Nature Conservation designations
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are key areas of nature conservation and wildlife importance. In the coastal context they can include dunes, cliffs and intertidal foreshore as far as the mean low water spring mark. SSSIs are designated by SNH under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. SSSI status does not change the use of the land but local authorities, owners and occupiers must consult with SNH on any developments or activities which may affect the site. There are approximately 1,450 SSSIs in Scotland of which about 415 are coastal, covering about 290,635 hectares. Management statements will be produced for all SSSIs but these are not comprehensive coastal management plans.
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are areas of national importance for nature conservation and include some of the most important natural and semi-natural habitats in Great Britain. NNRs are declared by SNH under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. All NNRs are SSSIs and the land is either owned by SNH or managed under agreement between SNH and the owner specifically for nature conservation. There are 71 NNRs in Scotland of 33 sites are on the coast (covering 41,090 ha, 36% of total NNR area in Scotland). Coastal NNRs include Rum, Monarch Isles, St Kilda, Hermaness (Shetland), Sands of Forvie, Tentsmuir Point and Caerlaverock (Solway). Many of these have prepared management plans.
Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs) are possible by virtue of sections 36 & 37 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which allow marine areas to be designated to conserve their marine flora and fauna. This is the only statutory designation, other than SACs, which specifically relates to areas below the low water mark. Designation procedures involve extensive consultation and protection is by byelaws. There are currently no MNRs in Scotland.
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) can be declared by local authorities in conjunction with SNH to reflect areas of local nature conservation importance or amenity and to give access to the public. A management agreement, often in the form of a management plan, is usually required and bylaws may be introduced to regulate the use of the LNR. The legislative basis is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982). There are 29 LNRs to date of which a limited number are on the coast, for instance, Wigtown Bay (Dumfries & Galloway), Montrose Basin (Angus), Findhorn Bay (Moray), Aberlady Bay (East Lothian), Donmouth (Aberdeen City), Torry Bay (Fife), Mull Head (Orkney).
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are classified under EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the Birds Directive). At present all SPAs are land-based but marine areas are likely to be classified in the future. Almost all SPAs are SSSIs. There are 117 classified SPAs in Scotland covering an area of 3939 sq. kms, of which 68 are coastal, covering 2768 sq. kms (about 70% of total SPA area). These include St Kilda, Montrose Basin, Upper Solway Flats & Marshes, Forth Islands, Cape Wrath, North Sutherland Coastal Islands, Rum, Moray and Nairn Coast, Fair Isle, Ailsa Craig, Monach Isles. To date, Schemes of Management for SPAs have not been prepared.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) will be designated under EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Habitats Directive). Candidate sites must be identified to the European Commission and agreed at biogeographic region level as qualifying for designation. Almost all terrestrial candidate SACs are SSSIs. Together with SPAs, SACs will form a network of European sites to be known as Natura 2000 and should all be designated by 2004. In Scotland, there are currently 58 (of 134) candidate Special Areas of Conservation which can be classified as coastal or marine. These include Sands of Forvie, Upper Solway Flats & Marshes, Rum, Sound of Arisaig, Faray & Holm of Farray (Orkney), The Vadills (Shetland), Monarch Islands, St Kilda. Schemes of management are being produced see SAC Management Plans. A further 90 proposed SACs are currently, or shortly will be, under consultation: a number will be coastal or marine.
Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance particularly those containing large numbers of waterfowl. They include estuaries, open water and intertidal marine areas. They are listed under "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat 1971", known as the Ramsar Convention, which was ratified by UK Government in 1976. There are 51 sites in Scotland at present all of which are SSSIs and nearly all are Special Protection Areas under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds 1979. Coastal sites include Sands of Forvie, Montrose Basin, Upper Solway flats & Marshes, Cromarty Firth, East Sanday Coast (Orkney).
Landscape and other designations
There are also a number of landscape and other designations that are used in coastal and marine areas.
Country Parks are relatively small areas of countryside near to towns, which are managed for public enjoyment. They are established under the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967. There are 36 of which about 6 have coastal boundaries, for instance, John Muir (East Lothian), Culzean (South Ayrshire) and Balmedie (Aberdeenshire). Some of these have produced management plans.
Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLVs) were set out as a requirement for designation in Scottish Office Development Department Circular 2/1962. Local authorities define them in development plans with a view to safeguarding areas of regional or local landscape importance from inappropriate development. No common criteria were offered for selection but they were originally aimed at particular areas, such as the coast, which were then perceived as being under pressure from development. There are approximately 170 such areas ranging from small beauty spots to extensive areas. There are no separate coastal management plans.
National Scenic Areas (NSAs) are nationally important areas of outstanding natural beauty which were identified in the report "Scotland's Scenic Heritage" and introduced by the Government in a Scottish Office Development Department Circular in 1980 (amended by Circular 9/1987). Policies for protecting NSAs are set out in development plans; there are no separate management plans. There are 40 NSAs and 26 include parts of the coast (covering 644,200 ha, 64% of total NSA area in Scotland), for instance, northern half of Arran, southern half of Jura, western coastal rim of Mull, Canna, Rum, Eigg and Muck, northern coastline of Wester Ross, Lewis, parts of Mainland & Hoy in Orkney, St Kilda, and The Small isles.
Marine Consultation Areas (MCAs) are non-statutory designations introduced in 1986 and represent areas where SNH wish to be consulted on developments, in particular fish farms, which are likely to have an impact on the marine environment. There are 29 sites, most of which are on the west coast or the islands. Although no management plans exist for these they represent a designated area, although informal, that adds another dimension to the coastal planning jigsaw.
Biosphere Reserves are representative examples of natural habitats which characterise one of the world's natural regions. They are used for long term research of ecosystems, environmental change and diversity of species. There is no statutory requirement for Biosphere Reserves. The Biosphere Programme was set up in 1971 by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to co-ordinate understanding of man's influence on the natural environment. There are 9 reserves in Scotland, all of which are exiting NNRs, and 5 are on the coast: St Kilda, Loch Druidibeg (Western Isles), Rum, Taynish and Caerlaverock (covering 19,045 ha, 66% of the total biosphere area of Scotland).
World Heritage Sites (WHS) are areas of outstanding natural or cultural value. They are listed by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO under the Convention of World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in 1972. The St Kilda archipelago, owned by the National Trust, is Scotland's only WHS designated because of its natural value.
Council of Europe Diploma Sites awarded in recognition of exemplar management and protection of areas of outstanding nature conservation and landscape importance, where this includes social and recreational attributes. Fair Isle NNR has been awarded this accolade, the retention of which is conditional upon the site continuing to be managed to a high standard.
St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Nature Reserve (VMNR) was established in 1984 with an offshore boundary that lies along the 50 metre depth contour. The reserve is linked to the St Abb's property of the National Trust and there is a separate St Abb's Head Management Plan. The reserve is part of the Berwickshire and Northumberland cliffs site which has been identified for SAC designation under the Habitats Directive.
RSPB Reserves are owned or leased by RSPB to protect and manage the habitats of important species of birds. They provide public access and promote conservation. There is no statutory requirement for these reserves but they are often SSSIs and RSPB usually prepares management plans for the sites.
SWT Reserves are owned or managed by SWT to protect locally important plants, animals and other wildlife. They provide public access and encourage the involvement of landowners. There is no statutory requirement for these reserves. SWT usually prepares management plans for the sites.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) also own many properties that are managed with nature conservation objectives. Indeed, most of their coastal properties have at least an SSSI designation. However, for the purpose of this database, the management plans for NTS properties are included under Section 2.3.4. "Landowner Management Plan".
Information from: www.scotland.gov.uk
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