The use and effectiveness of the site of special scientific interest designation in the east midlands region of the nature conservancy council

This paper looks at the use and effectiveness of the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation in three counties in the East Midlands region of the Nature Conservancy Council, namely Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. Using unpublished sources within the NCC an analysis is made of the SSSI system in practice since its inception in 1949. A number of findings relating to weaknesses in the designation and the operation of the designation system emerge. Each of these findings is discussed in turn with the presentation of the appropriate evidence from the county case studies.