In the Guardian today:

The government’s wildlife watchdog for England is failing to save nature because it has stopped giving protection to rare wildlife and habitats, according to a new report.

No new sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) have been designated by Natural England since 2023. SSSIs are nationally or internationally important places for rare wildlife and habitats. Without the designation, endangered species can be at risk of being lost to development.

One potential SSSI in Thurrock earmarked by Natural England as an important site for future protection has had a planning application approved on it and will now be built over.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/21/england-wildlife-watchdog-has-stopped-designating-special-sites-for-protection

How has Scotland been doing on this important issue?

Scotland has 1,422 SSSIs covering approximately 1,011,000 hectares or 12.6% of its land area (above mean low water springs). This is significantly higher proportional coverage than England’s ~7.1%.

https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/sites-special-scientific-interest-sssis

However, when we look at the proportion of that land which is effectively protected to meet the 30×30 standard, set at COP15 (Montreal), that areas must demonstrate good ecological condition, resilience to pressures (like climate change or invasives), and effective management—not just legal protection, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_by_30), the gap is far wider.

All of Scotland’s 12.6% meeting the standard but only 2.83% in England. https://www.wcl.org.uk/assets/uploads/0/WCL_04_30x30Report2025_DIGITAL.pdf

So, Scotland has designated and effectively protected more than 4 times as much land in sites of special scientific interest, than England