ABSTRACT
Conservation depends first of all on identifying that something is distinct and worth protecting; only then can mechanisms be put into place to provide that protection. In the UK site protection may be partly through designation of the most important sites as sites (areas) of special scientific interest (SSSIs and in Northern Ireland ASSIs). Management of these is now closely regulated by the statutory nature conservation agencies. Less formal protection and support for positive management of other sites may be achieved through policy guidance or agri-environment schemes. Finally there is a strong voluntary sector that both owns and manages sites directly and promotes conservation elsewhere, particularly at the local level (Kirby, 2003).
