Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2009

Land

Designated Areas: 1991-2009 ⁸

Area (thousand hectares)

Area ⁹(thousand hectares)

Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSIs) protect flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features of outstanding quality. In Scotland, SSSIs are notified by Scottish Natural Heritage under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (which amended the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act). In 1991, SSSIs covered a total of 804,000 hectares. This has steadily increased and at 31 March 2009 there were 1,456 SSSIs in Scotland, covering a total of approximately 1,038,000 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 classified under the 1979 EC Wild Birds Directive to safeguard the habitat of certain wild bird species. Ramsar sites are designated under the 1971 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (commonly known as the Ramsar Convention). At 31 March 2009, there were 239 SACs, 146 SPAs and 51 Ramsar sites in Scotland. The area of SACs rose from 0 hectares in 1995 to 963,000 hectares in 2005 and has remained stable to 2009. The area of SPAs rose from 26,000 hectares in 1991 to 657,000 hectares in 2009

A site may be protected by more than one designation. For example, at 31 March 2009 66% of the area of SACs and 86% of the area of SPAs and Ramsar sites were designated as SSSIs.

Source: Scottish Natural Heritage