Protected Areas Committee

The Protected Areas Committee is the new name for the former Special Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI) Committee.  Their name has been amended to reflect their role in being responsible for all Protected Areas, these being:

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
• Special Protection Area (SPA)

The Protected Areas Committee has involvement in:

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

• The notification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under section 3 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
• Extensions to existing SSSIs under section 5 of the 2004 Act.
• Denotification of all or parts of existing SSSIs under section 9 of the 2004 Act.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

• SPAs are classified under Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (the Birds Directive), with SACs being designated under Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive).  Collectively these sites are known as Natura Sites.  In Scotland the responsibility for designating SACs lies with the Scottish Government, however, Scottish ministers authorise SNH to consult on sites and are responsible for classifying sites following consultation.

The Committee holds meetings as and when required according to the casework arising, and this is likely to be no more than 4 times per year.

The Protected Areas Committee comprises the following SNH board members: