Question reference: S5W-27172
- Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 28 January 2020
-
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 February 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in response to Scottish Natural Heritage's finding that 32% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are in an unfavourable condition.
Answer
The Scottish Government uses the ‘Condition of protected nature sites’ National Performance Framework indicator to report on the percentage of natural features on protected sites to be found in favourable condition or recovering with the necessary management measures in place. The latest available data (for 2019) shows that 78.9% of natural features were assessed as being in favourable condition or recovery is in progress, 2.9% higher than recorded in 2007. Further information on the indicator, including the sources of data, how the indicator is measured and reported as an Official Statistic, and the criteria for change can be found at:
https://nationalperformance.gov.scot/measuring-progress/national-indicator-performance .
For Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) alone, the figure for sites in favourable or recovering condition is 81.7%. This figure, and further data on the condition of protected nature sites, is available on Scotland’s Environment Web at: https://www.environment.gov.scot .
Where unfavourable condition is determined through SCM and an on/near-site remedy is possible, this is a trigger for SNH to either directly, or with partners such as Scottish Forestry or SEPA, explore and encourage the implementation of management options with land managers on the protected area to improve condition. To facilitate this process, and to better target resources, SNH maintains the rolling Delivering Favourable Condition Action Plan, which identifies the actions which need to be taken to improve condition and the lead organisation for delivery. Mechanisms to support management change include Scottish Rural Development Programme and SNH’s own Management Agreement funding (for more specialist management).
There are also some features where the cause of unfavourable condition is not related to management on, or near to the protected area, but relates to wider environmental factors (eg. Seabird natural features being affected by changing prey distribution in the marine environment). These natural features are recognised as having no on-site remedy and are therefore reliant potentially on wider national or international policy changes if recovery is to be promoted. In some instances recovery may not be possible for example due to changes in the natural range of species.