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SSSI Review: Lord Sewel promises separate Scottish consultation
10/02/1998
There will be a separate consultation document for Scotland as part of the review of the conservation and management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
This was promised today by Scottish Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Minister, Lord Sewel, when he met representatives of the North Areas Board of Scottish Natural Heritage.
Lord Sewel continued:
"There are distinctive Scottish aspects to the designation and management of land of high nature conservation value. The Government is committed to safeguarding these precious parts of our natural heritage but it is important that the mechanisms for achieving this are tailored to our particular needs and circumstances.
"The Government is conducting a review of the conservation and management of SSSIs on a GB basis; but a separate consultation document for Scotland will enable distinctively Scottish issues and concerns to be carefully considered.
"We intend to publish the consultation document by the summer. Meanwhile it is essential that the programme of designations necessary to fulfil our obligations under the EC Wild Birds and Habitats Directives can go ahead as quickly as possible. SNH has my full support in carrying the work forward on the Government's behalf, implementing the designations as flexibly and as sensitively as the present system allows."
News Release: 0259/98
February 10, 1998