This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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One million hectares designated for conservation sites
18/03/2005
Almost one million hectares, approximately 12 per cent
of Scotland's landmass, were today formally designated
under European conservation law.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis
Macdonald designated 238 sites covering 963,000 hectares
the length and breadth of Scotland as Special Areas of
Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive.
These sites afford legal protection to 18 species
including the bottle nosed dolphin, Atlantic salmon and
otters, as well as 53 habitat types such as the endangered
Caledonian Pine Forest.
The designation of these sites follows the European
Commission's recent recognition that these sites are of
European importance.
Lewis Macdonald said:
"This represents a significant milestone in the
protection of Scotland's important habitats and species,
with approaching one million hectares now formally
designated as SPAs. It is an accolade for Scotland that
these sites are recognised as being of European
importance.
"The Executive is committed to safeguarding our
important natural heritage. Today's announcement follows
my designation last week of additional sites to the network
of Special Protection Areas for capercaillie and a three
year protection plan for our most vulnerable bird
species."
The two most influential pieces of European legislation
relating to nature conservation are the Habitats and Birds
Directives. The Habitats Directive was adopted in
1992.
The Habitats Directive protects natural habitats and
other species of wild plants and animals through the
creation of Special Areas of Conservation. Sites which
have been classified under the Birds Directive are called
Special Protection Areas. Together, these sites form a
European network of protected areas known as Natura
2000.
The Habitats Directive is a major contribution by the
European Community to implementing the Biodiversity
Convention agreed by more than 150 countries at the 1992
Rio Earth Summit.
The list of Scottish Special Areas of Conservation can
be found in the Joint Nature Conservation Committees
website at:
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/SAC_list.asp?Country=S