Ramsar sites: Ministerial and Chief Planner letter - July 2025
A letter from the Minister for Public Finance and Chief Planner with an update on Ramsar sites in Scotland.
Part of
9 July 2025
Dear colleagues,
This letter is being sent to draw your attention to the updated policy position on the protection of Ramsar sites in Scotland which was published on 9 July 2025.
Background
The International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (‘Ramsar Convention’) was adopted in Ramsar, Iran in February 1971 and came into force in December 1975. There are currently 51 Ramsar sites in Scotland, supporting 284 Ramsar features (i.e. wetland habitats or bird populations).
Prior to the publication of the updated policy position which is linked above, in Scotland, statutory protection of natural heritage sites was delivered primarily through designation either as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or as a Special Area of Conservation / Special Protection Area (European site) under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (Habitats Regulations) respectively.
This policy position is currently reflected in National Planning Framework 4, as part of Policy 4c (Natural Places), which states that, “All Ramsar sites are also European sites and/ or Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are extended protection under the relevant statutory regimes.”
Updated policy on protecting Ramsar sites
From today as a matter of policy, the Scottish Government considers that listed Ramsar sites in Scotland should be treated as if they were European sites for the purposes of land use change decision making.
Compliance with this policy means that any plan or project which could affect a Ramsar site will involve undertaking a Habitats Regulations Appraisal to determine whether the proposal is likely to have a significant effect on the notified natural features of the site. Competent authorities should consult NatureScot as part of any appropriate assessment process. If the result of the HRA is that adverse impact on integrity is concluded, the application would not be supported under the new policy unless there are Imperative Reasons of Over-riding Public Interest.
As a statement of Scottish Ministers expectations, this updated policy position is a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications in relation to development which impacts on Ramsar sites. This should be considered and read alongside NPF4.
Yours faithfully
Dr Fiona Simpson MRTPI, Director and Chief Planner
Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance
