Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

Areas home to unique wildlife or environmental features may be designated an SSSI, due to their importance for scientific research (Cottam, 2019). For landowners and land managers, this designation gives them a legal responsibility to manage the land to maintain 'favourable conditions of the site, meaning it is illegal to either intentionally or accidentally allow the site to be degraded or damaged (Natural England, 2013). As such, alterations made to the site require consent, which in Scotland is decided by NatureScot (2024). 

We have 1440 SSSIs in Scotland (Scottish Government, n.d.), such as the Sands of Forvie and Ythan Estuary SSSI in the East Grampian Area (NatureScot, 1984).  The area has also had a number of sites that have be dedesignated as there key feature no longer remains.