Conservation
Over 400 Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been designated around the Scottish coast. These cover a significant proportion of the coastline and help safeguard the country’s most precious coastal habitats, wildlife, landforms and rocks. More recently, around 40 of these have also been identified as Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas. This means they are of European importance for the habitats, animals or plants that occur there. In addition, long stretches of the coast are incorporated within National Scenic Areas because of their high landscape value. Numerous other reserves and parks exist which are managed by Local Authorities and voluntary bodies such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
This wide range of important coastal areas reflects the exceptionally high conservation value of Scotland’s coastline. The vast majority of the coast remains undeveloped and unspoilt. The range of habitats, landforms and rocks which exist there is unique for such a small country.
Most coastal habitats and landforms have evolved over thousands of years to reach their present state. Yet, by inappropriate development, exploitation or over-use we can destroy in a few short years what has taken nature many millennia to create. This need not be so. We have a duty to safeguard for future generations our coastal natural heritage. Protected areas, such as those above, help to achieve this aim.