August 2024
JNCC, Natural
England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot and
Northern Ireland Environment Agency are putting
substantial effort into considering how Protected Areas can be more effective
in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. Whilst nature conservation policy
in the UK is devolved – with the different nations tailoring their approaches
to meet their priorities – the nature conservation agencies across the UK are
keen to articulate their shared thinking and take joint action where more
impactful.
Building on the recommendations made in the
Nature Positive publication [see note 1], the purpose of this document is to
set out their shared understanding of the principles for an improved Protected
Areas network across the UK and to summarise the direction that all nations of
the UK wish to take in this area. It recognises the burgeoning interest in Protected
Areas and the commitments to improve Protected Areas in the Kunming-Montreal
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and national biodiversity strategies. The
statement applies to Protected Areas in terrestrial, freshwater and marine
environments, some of which focus on protecting biodiversity, geoheritage and
ecosystems, whilst also serving a range of additional purposes including
amenity and landscape protection. They include inter alia Marine
Protected Areas (MPAs), National Parks, National Scenic Areas, Sites/Areas of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs/ASSIs), Special Areas of Conservation
(SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar Sites [see note 2].
The nature conservation agencies across the UK strongly support the role of Protected Areas as a key
conservation tool in halting and reversing nature’s decline. However, challenges
remain around the extent of protection, how effectively they are managed, and
the overall effectiveness of the Protected Areas network. The impetus now is to
ensure the Protected Areas approach is as effective as possible to help address
the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change and the corresponding commitments
of the UK and its constituent nations. In particular, the Biodiversity Targets
agreed under the GBF that reflect a global re-commitment for effective Protected
Areas, including a dedicated target to effectively conserve and manage 30% of
land, inland water and sea by 2030 [see note 3].
In the UK, around 11% of terrestrial land and 38% of the marine environment currently fall within areas designated for the protection of biodiversity [see note 4]. To meet the extent aspect of the GBF target in the terrestrial environment, the existing Protected Areas network will need to be expanded and/or Other Effective area-based Conservations Measures (OECMs) identified.
Effectiveness is an issue for both terrestrial and marine Protected Areas. The latest assessment for terrestrial Protected Areas shows around half are not in favourable condition [see note 5]. Moreover, only 15% of UK Marine Protected Areas are reported to be achieving all of their conservation objectives [see note 6]. This highlights the priority needed to put in place appropriate conservation management measures and detect conservation outcomes in a meaningful way.
In recent decades environmental pressures have increased (e.g. changes in land and sea use; direct exploitation of organisms; climate change; pollution; disruption to natural processes; and invasion of alien species [see note 7]), with many impacting both Protected Areas and the wider environment. This has resulted in Protected Areas effectively becoming isolated in increasingly inhospitable surroundings. In the terrestrial environment, protected sites were originally set up to protect a representative sample of habitats, species, and geological and geomorphological features, including all of our most important natural heritage sites. However, environmental pressures such as climate change are increasingly making it harder for sites to maintain or restore their designated features and for small, isolated sites to remain effective. Building ecological resilience through the development of robust, functioning ecological networks is key. This should build off the current network of Protected Areas, improve the resilience of existing sites (e.g. by increasing their size and reducing threats), increase ecological connectivity between sites (e.g. by increasing conservation measures in the wider countryside), and consider anticipated changes in the distribution and abundance of designated features [see note 8]. It is worth noting that in the marine environment, Protected Areas have been designated more recently than in the terrestrial environment and are already generally much more extensive and considered in a network context. Across environments there is a strong desire to work together and share knowledge between the marine and terrestrial sectors.
There is already much valuable work ongoing across the
UK. In the terrestrial environment, all four nations have started developing or
implementing plans for nature networks as a key response to climate change adaptation. In the marine environment, the
four nations are considering ways in which greater benefits can be delivered by
the MPA network (e.g. evidence underpinning the role of MPAs as nature-based
solutions in mitigating against the impacts of climate change). Additionally,
the UK Government have designated three Highly Protected Marine Areas.
The nations of the UK have devolved responsibility for
most aspects of the environment. However, they acknowledge that nature and
pressures impacting on nature operate across national boundaries, and that
working together and learning from each other is often both more efficient and
effective than working alone. JNCC, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot and Northern Ireland Environment Agency have agreed to the following common principles for how they wish to
develop their approach to Protected Areas, to work towards their shared
objective of addressing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate
change.
The UK approach to Protected
Areas should be:
The UK approach to Protected Areas needs to
reflect future challenges and opportunities. Adaptability will be key to ensuring Protected Areas deliver
multiple benefits in addition to protecting nature. This may include careful consideration of different ways of responding to
threats and pressures affecting Protected Areas, such as
‘resist-accept-facilitate’ [see note 9] approaches, and the accompanying
legal and policy framework.
