SSSI guidelines
Rationale, Operational approach and criteria, Detailed guidelines for habitats and species groups.
Part Two of the guidelines is being revised.
Introduction
The Guidelines for the Selection of Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) provide a consistent rationale for the evaluation and selection of biological SSSIs throughout Great Britain (the guidelines for the Selection of Geological and Physiographical SSSIs are published separately by JNCC). SSSIs are designated in accordance with the duties in law placed upon each of the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs) to notify as a SSSI any area of land which, in its opinion, is of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, geological, geomorphological or physiographical features. The Guidelines are intended primarily to help CNCB staff in the selection of biological SSSIs, but are also intended as a public statement of the selection principles for all interested parties.
Part 1 of the Guidelines sets out the general principles from which the evaluation and selection procedures have been developed and explains background issues and concepts. It deals with the broad operational approach and the criteria for SSSI evaluation and selection. Part 2 presents the detailed and specific guidance for each of the main habitat types and species groups.
A revision of the Part 2 chapters is underway and as of November 2024 about 80% have been revised and published – see below (where revisions are underway, the link is to the existing version of the guidelines). The revisions have been undertaken by staff in the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs), working under the leadership of a lead author. JNCC has assisted with editorial matters and organising for the revised chapters to be peer reviewed. The chapters are approved by JNCC's Joint Committee before being published.
Part 1: Rationale, Operational Approach and Criteria for Site Selection
Part 1: Rationale, Operational Approach and Criteria for Site Selection
Part 2: Habitat Chapters
| No | Name | Revision |
|---|---|---|
| 1a |
Coastlands (coastal saltmarsh, sand dune, machair, shingle, and maritime cliff and slopes, habitats) |
Revised (2019) |
| 1b | Marine Intertidal & Shallow Subtidal | Revised (2019) |
| 1c | Saline lagoons | Revised (2022) |
| 2 | Woodlands | Revised (2018) |
| 3 | Lowland grasslands | Revised (2014) |
| 4 | Lowland heathland | Revised (2018) |
| 5 | Non-montane rock habitats (1989) | Revision underway |
| 6 | Freshwater habitats | Revised (2018) |
| 7 | Fens (1989) | Revision underway |
| 8 | Bogs (1994) | Revision underway |
| 9 | Upland habitats | Revised (2024) |
| 10 | Artificial habitats (1989) | Revision underway |
Part 2: Species Chapters
| No. | Name | Revision |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Vascular plants | Revised (2021) |
| 12 | Revised (2018) | |
| 13 | Revised (2018) | |
| 14 | Fungi (non-lichenised) | Revised (2018) |
| 15 | Charophytes (stoneworts) | Revised (2020) |
| 16 | Mammals | Revised (2019) |
| 17 | Birds | Revised (2015; updated 2020) |
| 18 | Reptiles and amphibians | Revised (2022) |
| 19 | Freshwater fish | Revised (2018) |
| 19b | Estuarine fish | Revised (2022) |
| 20 | Invertebrates | Revised (2019) |
Please cite as: JNCC, Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs
Published: .