300px|thumb|[[St Abb's Head NNR in Berwickshire, seen from the south near the village of St Abbs.]]

In Scotland, national nature reserves (NNRs) are designated by NatureScot, and 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 , or less than 1.5% of the land area of Scotland. They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate, which covers 29,324 ha.

History

National nature reserves were first created under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. 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:

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. 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:

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| Ariundle Oakwood || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot / FLS

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| Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| Ben Lawers || Tayside and Fife || NTS

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| Ben Wyvis || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot / FLS

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| Blawhorn Moss || Central Belt || NatureScot

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| Caerlaverock || South of Scotland || NatureScot

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| Cairnsmore of Fleet || South of Scotland || NatureScot

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| Clyde Valley Woodlands || Central Belt || NatureScot / SWT / South Lanarkshire Council

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| Corrie Fee || Tayside and Fife || NatureScot

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| Corrieshalloch Gorge || Highlands and Skye || NTS

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| Craigellachie || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| Creag Meagaidh || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| Flanders Moss || West Highlands || NatureScot

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| Forsinard Flows || Highlands and Skye || RSPB

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| Forvie || Grampian Highlands || NatureScot

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| Glasdrum Wood || West Highlands || NatureScot

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| Glen Affric || Highlands and Skye || FLS

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| Glen Coe || West Highlands || NTS

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| Glen Nant || West Highlands || FLS

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| Glen Roy || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| Glen Tanar || Grampian Highlands || Glen Tanar Estate

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| Glen More || Highlands and Skye || FLS

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| The Great Trossachs Forest || West Highlands || RSPB / FLS / Woodland Trust

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| Hermaness || Northern Isles || NatureScot

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| Insh Marshes || Highlands and Skye || RSPB

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| Invereshie and Inshriach || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot / FLS

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| Isle of May || Tayside and Fife || NatureScot

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| Knockan Crag || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| Loch Fleet || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot / SWT

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| Loch Leven || Tayside and Fife || NatureScot / RSPB

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| Loch Lomond || West Highlands || NatureScot / Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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| Mar Lodge Estate || Grampian Highlands || NTS

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| Moine Mhòr || West Highlands || NatureScot

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| Muir of Dinnet || Grampian Highlands || NatureScot

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| Noss || Northern Isles || NatureScot

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| Rum || Highlands and Skye || NatureScot

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| St Abb's Head || South of Scotland || NTS

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| St Cyrus || Grampian Highlands || NatureScot

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| St Kilda || Western Isles || NTS

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| Staffa || West Highlands || NTS

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| Taynish || West Highlands || NatureScot

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| Tentsmuir || Tayside and Fife || NatureScot

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Former NNRs, de-declared since 2004

  • Braehead Moss, de-declared on 9 December 2011
  • Claish Moss, de-declared on 1 March 2012
  • Keen of Hamar, de-declared on 13 July 2012
  • Mealdarroch, de-declared on 9 December 2011
  • Monach Islands, de-declared on 18 May 2018
  • Rona and Sula Sgeir, de-declared on 18 May 2018

See also

  • National nature reserve (United Kingdom)
  • National nature reserves in England
  • National nature reserves in Wales
  • Nature reserves in Northern Ireland

References

  • Scotland's National Nature Reserves – Official Site
  • Interactive map of designations in Scotland, including National Nature Reserves boundaries (select 'Nature Reserves' in UK Map Layers).