efforts.
Focus on Sites of Nature Conservation Interest
Survey our Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, engage landowners and work towards carefully tailored management plans for each of them, bringing them into active and dynamic management, guided by our Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
In future, new sites that are of value to nature could be designated to increase the amount of land afforded some level of protection, but this would be dependent on the successful rollout of a regional process for monitoring and managing existing sites
Spotlight on species
Why is this a WENP priority?
The UK has committed to managing 30% of its land and sea for nature by 2030, part of a global initiative to reverse biodiversity decline and strengthen resilience to climate change.
We aim to support this target by focusing on our huge network of local wildlife sites, or Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, many of which represent some of the most important areas for biodiversity in the region.
SNCIs account for approximately 15% of the region’s land, but many have not been monitored or managed for nature effectively in decades. Only a small proportion have up-to-date management plans or regular monitoring.
These sites are crucial to the region's ecological health, forming stepping stones in a connected network that enables wildlife to move across landscapes, particularly as climate change and habitat fragmentation continue to pose significant challenges.
Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, alongside statutory sites like SSSIs, have been designated for their high biodiversity value. Together, they form the core of our nature recovery network, supporting biodiversity across the West of England.
A key aim of this programme will be to support the development climate-resilient management plans that will also serve as models for the management of other designated sites across the region.
Additionally, this work offers opportunities to build local ecological skills through graduate programmes and apprenticeships, increasing the region's capacity to manage its natural assets effectively.
The broader benefits of managing local wildlife sites as vital natural infrastructure are clear: without thriving ecosystems, the region’s resilience to climate change, air and water quality, and overall well-being will be compromised.
Delivery readiness
Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC), funded by the Unitary Authorities, has already commenced an analysis of Sites of Nature Conservation Interest to prioritise them for survey.
Avon Wildlife Trust stand ready to pilot our approach through the Pollinator Pathways Project and South Gloucestershire Council has secured funding to begin surveying sites in their area from spring 2025.
Case Study:
Our call for support
While some funding has been identified, more is needed to scale up the programme and secure the full benefits of a functioning local sites network. We require capacity funding to support reinvigoration and management of the Local Sites Partnership to further develop and oversee delivery of the programme. Funding to match that already secured in South Gloucestershire is required to move forward site surveys, management planning and landowner engagement, while BRERC require funding to digitise historic site records and build a regional sites database.
We expect that management of the sites themselves will be funded by a blend of public and private funding, including Environmental Land Management Schemes and green finance mechanisms.
We are looking for partners to support us on the journey to turn our “30 by 30” ambitions into reality. Whether you are a landowner, a potential delivery partner, donor, or something else, please get in touch today to learn how you can support us.
Lead contacts:
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