St Abb's Head NNR in Berwickshire, seen from the south near the village of St Abbs.

The national nature reserves (NNRs) of Scotland are areas of land or water designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as containing habitats and species of national importance. National nature reserves can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but must be managed to conserve their important habitats and species, as well as providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and engage with nature. There are currently 43 NNRs in Scotland, which cover 154,250 hectares (1,542.5 km2),[1] or less than 1.5% of the land area of Scotland.[2] They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate, which covers 29,324 ha.[1]

National nature reserve status is an accolade awarded to the best nature reserves in Scotland, and the selected sites provide examples of nationally or internationally important species and habitats. NNRs are intended to showcase Scotland's nature, and as well as being well managed for wildlife they must be managed to provide opportunities for the public to visit and enjoy them. NNRs therefore generally have facilities such as visitor centres and trails to allow visitors to explore and understand the habitats or wildlife they contain.[1] 19 of the reserves NNRs have IUCN Category II (national park) status, including, Glen Affric, Rùm, Abernethy Forest and the Great Trossachs Forest. There are no reserves with this status in England, Wales or Northen Ireland. This is mainly due to Scotland’s natural habitats being more intact than in the rest of the UK.

Most NNRs in Scotland are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Many also form part of the Natura 2000 network, which covers Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. Additionally, some of the NNRs are designated as Ramsar sites.[3]

History

National nature reserves were first created under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.[4] In 1996 the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH – since renamed NatureScot), undertook a review of NNR policy that took account of the availability of other designations conferring legal protection, such as site of special scientific interest, special protection area and special area of conservation. It was determined that NNR should possess four attributes:[4]

  • Primacy of nature – conservation must be the primary land use within a NNR: "nature comes first".
  • National importance – the conservation value of the habitat, species or feature must be such that it is of national importance that the site be managed as a reserve.
  • Best practice management – NNRs must be well managed.
  • Continuity of management – a long-term view is required.

Additionally, it was determined that NNRs should be managed for at least one of three purposes:[4]

  • Raising public awareness.
  • Specialised and pro-active management.
  • Offering opportunities for research into the ecology and its management.

Between 2000 and 2003 the existing NNRs were reviewed against these criteria. Prior to 2004 there were 73 national nature reserves in Scotland, however a number have since been de-designated.[4] New NNRs have also been designated, such as the National Trust for Scotland's Glen Coe and Mar Lodge properties, which were both designated NNRs in 2017.[5]

Since 2012 governance of the NNR designation in Scotland has been through a partnership group, comprising representatives of existing reserve management organisations and community land groups, chaired by NatureScot. NatureScot remains responsible for the statutory declaration of national nature reserves.[2]

Maintenance and management

The logo used for Scotland's national nature reserves.

NatureScot is responsible for designating NNRs in Scotland and for overseeing the maintenance and management of each reserve.[6] The majority of NNRs are directly managed by NatureScot; however, some are managed by, or in co-operation with other bodies. The NNR partnership consists of nine bodies:[2]

Details on the management of each reserve are shown in the table below.

