Owners and occupiers
SSSIs owned and managed by the conservation
sector
At least one quarter of SSSIs are owned or managed (often under
a lease or other agreement) by conservation sector organisations,
that is, voluntary and public bodies for which the protection of
biodiversity and our natural heritage is a key objective.
Some, such as CCW, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts manage their
SSSIs as nature reserves where the conservation of the site’s
special features is usually the first priority.
Others bodies such as Forest Commission Wales, Ministry of
Defence and the National Trust have wider responsibilities such as
forestry, national security, recreation and other environmental
considerations but make a point of working to further wildlife
conservation on their SSSIs.
| Organisation |
Area of
SSSI owned/
managed (ha) |
Percentage
of all SSSIs |
| National Trust |
26,168 |
10% |
| RSPB |
13,333 |
5% |
| CCW |
10,527 |
4% |
| Local Authorities (LNRs and Country Parks only) |
4,671 |
2% |
| Forestry Commission Wales |
4,574 |
2% |
| Ministry of Defence |
3,491 |
1% |
| The Wildlife Trusts |
2,316 |
1% |
| Woodland Trust |
398 |
<1% |
| Total |
65,478 |
25% |
| Remaining area |
191,773 |
75% |
