Scottish Government

Title

Proportion of protected nature sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other designated sites, in favourable condition.

Associated Targets

Increase to 95% the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition

Brief Description

The target relates to the condition of approximately 5000 special features designated on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Natura 2000 sites. It equates to 95% of national (SSSI) and European (Natura 2000) designated site features being in favourable condition by March 2010.

Strategic Objective(s) to Which Indicator Relates

The indicator informs progress towards a Greener Scotland by measuring the degree of improvement achieved in the condition of the most important natural heritage sites in Scotland. Meeting the target will involve working in partnership with delivery bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission.

More Detailed Definitions

Definitions of Keywords

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are identified as "special" for plants, animals or habitats, rocks, landforms or a combination of these features. SNH selects sites after detailed survey and evaluation against scientific criteria.

Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network made up of sites designated under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives. Sites designated under the Birds Directive are termed Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Sites designated under the Habitats Directive are termed Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

Special features mean the habitats, plant or animal species or geological or other features of the land for which the site was designated

The assessment of favourable condition will be made using guidelines produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) drawing on the work of the national conservation agencies.

Favourable condition means that the features for which SSSIs or Natura sites are designated are in satisfactory condition; or are recovering, with the necessary management measures in place, such that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) predicts, using expert judgement, that the land will in due course reach favourable condition.

The target comprises the sum of the JNCC Common Standards conditions 'Favourable maintained', 'Favourable recovered' and 'Unfavourable recovering', plus, as an interim measure, natural features where remedial management had been put in place to address all the causes of unfavourable condition, but where there has been no subsequent Site Condition Monitoring assessment .In this context there will be instances where, despite all realistic local management actions having been put in place, SNH predicts that, owing to wider land use, fisheries or other matters beyond its control ( e.g. climate change), the condition of certain features is likely to remain unfavourable. In these circumstances, where all measures within partners' control have been taken, failure to ensure the favourable condition of those features will be recorded and reported separately.

Evidence Source

The target will be measured using the results from the Scottish element of the UK-wide Common Standards Monitoring programme, known as Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) in Scotland. SCM aims to assess the condition of the majority of special features at least once every six years (on a rolling programme) and all at least once every twelve years. More frequent assessments may be undertaken where sites or the special features on them are perceived to be more vulnerable.

Baseline and Past Trends

The baseline is the first cycle of site condition monitoring 1999-2005. In the period 1999 - 2005, 71.4% of natural features on protected nature sites were found to be in favourable condition.

A times series including the most up to date data is available on Scotland Performs.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicators/natureSites

Methodology for Data Source

Site Condition Monitoring is carried out using agreed UK-wide standards which are published in JNCC's Common Standards Monitoring Guidance http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2201.

Data Ownership and Quality Assurance

Data is collected by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff and independent consultants under contract to SNH. SNH publish the figures as Official Statistics.

Publication of Data

Elements of assessment data generated through Site Condition Monitoring is currently publicly available through the internet on the SNH website at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/official-statistics/official-stats/sites-favourable/.

In future years data will be published annually in May.

Methodology for Recent Change Arrow on Scotland Performs

This evaluation is based on: any difference in the percentage within +/- 1 percentage point of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 1 percentage point or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 1 percentage point or more suggests the position is worsening.