The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is warning that Defra’s response to its report that reviewed the implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England will not deliver the urgent action needed.

Published in December 2025, the OEP report, ‘Review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England’ takes an in-depth and comprehensive look at how the regulations covering Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs); Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being put into practice. 

The OEP report warned that protected sites in England offer a golden opportunity to drive nature’s urgently needed recovery but they are failing to deliver the outcomes needed.

Commenting on Defra's response Natalie Prosser, OEP CEO, said:

“While there are some aspects to welcome, overall Defra’s response to our report on implementation of environmental laws relating to protected sites for nature is disappointing and will not deliver the urgent action needed.

“Government remains largely off track to meet its environmental commitments and obligations. Maximising the contribution of protected sites for environmental protection and improvement is one of the most significant opportunities it has to make the step-change required. Its actions now will determine whether or not key targets for biodiversity and the protection of land and sea by 2030 will be met. If the approach outlined is progressed, global 30x30 commitments that protected areas are effectively conserved and managed are likely to be missed.

“In our report, published in December, we concluded that the legal framework was adequate but was not being implemented effectively, or at the pace and scale needed to meet the intended outcomes. We added that maintaining the status quo will not be enough and that significant change will be needed if sites are to be not only protected in law but also restored in practice. Government itself reported in January this year that only 2 of 71 protected habitats are in favourable conservation status; nearly half (48%) of habitats are in an unfavourable condition and are getting worse. Of 74 species other than birds fewer than 1 in 3 are in favourable status. For birds, more than half of 221 species are either Red-Listed and/or Threatened with extinction. The Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern now includes 70 species and is longer now than ever before.

“However, Defra’s response to our report largely points to the continuation of existing work, much of which was underway when we carried out our review, and commits to doing little that is new or different. Government needs to go further and faster. In light of the response, we will be considering what further steps we can take to contribute to the improved implementation of key aspects of this important area of environmental law.”

Click here for Government's response to the OEP's report