Scotland’s Special Areas recognised
Caledonian pine forest in Ben Nevis SAC; one of 17 habitat types for which the site is recognised
On 17 March 2005 Scottish Ministers formally designated all 238 of Scotland’s candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the EC Habitats Directive. This move follows approval of the Scottish list of candidate sites by the European Commission towards the end of 2004.
The designation of the SACs was announced by Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis Macdonald in a written response to a parliamentary question. In Scotland, SACs cover almost one million hectares, approximately 12 per cent of the country’s landmass and their designation represents a significant milestone in the protection of Scotland’s important habitats and species. These sites afford legal protection to 18 species including the bottle nosed dolphin, Atlantic salmon and otter, as well as 53 habitat types such as the endangered Caledonian Pine Forest.
The Habitats Directive was adopted in 1992 and, along with the Birds Directive, which was adopted in 1979, is the most influential piece of European legislation relating to nature conservation. The Habitats Directive protects natural habitats and other species of wild plants and animals through the creation of Special Areas of Conservation. Sites which have been classified under the Birds Directive are called Special Protection Areas. Together, these sites form a European network of protected areas known as Natura 2000.
The Habitats Directive is a major contribution by the European Community to implementing the Biodiversity Convention agreed by more than 150 countries at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.