Nature conservation
Nature conservation
Local authorities were first given a role in nature conservation when county councils and large burghs were empowered to create nature reserves in 1949 in consultation with the Nature Conservancy.[1] This remained a limited role with the main responsibilities given to the Nature Conservancy (1947-1973) and its successors, the Nature Conservancy Council (1973-1990), the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland (1990-1992) and Scottish Natural Heritage (1992-present, rebranded NatureScot in 2020). In 1981 local authorities were required to ensure that the public and particularly school children were made aware that wildlife were protected.[2] From 1996, local authorities, generally in partnership with nature conservation organisations, developed local biodiversity action plans and started to employ biodiversity officers, in compliance with the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.[3] The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 placed a duty on all public bodies and public officeholders to further the conservation of biodiversity.[4] Since 2011 public bodies are required to report on their compliance every three years.[5]
National Records of Scotland hold archival records of the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage under the reference SNH while government files concerning the Scottish Committee of the Nature Conservancy Council and Scottish Natural Heritage are found under the references DD12 and DD37. Local authority archival records on nature conservation and biodiversity are held by local authority archive services.
Compiler: Elspeth Reid (2021)
Related Knowledge Base entries
Bibliography
Ferguson, Keith, An introduction to local government in Scotland (The Planning Exchange, 1984)
Kelcey, John, ‘A Guide to Nature Conservation’ Built Environment 2.11 (1973) pp. 639-41
References
[1] National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. VI c.97) s.21.
[2] Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c.69) s.25.
[3] Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan (HMSO, 1994)
[4] Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6).
[5] Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6).