Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Their role and importance in conserving England's geoheritage

The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949), the first national nature conservation legislation in Great Britain, included provision to designate, for the purpose of nature conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) on account of their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical (geomorphological) features. Although often incorrectly perceived only as a means of conserving flora and fauna, SSSIs remain the primary mechanism for conserving and managing nationally and internationally important geological and geomorphological features in Great Britain. Seventy-five years on, and with questions being raised about how well they conserve flora and fauna given current threats and pressures, the role and effectiveness of SSSIs in conserving the highlights of England's geoheritage are explored. The importance of geological/geomorphological SSSIs, their origin, character, and workings, and the threats and pressures they face are described. The condition of the 1221 existing geological/geomorphological SSSIs in England is described and the strengths and weaknesses of existing SSSI legislation and policy are discussed, leading us to conclude that SSSIs have been, and remain, extremely effective in conserving England's geoheritage. Any future SSSI reform should recognise, build upon and celebrate the success of geological/geomorphological SSSIs, and would provide an opportunity to raise the profile of geoconservation in government policy and to futureproof the SSSI series. For example, simplifying the process for updating SSSI descriptions and site boundaries would make it easier to accommodate advances in scientific understanding and respond to the physical repositioning of geological/geomorphological features resulting from natural processes.