What threats do Local Wildlife Sites face?
Since 1984 130 sites have been destroyed and another 63 sites have been reduced in size due to damage. The causes of damage vary from development, infilling of ponds, recreational pressure, tipping, intensive agricultural and forestry management and neglect leading to scrub and bramble encroachment. Today we are aware of 47 sites threatened by development over the next five years and numerous others that are suffering from lack of sympathetic management. Why should we be concerned? Local Wildlife Sites are vital to maintaining the present range and abundance of our wildlife, but if we wish them to provide an effective means of protecting our wildlife for the future we need to ensure that they are in a favourable condition and wherever possible under sympathetic management. Many sites require some management in order to maintain the particular habitats found within them. Sites that are declining may not be able to support the diversity of species that they did 10 years ago and can event
