Statistical News Release: The Proportion of Scotland's Protected Sites in Favourable Condition 2019

13 May 2019 – Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has today released the latest figures tracking the proportion of Scottish natural features in favourable or recovering condition.

The main findings show that 78.9% of Scotland’s natural features on protected nature sites are either in or recovering towards a favourable condition. This figure represents a 2.9 percentage point increase since the current protocols were established in 2007, despite a 0.8 percentage point1 decrease since last year. A difference of less than +/-1 percentage point from last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change.

The report draws on annual monitoring carried out by SNH of the condition of the 5,388 natural features across Scotland , divided into three categories: habitats (78.9% in favourable condition), species (73.2% in favourable condition) and earth sciences, which includes geographical outcrops and landforms, fossil beds, and caves (97.6% in favourable condition).

Overall, the condition of 47 natural features on protected areas has improved to favourable or recovering condition, whilst 76 have deteriorated to unfavourable condition.

Other findings of note from the report include:

• 17 natural features were assessed for the first time and were found to be in favourable condition, which were mainly bird (11) and earth science (3) natural features.
• 8 natural features were assessed for the first time and were found to be in unfavourable condition, which were mainly upland (3) and coastal (2) natural features.
• Amphibians saw an 8.3 percentage point increase in natural features in favourable condition, the largest increase overall, followed by upland with a 1.3 percentage point increase and grasslands with a 0.9 percentage point increase.
• Non-vascular plants saw a 2.0 percentage point decrease in natural features in favourable condition, the largest decrease overall, followed by birds with a 1.8 percentage point decrease.
• The natural feature types with the highest proportion in favourable condition were dragonflies (100%), marine habitats (98.1%), and earth science (97.6%). Dragonflies and marine habitats have remained stable since last year but earth sciences have seen a 0.3 percentage point decrease since last year.
• The natural feature types with the lowest proportion in favourable condition were marine mammals (57.1%), woodlands (65.2%) and birds (67.9%). Marine mammals have been stable since last year but woodlands has seen a 1.5 percentage point decrease since last year and birds has seen a 1.8 percentage point decrease since last year.

Invasive species are the main reason for natural features being in unfavourable condition, representing 21.0% of all negative pressures. This category includes both native species such as bracken or nettles, and non-native species such as rhododendron or Japanese knotweed, the removal of these species has to be undertaken to promote recovery to favourable condition.

There are 424 natural features with no on-site remedy which is an increase from 398 last year. These are features where the pressure is beyond the boundary of the feature itself or nearby and so to bring these natural features into favourable condition is beyond local management.

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