Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of European protected areas are in unfavourable status as a result of (a) shooting and (b) other outdoor sports and leisure recreation activities.

Natural England publishes information on the condition of Protected Sites in England at https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SearchEngland.aspx. All land which forms part of a terrestrial European Site (i.e. a Special Area of Conservation (‘SAC’) and/or a Special Protection Area (‘SPA’)) is also notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (‘SSSI’).

Natural England records the reasons for unfavourable site condition but there is no specific category for “shooting’ or ‘outdoor sport, leisure and recreation’. Of the total area of SSSI land that is currently reported as being in unfavourable condition, 2.37% (3223 hectares) is recorded as unfavourable due to public access, disturbance and illicit vehicle use, (which may include outdoor sport, leisure and recreational activity). 0.25% (317.08 hectares) is due to game management, which may include shooting activity.