To ensure ecological effectiveness of Protected
Areas and the network as a whole attention should be given
to multiple factors, including appropriate management, condition, connectivity,
diversity, extent/scale, function, natural processes, restoration of degraded
areas, and the need for long term protection.
The approach
to Protected Areas should be underpinned by a strong
evidence base. This should include making the most of existing data and
obtaining new evidence. In seeking new evidence, the most should be made of
opportunities, such as embracing technological developments that could better
inform the management, monitoring and design of protected areas.
Sufficient well-directed resource is required to
ensure a well-functioning, adequately monitored and managed Protected Areas
network, recognising the high value afforded by Protected Areas through their multiple societal and environmental benefits. The
role that Protected Areas play in sustaining our environment, economy and
quality of life should be understood and appreciated across society,
transcending political, geographic and cultural divisions. Investment in Protected
Areas will require
innovative financing solutions in addition to public finance.
Collaboration is needed to develop the approach to protected areas in
both terrestrial and marine environments. This includes sharing knowledge,
experience, perspectives and (where appropriate) joint working. Collaboration
is needed across the UK and internationally; it should involve a range of
stakeholders, including industry, communities and NGOs, as well as nature
conservation agencies.
Action to support the Protected Areas network
needs to be integrated with wider policies and legislation, environmental
targets and conservation mechanisms in the wider environment, for example
restoration and land use initiatives. To maximise benefits in an efficient
manner, it is important that Protected Areas deliver for climate change, people
and nature, and that the impact of other policy areas (e.g.
economic, social, climate change) on Protected Areas and nature is taken on
board.
Action to improve
the UK Protected Area network should meet international commitments and
consider wider international implications, such as indirect impacts linked to
land use change and ‘offshoring’ production of commodities.
Note 1: Brotherton P., Anderson, H., Galbraith, C., Isaac,
D., Lawton, J., Lewis, M., Mainwaring-Evans, T., McGuckin, S., Ormerod, S.,
Osowska, F., Sizeland, P., Stuart, E., Walmsley, C., Waters, R. &
Wilkinson, S. (2021) Nature Positive 2030 – Evidence Report. JNCC,
Peterborough. ISBN: 978-1- 86107-635-9. https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/6de7bf27-055e-4407-ad29-4814e1613d90#nature-positive-2030-evidence-report.pdf.
Note 2: For further information see https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/uk-protected-areas/.
Note 3: Convention on Biological Diversity, Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework, Target 3. https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/3/.
Note 4: UK Biodiversity Indicator C1 Protected Areas, Tables
C1i and C1ii, March 2023. https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/ukbi-c1-protected-areas
(NB: figures exclude areas covered by wider landscape designations).
Note 5: UK Biodiversity Indicator C1 Protected Areas, Figure
C1ii, March 2023. https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/ukbi-c1-protected-areas
(figure is for the area within ASSIs and SSSIs).
Note 6: Chaniotis, P., Cioffi, B., Farmer, R., Cornthwaite, A., Flavell, B.
& Carr, H. 2018. Developing an ecologically-coherent
and well-managed Marine Protected Area network in the United Kingdom: 10 years
of reflection from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Biodiversity,
19:1-2, 140-147. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14888386.2018.1467791.
Note 7: IPBES
2019. Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services. E. S. Brondizio, J. Settele,
S. Díaz, and H. T. Ngo (editors). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3831673.
Note 8: Lawton, J.H.,
Brotherton, P.N.M., Brown, V.K., Elphick,
C., Fitter, A.H., Forshaw, J., Haddow, R.W., Hilborne,
S., Leafe, R.N., Mace, G.M., Southgate, M.P., Sutherland, W.J., Tew, T.E.,
Varley, J., & Wynne, G.R. 2010. Making Space for Nature: A Review of
England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. Report to Defra.
Note 9: Thomas, C.D., Hill, J.K., Ward, C. and
Hatfield, J.H. 2022. Facilitating dynamic and inclusive biodiversity
conservation in Britain: An Anthropocene perspective. Natural England
Commissioned Report 413, Natural England. https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5480664618237952.
Please contact:
Joint Nature
Conservation Committee,
Quay House, 2 East Station Road, Fletton Quays, Peterborough, PE2 8YY
https://jncc.gov.uk/
Communications@jncc.gov.uk
This document should be cited as:
JNCC, Natural
England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot &
Northern Ireland Environment Agency. 2024. Improving the Approach to Protected
Areas in the UK: A Joint Statement by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies
of the UK. JNCC, Peterborough. https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/2f79ed3b-a46c-4084-9df1-ef03c91f6a87.