• Summary & Conclusion
• part 1
• part 2
• part 3
• part 4
• sitemap

THE STATE OF SCOTLAND'S FARMED ENVIRONMENT 2005

4. HABITATS AND SPECIES

Designated areas

SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) is the main nature conservation designation in Great Britain . Originally under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, and now in Scotland under the Nature Conservation ( Scotland ) Act 2004, sites are notified as areas of outstanding quality to protect their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. At 31 March 2005 , SSSIs in Scotland covered 13% of the land.

SAC (Special Area of Conservation) sites are designated under the 1992 EC 'Habitats' Directive to protect wildlife and their habitats throughout the EU. SPA (Special Protection Area) sites are designated under 1979 EC 'Birds' Directive to safeguard naturally occurring and migratory species of wild birds. Ramsar sites are designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. A designated site may be protected by more than one scheme. For example, about two thirds of the area of SACs and 80% of SPAs and Ramsar sites also have SSSI designation (SNH, 2004).

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