Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 - Explanatory Notes

1. Introduction

2. The Act

3. Related Initiatives and Supporting Information

   1. Part 1 Biodiversity

   2. Part 2 The SSSI system

   3. Part 3 Protection of Wildlife

   4. Part 4 Scottish Fossil Code

   5. Part 5 - General

4. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part 1 - Biodiversity

      1. Section 1 Duty to further the conservation of biodiversity

      2. Section 2 Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

   2. Part 2 – Conservation and Enhancement of Natural Features

      1. Chapter 1 – Sites of Special Scientific Interest

         1. Notification of sites of special scientific interest

            1. Section 3 Duty to give notification of sites of special interest

            2. Section 4 Site management statements

            3. Section 5 Enlargement of sites of special scientific interest

            4. Section 6 Review of operations requiring consent

            5. Section 7 Addition or modification of operations requiring consent: urgent situations

            6. Section 8 Variation of SSSI notifications

            7. Section 9 Denotification of sites of special scientific interest

            8. Section 10 Notifications relating to sites of special scientific interest: procedure

   3. Schedule 1

      1. Notifications relating to sites of special scientific interest: procedure

         1. Application of Schedule

      2. Publication

      3. Content of notification

      4. Confirmation or withdrawal of notification

      5. Modification of notification

      6. Referral to Advisory Committee

      7. Notice of decision to confirm or withdraw

      8. Extension of period during which notification is to be confirmed or withdrawn

   4. Section 11 Effect of SSSI notification

   5. Exercise of functions in relation to sites of special scientific interest

      1. Section 12 Exercise of functions by public bodies

   6. Operations affecting sites of special scientific interest

      1. Section 13 Operations by public bodies

      2. Section 14 Operations by public bodies : authorised operations

      3. Section 15 Consent by certain regulatory authorities

      4. Section 16 Operations by owners or occupiers of sites of special scientific interest

      5. Section 17 Operations by owners or occupiers of sites of special scientific interest: authorised operations

      6. Section 18 Appeals in connection with operations requiring consent

   7. Offences and Byelaws

      1. Section 19 Offences in relation to sites of special scientific interest

      2. Section 20 Byelaws

   8. Supplementary

      1. Section 21 Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest

      2. Section 22 - SSSI Register

   9. Chapter 2 -Nature Conservation Orders

      1. Section 23 Nature conservation orders

      2. Section 24 Amendment or revocation of nature conservation orders

      3. Section 25 Nature conservation orders and related orders: procedure

   10. Schedule 2

       1. Nature conservation orders and related orders: procedure

          1. Application of schedule

       2. Consultation

       3. Notification

       4. Confirmation of orders

       5. Inquiry or other opportunity to be heard

       6. Extension of period

       7. Recording or registration of orders

   11. Section 26 Review of nature conservation orders

   12. Section 27 Offences in relation to nature conservation orders

   13. Section 28 Reports

   14. Chapter 3 - Land Management Orders

       1. Section 29 Proposals for land management orders

       2. Section 30 - Power to make land management orders

       3. Section 31 - Content of land management orders

       4. Section 32 - Review of land management orders

       5. Section 33 - Land management orders and related orders: procedure

   15. Schedule 3

       1. Land Management Orders and Related Orders: Procedure

          1. Notification of proposals for land management order

       2. Power to require disclosure of information

       3. Withdrawal of proposal

       4. Notification of decision on orders

       5. Recording or registration of orders

          1. Section 34 - Appeals in connection with land management orders and related orders

          2. Section 35 - Effect of land management orders

          3. Section 36 - Offences in relation to land management orders

          4. Section 37 - Enforcement of land management orders

   16. Chapter 4 - General and Supplementary

       1. Section 38 Ramsar Sites

       2. Section 39 Acquisition of land by SNH

       3. Section 40 Restoration orders

       4. Section 41 Signs

       5. Section 42 Change of owner or occupier.

       6. Section 43 Powers of investigation : police

       7. Section 44 Powers of entry: authorised persons

   17. Schedule 4

       1. Powers of Entry of Authorised Persons: Further Provision

          1. Notice of entry to occupied land

       2. Warrant for entry

       3. Evidence of authority

       4. Supplementary powers

       5. Duty to secure land

       6. Compensation

   18. Section 45 SNH: power to enforce

   19. Section 46 Offences, penalties and time limits

   20. Section 47 Offences by bodies corporate

   21. Section 48 Notices, applications

   22. Section 49 Transitional arrangements

   23. Schedule 5

       1. Part 2:  Transitional Arrangements

          1. Interpretation

          2. Notifications under the 1981 Act

          3. Notifications under the 1949 Act

          4. Orders under section 29 of the 1981 Act

          5. Registers of notifications

   24. Part 3 - Protection of Wildlife

       1. Section 50 Protection of wildlife

   25. Schedule 6

       1. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c.69)

       2. Protection of birds: offences

       3. Protection of animals: offences

       4. Protection of Plants: Offences

       5. Non-native species

       6. Miscellaneous

   26. Section 51 Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code

   27. Part 4 – Scottish Fossil Code

       1. Section 52 Scottish Fossil Code

   28. Part 5 – General

       1. Section 53 Orders and regulations: general

       2. Section 54 Guidance

       3. Section 55:  Crown application

       4. Section 56:  Ancillary provision

       5. Section 57:  Minor and consequential amendments and repeals

   29. Schedule 7 - Minor and consequential amendments and repeals

   30. Section 58 Interpretation

   31. Section 59:  Short title and commencement