List of national nature reserves in Scotland

NameRegion (as defined by NatureScot)Management
Abernethy ForestHighlands and SkyeNatureScot / RSPB [7]
Ariundle OakwoodHighlands and SkyeNatureScot / FLS [8]
Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree IslandsHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [9]
Ben LawersTayside and FifeNTS [10]
Ben WyvisHighlands and SkyeNatureScot / FLS [11]
Blawhorn MossCentral BeltNatureScot [12]
CaerlaverockSouth of ScotlandNatureScot [13]
Cairnsmore of FleetSouth of ScotlandNatureScot [14]
Clyde Valley WoodlandsCentral BeltNatureScot / SWT / South Lanarkshire Council [15]
Corrie FeeTayside and FifeNatureScot [16]
Corrieshalloch GorgeHighlands and SkyeNTS [17]
CraigellachieHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [18]
Creag MeagaidhHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [19]
Flanders MossWest HighlandsNatureScot [20]
Forsinard FlowsHighlands and SkyeRSPB [21]
ForvieGrampian HighlandsNatureScot [22]
Glasdrum WoodWest HighlandsNatureScot [23]
Glen AffricHighlands and SkyeFLS [24]
Glen CoeWest HighlandsNTS [25]
Glen NantWest HighlandsFLS [26]
Glen RoyHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [27]
Glen TanarGrampian HighlandsGlen Tanar Estate [28]
Glen MoreHighlands and SkyeFLS [29]
The Great Trossachs ForestWest HighlandsRSPB / FLS / Woodland Trust [30]
HermanessNorthern IslesNatureScot [31]
Insh MarshesHighlands and SkyeRSPB [32]
Invereshie and InshriachHighlands and SkyeNatureScot / FLS [33]
Isle of MayTayside and FifeNatureScot [34]
Knockan CragHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [35]
Loch FleetHighlands and SkyeNatureScot / SWT [36]
Loch LevenTayside and FifeNatureScot / RSPB [37]
Loch LomondWest HighlandsNatureScot / Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park [38]
Mar Lodge EstateGrampian HighlandsNTS [39]
Moine MhòrWest HighlandsNatureScot [40]
Muir of DinnetGrampian HighlandsNatureScot [41]
NossNorthern IslesNatureScot [42]
RumHighlands and SkyeNatureScot [43]
St Abb's HeadSouth of ScotlandNTS [44]
St CyrusGrampian HighlandsNatureScot [45]
St KildaWestern IslesNTS [46]
StaffaWest HighlandsNTS [47]
TaynishWest HighlandsNatureScot [48]
TentsmuirTayside and FifeNatureScot [49]

Former NNRs, de-declared since 2004

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About NNRs". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "National Nature Reserves". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "National Nature Reserves and other protected areas". Scotland's National Nature Reserves. May 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "The Story of Abernethy National Nature Reserve (Appendix 1)" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Scotland's Newest National Nature Reserves". National Trust for Scotland. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "About NNRs". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Abernethy NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ariundle Oakwood NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Ben Lawers NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ben Wyvis NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Blawhorn Moss NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Caerlaverock NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Corrie Fee NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Corrieshalloch Gorge NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Craigellachie NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  19. ↑ "Creag Meagaidh NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "Flanders Moss NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Forsinard Flows NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Forvie NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  23. ↑ "Glasdrum Wood NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "Glen Affric NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Glen Coe NNR". SNH. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  26. ↑ "Glen Nant NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  27. ↑ "Glen Roy NNR – Management". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  28. ↑ "Glen Tanar NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "Glenmore Affric NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  30. ↑ "The Great Trossachs Forest NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  31. ↑ "Hermaness NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  32. ↑ "Insh Marshes NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  33. ↑ "Invereshie and Inshriach NNR". SNH. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  34. ↑ "Isle of May NNR". SNH. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  35. ↑ "Knockan Crag NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  36. ↑ "Loch Fleet NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  37. ↑ "Loch Leven NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  38. ↑ "The Story of the Loch Lomond NNR" (PDF). SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  39. ↑ "Mar Lodge Estate NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  40. ↑ "Moine Mhor NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  41. ↑ "Muir of Dinnet NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  42. ↑ "Noss NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  43. ↑ "Rum NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  44. ↑ "St Abb's Head NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  45. ↑ "St Cyrus NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  46. ↑ "St Kilda NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  47. ↑ "Staffa NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  48. ↑ "Taynish NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  49. ↑ "Tentsmuir NNR". SNH. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Scottish National Heritage" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Protected area notices". Scottish Natural Heritage. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  52. ↑ "The Story of Corrie Fee NNR" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. pp. 17–18. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  53. ↑ "The Story of Knockan Crag NNR" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. p. 11. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  54. ↑ "Rassal Ashwood NNR De-declarationArchived". tellmescotland.gov.uk. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
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