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Ramsar Sites
Key Findings
The RAMSAR designation is applied to Wetland areas known to be of global importance (Scottish Government, n.d.). It may be applied to protect areas of unique habitat, or the species living within (JNCC, 2019). The designation is used worldwide by 169 countries (NatureScot, 2023).
The Ramsar designation itself comes with no legal protections in the UK, however in Scotland all 51 Ramsar sites are also classified as either an SSSI, an SAC, or an SPA, thus are well protected (Scottish Government, n.d.). For example, the Loch of Strathbeg Ramsar site is also a SSSI and an SPA (NatureScot, n.d.).
Figure 1: NMPi - Ramsar sites in North East Scotland
Notes
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Status
Live - next update 20/08/2026
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Telephone: 07971149117
E-mail: ian.hay@stateofthecoast.scot