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| National Heritage Designations in Scotland |
| Section 3 |
| Designations arising from International Conventions |
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The British Government is also party to several other international agreements for the protection of the natural environment, which often require designation of sites. The most important Conventions are Ramsar (1971), Berne (1979) and the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1984). Any designations resulting from these Conventions rest upon pre-existing national designations. 52. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar in Iran. There were 42 designated Ramsar sites in Scotland by August 1998 and another 20 potential Scottish sites have been identified.. The application of the Ramsar label indicates that an SSSI is a valued wetland site, a habitat which has declined world-wide and is often important for water-fowl and other wetland birds. 53. The Council of Europe established the Biogenetic Reserve designation in response to the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Its aim is to establish a representative European network of nature reserves. SNH advises the Secretary of State about appropriate NNRs which could contribute to this network. Forvie and Muir of Dinnet are the only sites in Scotland to date. |
| 54. The Council of Europe also awards a Diploma which is an accolade to acknowledge the European interest of sites and the quality of their protection and management. Scotland has two Diploma sites - Beinn Eighe NNR and Fair Isle NSA. |
| 55. World Heritage Sites - arising from the 1984 World Heritage Convention - are generally considered to be the ultimate accolade. Sites are listed by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO to provide recognition that a site is of "outstanding universal value" and also that the national Government has provided it with an especially high level of assured protection. There are both natural and cultural categories of site. St Kilda is the only "natural" World Heritage Site in Scotland at present. The Government is consulting on placing a number of other sites on a provisional list for future assessment. SNH advises Government on natural sites, and Historic Scotland on cultural sites. |
| 56. UNESCO has also established a network of Biosphere Reserves as representatives of natural habitats characteristic of the world's natural regions. They are intended to reconcile conservation of wildlife with its sustainable use. Nine sites have been identified in Scotland: all of them are NNRs, such as Rum and Beinn Eighe, and they are at present under review. |
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St
Kilda - a World Heritage Site