As one of the UK’s largest landowners, MOD has a major role to play in the conservation of the UK’s natural resources. Stewardship of the Estate means that the MOD has responsibility for some of the most unspoilt and remote areas in Britain; with statutory obligations to protect the protected habitats and the species that they support.
Everyone using the MOD estate, whether Service or Civilian, has a duty to minimise adverse effects on the environment.
Background
The MOD Estate has been acquired gradually, principally over the last 200 years. It’s wide geographical distribution, past and current stewardship and position on marginal land means that it contains an extensive range of the habitats and species to be found in the UK. Its exceptional quality has attracted numerous national, European and international nature conservation designations. This confers a heavy responsibility on those charged with its stewardship, and is also a source of considerable pride.
The need to provide realistic training across challenging and demanding terrain in a variety of environments, as well as ranges, munitions stores and communication sites, means that MOD has responsibility for some of the most unspoilt and remote areas in Britain, the largest of which is Defence Training Estate Salisbury Plain, which extends over 38,000 hectares.
In 1973, the Nugent Report recommended the establishment of a MOD Conservation Officer to help target and co-ordinate the MOD’s Conservation efforts. Since then, this post has evolved into a large team of dedicated MOD environmental specialists who advise on the sensitive management of the land used by MOD in the UK and overseas, and is supported by MOD Conservation Groups, which comprise MOD personnel, representatives from conservation organisations, and expert volunteers.
Buzzard on Range sign, Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA).
Permission Granted. Photographer: Iain Perkins
MOD Policy
The importance of the estate for defence purposes cannot be compromised. With the introduction of more rigorous legislation and regulations affecting the day-to-day use and management of the MOD estate, it is essential that sustainable management of the natural environment be achieved. These arrangements must endure for the foreseeable future, since the requirement to support significant sea, land and air forces will remain; and little or no additional land capable of sustaining the use of advanced weaponry is likely to become available.
MOD policy is to ensure that natural environment issues are fully integrated with operational and training requirements and safety issues. MOD’s strategic objectives and targets for biodiversity are set out in the MOD Sustainable Development Action Plan and the Biodiversity Strategic Statement for the MOD Estate.
This integration is achieved through the use of Sustainability and Environmental Appraisal Tools (SEAT) and management planning systems for the Estate (see related pages). Details of MOD policy for nature conservation can be found in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 362.
Cattle grazing on SPTA
Permission Granted. Photographer: Guy Hagg
Designated Sites and Protected Species
The MOD owns some of the finest designated sites in the UK. MOD has management responsibility for approximately 170 sites that have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). Over 130 of these sites also have international and European designations. MOD sites may also be important at the regional or local level, as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) or Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). In addition, the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plans highlight the habitats and species most under threat in the UK.
The Natural Resource Protection priority area includes the Government target that Departments must meet the aim of having 95% of SSSIs in sole ownership or control in target condition by 2010. MOD has management responsibility for over 170 SSSIs. Details of the current condition of the MOD’s SSSIs can be found in the MOD SSSI Improvement Programme fact sheet (see related pages).
Examples of Designated Sites
The Castlemartin Tank Firing Range runs along the rocky coastline with sea cliffs of carboniferous limestone which are of national geological and biological interest. This site also qualifies as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its Chough population, a species of European importance, which depends on the diverse mix of habitats and the low-intensity agricultural management.
Salisbury Plain Training Area is the largest Defence Training Estate in the UK. It has been used for military training since the early part of the 20th Century, preventing conversion of its ancient chalk grassland to the arable farming prevalent elsewhere in England. The site is the best remaining example of lowland juniper scrub on chalk in the UK, and believed to be the largest surviving semi-natural dry grassland within the European Union. It is for these reasons the area was selected as an Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Amongst a variety of protected and nationally important species, the Plain supports the largest UK population of the nationally scarce Burt-Tip Orchid, and significant populations of Green-winged Orchid and Frog Orchid. There is also a large population of marsh fritillary.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is an integral part of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy. The MOD’s sustainable development commitments have been outlined in the Secretary of State for Defence’s Policy Statement for Safety, Health and Environment Protection which states “Ensure that MOD plays its part in leading by example to deliver sustainable development in line with Securing the Future”.
MOD’s Departmental Business Plan contains sustainable development objectives and targets and states that MOD “will contribute to the Government’s strategy for Sustainable Development”; and our commitment to conserve biodiversity where practicable, and in accordance with the primary requirement of the land for military training, is set out in the Strategy for the Defence Estate and the MOD Biodiversity Strategic Statement (see related links)
Biodiversity conservation is primarily implements at site level through Integrated Rural Managements and the MOD Environmental Management System (EMS) (information on these are also available on DE Internet).
For examples of the MOD’s conservation work, please see Sanctuary Magazine in our corporate publications section.
MOD Biodiversity Targets
• To be an exemplar in the management of designated sites where compatible with military requirements;
• To ensure natural environment requirements and best practice are fully integrated into the estate management;
• To contribute, as appropriate, to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (and Country Biodiversity Strategies).
Next Step Actions
• Departments to meet or exceed the aim of having 95% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in sole ownership or control in target condition by 2010. (Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) target and MOD Departmental Target)
- We will manage a programme of works to increase and maintain the percentage of MOD Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs/ ASSIs) recorded in favourable/unfavourable recovering condition and determine the requirements for maintaining SSSI condition post 2010.
• All MOD establishments with a significant biodiversity interest to have an integrated land/ rural management plan (MOD commitment)
Our Statutory Partners
MOD works closely with the statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs), the Joint Nature Conservancy Council, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to ensure that our legal requirements are fulfilled, and designated sites and protected species are managed in accordance with their conservation objectives.
Declarations of Intent between MOD and the SNCBs formally recognise MOD as different from other landowners, in that the primary role for its land is to support the UK Defence Mission, “to defend the United Kingdom, and Overseas Territories, our people and interests; and to act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and security”. The Declarations of Intent reaffirm the MOD’s commitment to protect, and where possible, enhance the nature conservation value of its land whilst performing its functions.
The MOD has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Assembly government, the Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Office. This MOU reaffirms the MOD’s commitment to international important wildlife sites, and sets out liaison procedures for plans and projects that may affect the habitats and species that make these sites special.