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 Rural Development Service for the United Kingdom Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Farmers enter into a 10-year contract with the government and receive an annual payment for the area that 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

The Environmentally Senitive Areas Scheme will be superseded in 2005 by the Environmental Stewardship scheme.

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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)