Conservation in Scotland – Wikipedia

This article gives an overview of the structure of environmental and cultural conservation in Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom.

Upon the introduction of devolved government the environment and built heritage were not listed as reserved issues, and so for the most part conservation is the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government, and the public bodies that report to them. Although originally reserved, responsibility for all planning and nature conservation matters at sea up to 200 miles from the Scottish coast was transferred to the Scottish Government in 2008.^[1] Some matters related to conservation, such as international treaties and border controls on prohibited species, remain the responsibility of the UK Government.

Much environment legislation in Scotland is based on the adoption into Scots law of European Union directives, such as the Habitats Directive. As such there may be changes to the structure and nature of conservation activities in Scotland following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Scottish Government[edit]

Scottish Government directorates[edit]

Conservation matters are dealt with across a number of directorates of the Scottish Government:

• Environmental protection, forestry and biodiversity are the responsibility of the Environment and Forestry Directorate.^[2]
• The Marine Scotland Directorate is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland’s seas.^[3]
• The Energy and Climate Change Directorate covers measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[4]
• Cultural Heritage is the responsibility of the Culture, Tourism and Major Events Directorate.^[5]

Scottish ministers[edit]

Three Cabinet Secretaries hold portfolios with responsibility for conservation issues:

• The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has ministerial responsibility for many conservation issues, including cross-government co-ordination of Net Zero policy, climate crisis and environmental protection, biodiversity, sustainable development, renewable energy, energy and energy consents, flood prevention and coastal erosion, and water quality.^[6]
• The portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands includes ministerial responsibility for agriculture and crofting, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry.^[7]
• The portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture includes ministerial responsibility for architecture and built heritage.^[8]

Public bodies[edit]

The following are public bodies of the Scottish Government, with notes on their areas of responsibility.

Executive agencies[edit]

Executive non-departmental public bodies[edit]

^[15]

Public corporations[edit]

^[18]

United Kingdom Government[edit]

Within the UK Government, environmental protection is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Two UK-wide executive agencies with responsibility for conservation matters include Scotland within their remit:

Non-governmental organisations[edit]

Many non-governmental organisations are active in conservation issues in Scotland. The following list provides some examples.

Protected areas[edit]

National environmental designations[edit]

National designations for historic and cultural sites[edit]

International designations[edit]

Local designations[edit]

Non-statutory protected areas[edit]

Objects of conservation[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]