The legislation

Scottish Natural Heritage is responsible for declaring National Nature Reserves.

Scottish Natural Heritage can declare National Nature Reserves under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act - one of the very first laws to protect wildlife sites in Great Britain.  These days however Scottish Natural Heritage is more likely to use the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, because this law introduced changes making it possible for to declare National Nature Reserves on land managed by other organisations or 'approved bodies' too.

In the past by-laws were used to prevent unwanted activities on National Nature Reserves, but these days by-laws are only used as a last resort. Today Reserve managers use different ways to encourage responsible behaviour on National Nature Reserves, such as the Scottish Outdoor Access Code  . 

The policy in Scotland

Scottish Natural Heritage published its policy statement  for National Nature Reserves in 2003.

This policy was developed in the 1995, approved by the board of Scottish Natural Heritage in 1996 and approved by the minister in 1997.