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NNR policy
National Nature Reserves are special places for nature, where many of the best examples of Scotland’s wildlife and landscapes are protected.
The first NNRs were designated over 50 years ago and, at that time, they were the cornerstone of nature conservation. Over time, the system for the protection of nature has evolved to include the natural heritage outwith nature reserves, and NNRs have come to serve a broader range of purposes.
Whilst nature always comes first on NNRs, they also offer special opportunities for people to experience and find out about the rich diversity of our natural heritage.
Today, our policy for NNRs is that each reserve should achieve at least one of these key purposes:
- To provide opportunities for everyone to visit and enjoy the best of Scotland’s nature
- To allow specialised management for wildlife which depends upon it
- To offer opportunities for long-term research in to management for nature, and to demonstrate good practice to others.
Our policy statement for NNRs explains the history of the NNR designation, and its role in the future of nature conservation in Scotland.