Environmentally Sensitive Area

An Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) is a type of designation for an agricultural area which needs special protection because of its landscape, wildlife or historical value. The scheme was introduced in 1987 and is administered by the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom government.

Farmers enter into a 10-year contract with the government and receive an annual payment for each hectare which is part of the scheme. Farmers are expected to adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

There are 22 ESAs in England:

• Avon Valley
• Blackdown Hills
• Breckland
• Broads
• Clun
• Cotswold Hills
• Dartmoor
• Essex Coast
• Exmoor
• Lake District
• North Kent Marshes
• North Peak
• Pennine Dales
• Shropshire Hills
• Somerset Levels and Moors
• South Downs
• South Wessex Downs
• South West Peak
• Suffolk River Valleys
• Test Valley
• Upper Thames Tributaries
• West Penwith

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See also:

• Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
• Special Protection Area (SPA)
• Nitrate Sensitive Area (NSA)