What progress there has been in (a) designating Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive and (b) classifying Special P…

The Scottish Executive is now very close to completing its submission of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in advance of further formal consideration by the European Commission scheduled for June 2002. Ninety-eight per cent of the total of 227 SACs on which consultation has already taken place have been proposed to the Commission as candidate sites. This is a major contribution to the EU Natura 2000 network. I shall be considering, with Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) advice, four remaining sites and one extension to an existing SAC, all of which have already been announced as candidate sites. These are: River DeeRiver TayFirth of Tay and Eden EstuaryAirds MossSunart extensionSome of the river sites do not currently include all qualifying tributaries but will be extended in future.I have also agreed that five new sites (four raised bog and one blanket bog) should be considered for designation. Coverage of these habitats was not considered adequate by the European Commission in its first consideration of the UK's list. The sites are: Red Moss of NetherlyRaeburn FlowPeeswit MossOfference Moss, which is an extension to Flanders MossWest Fannyside Moss blanket bogThe sole remaining site on the published list of SACs is the Sound of Barra. After careful consideration, and following scientific advice from SNH, I have decided to delay a decision on this site until further data are available on the effect of construction of the Eriskay causeway on the numbers and location of seal populations. Good progress has also been made on Special Protection Areas. One hundred and thirty-five out of 141 SPA sites in Scotland have now been classified. To complete the series, I have asked SNH to begin formal consultation on proposed golden eagle sites on Skye and Mull already announced. Consultations are in progress or complete on three other sites and one extension and decisions will be made on these sites once all necessary information is available. The remaining sites from the previously published list, and on which I expect to take decisions this year are:Arran MoorsCnuic Agus Cladach Mhuile (the Mull eagle site)Cuillins (the Skye eagle site)Glen App
- Galloway MoorsMuirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Forth Islands (extension)I expect also to consider a small number of further sites for the capercaillie, for which a significant population decline is causing concern.The remaining site on the public list of proposed SPAs is Ladder Hills. SNH have advised that currently available data are insufficient to justify classification at present and further survey work will be required. I propose therefore to delay consideration of this site until the necessary information is available. This contribution to the Natura network represents a notable effort on the part of SNH to present the scientific data and to ensure that as full consultation as possible has taken place with local interests.SNH will now be closely involved in management of the sites and I expect their Natural Care programme to be of particular benefit to owners and occupiers in assisting them to bring their land into positive management. The Executive increased SNH's budget in the last Spending Review (by £22 million in total over the three years) partly to enable management schemes to be more widely offered. Looking further ahead, for the terrestrial sites I expect the focus to be on appropriate management. I cannot, however, rule out additional SPAs or SACs, where suitable sites are identified which properly reflect Scotland's contribution to the Natura network. At UK level a framework has been put in place for review of the SPA series, and we shall continue to contribute to this consideration. In addition, we shall be required, along with the rest of the UK to contribute to the selection of SPAs and SACs in the marine environment. This process is on-going at present, led by the Joint Nature Conservation Com