Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) - Regulation 3ZA: implementation report 2019 to 2024

4. Set of conservation measures and management plans for European sites

4.1 Necessary conservation measures have been established according to Article 6(1) and are applied

All Scottish SACs have published Conservation Objectives. For most terrestrial SACs (183) these are within a Conservation Advice Package document which details the conservation priorities for the site and the conservation measures required to achieve the objectives.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) promotes land management that protects and enhances Scotland’s natural heritage, improves water quality, manages flood risk, and helps us to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is the principal means for funding positive management of terrestrial protected areas in Scotland. In the period covered by the present report, 327 AECS contracts have been entered into on 79 SACs, benefiting 312 SAC features.

NatureScot also has powers to offer management agreements for the benefit of protected areas. During the period of the present report it has entered into 22 agreements on 13 SACs, benefiting 29 features.

In addition, most terrestrial European sites are underpinned as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This provides additional statutory protection including regulation of land management operations through the SSSI consent process. SSSI designation cannot be applied below Mean Low Water Springs.

All relevant SACs in the MPA Network have conservation objectives within Conservation and Management Advice (CMA) documents; these meet the requirement under Regulation 33(2) to make special provisions for the protection of European marine sites.

Within the Scottish MPA Network there are 24 SACs where necessary conservation measures have been established and applied.

4.2 Conservation measures established for SPAs

All Scottish SPAs have published conservation objectives.

During the period covered by the present report, 363 AECS contracts have been agreed on 59 SPAs, benefiting 201 SPA features. NatureScot has also entered into 3 management agreements on 3 SPAs, benefiting 7 features.

For SPAs within the Scottish MPA Network, 44 have published Conservation and Management Advice (CMA) documents, which include the sites’ conservation objectives. Where appropriate these meet the requirement under Regulation 33(2) to make special provisions for the protection of European marine sites.

In addition, 1 SPA within the Scottish MPA Network has necessary conservation measures established and applied.

4.3 Conservation measures established outside the European site network

Fourteen Nature Conservation MPAs provide protected areas additional to those provided by the European sites within the Scottish Inshore zone for habitats and species on Annex I or Annex II of the Habitats Directive, or Annex I of the Birds Directive. These sites have published Conservation and Management Advice (CMA) documents, equivalent to the requirement under Regulation 33(2) to make special provisions for the protection of European marine sites and afford an additional surface area of 14,892.7 km². Of these 14 sites, 8 have management measures in place. These cover 1,065.5 km² .