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Designated Areas: 1991-2006
Area (thousand hectares)
| 1991 | 1995 | 2000 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|
SSSI4 | 804 | 866 | 991 | 1,007 | 1,007 | 1,008 | 1,017 |
|---|
SAC5 | - | - | 718 | 875 | 963 | 963 | 963 |
|---|
SPA | 26 | 76 | 391 | 625 | 625 | 626 | 628 |
|---|
Ramsar | 15 | 53 | 240 | 313 | 313 | 313 | 313 |
|---|
Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI) protect flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features of outstanding quality and one of the main nature conservation designations in Great Britain. SSSIs are notified by Scottish Natural Heritage under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (which amended the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act). At 31 March 2006, there were 1,453 SSSIs in Scotland, covering a total of 1,017,175 hectares (13% of land in Scotland).
Special Areas of Conservation ( SACs) are designated under the 1992 EC Habitats Directive to protect certain species and habitat types throughout the EU. Special Protection Areas ( SPAs) are designated under the 1979 EC Wild Birds Directive to safeguard the habitat of a number of wild bird species. Ramsar sites are designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. At 31 March 2006, there were 238 SACs, 1 candidate SAC, 141 SPAs (3 SPAs which have been subsumed into larger sites) and 51 Ramsar sites in Scotland.
A designated site may be protected by more than one designation. For example, about two thirds of the area of SACs and 80% of SPAs and Ramsar sites also have SSSI designations.
SOURCE: SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 6
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