Are all SSSIs, internationally important sites, nature reserves and protected species in an SNA?
No. The methodology used to draw up Nature Map identifies key landscape scale areas, known as Strategic Nature Areas (SNAs). These have been identified as the best areas to maintain and expand (through restoration and/or re-creation) terrestrial wildlife habitats at a landscape scale. There will be overlap in the coverage of protected sites and SNAs as the map identifies where most of the major biodiversity concentrations are found and where targets to maintain, restore and re-create wildlife might best be met. However the landscape scale approach taken by Nature Map means that those protected sites that sit within a more isolated location (such as an urban reserve) do not lend themselves to a wider landscape scale project due to a lack of other habitats in close proximity.
