Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an area that has been notified as being of special interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on account of the importance of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographic features.

Notification as an SSSI is primarily a legal mechanism to protect sites that are of particular conservation interest because of the wildlife they support, or because of the geological features that are found there. SSSIs are found all over Great Britain and help to form a national network of areas with the greatest value to wildlife or geological conservation.

The legislation was further strengthened by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 200 which amends the 1981 Act provisions and improves protection for SSSIs in England and Wales. There are approximately 1000 SSSIs in Wales of which 60 are in Anglesey. Some of these are also designated SAC or SPA or AONB under other legislation.