Who owns and manages NNRs?

Some National Nature Reserves are owned and managed by a single organisation but many have several owners and managers. This multiple tenure means that the numbers are quite complex.

There are currently six main organisations involved in the ownership and / or management of National Nature Reserves in Scotland:

• Scottish Natural Heritage (36 NNRs)
• Forestry Commission (4 NNRs) 
• Royal Society for Protection of Birds (4 NNRs),
• National Trust for Scotland (5 NNRs)
• Scottish Wildlife Trust (1 NNR)
• South Lanarkshire Council (1 NNR) 

These organisations had to prove they were competent to run National Nature Reserves by fulfilling certain criteria to become 'approved bodies'. On some reserves more than one organisation is involved.

Private landowners also own land declared as National Nature Reserve. Scottish Natural Heritage manages many of these privately owned Reserves under a lease or management agreement with the owner. However a small number of private landowners manage their own National Nature Reserves in agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage.

Figures based on 47 promoted NNRs and correct at 13/07/2012