Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) form a set of nationally important natural areas in the UK. SSSIs in Scotland are notified by NatureScot for a range of habitats, species populations and geological interests under powers granted by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, using UK-wide selection criteria.
There are currently 1,422 SSSIs in Scotland. Find more information on SSSIs on nature.scot.
Planning applications
When a planning application is submitted in relation to a development that may affect an SSSI, the planning authority must consult NatureScot and take its advice into account.
Management of sites
NatureScot work with SSSI owners and managers to ensure the management which is in place supports the important habitats, species populations or geological interests which it helps protect. Where owners / managers wish to change their management to an operation listed on the Operations Requiring Consent list for the SSSI, they must obtain a consent from NatureScot before making the change. If NatureScot consider that the proposed change will be damaging to the site and will result in a financial loss, a management agreement may be offered.
More details can be found on the NatureScot website.