Identification

Title

Special Protection Areas (Scotland)

Abstract

SPAs in Scotland are classified by Scottish Ministers . These are areas of the most important habitat for rare (listed on Annex I to the Directive) and regularly occurring migratory birds within the European Union. SPAs are classified under the EC Birds Directive (https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en) and together with SACs, form the Natura 2000 network (https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm). Proposed Special Protection Areas (pSPA) may be subject to change prior to classification. For more information visit https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/international-designations/european-sites/special-protection-areas-spas

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://ogc.nature.scot/geoserver/protectedareas/ows?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS

protocol: OGC:WMS-1.3.0-http-get-capabilities

description: spa

https://ogc.nature.scot/geoserver/protectedareas/wfs?request=GetCapabilities&service=WFS

protocol: OGC:WFS-1.0.0-http-get-capabilities

description: Special Protection Areas

function: download

https://gis-downloads.nature.scot/SPA_SCOTLAND_SHP_27700.zip

protocol: WWW:DOWNLOAD:ESRI shapefile

function: download

https://gis-downloads.nature.scot/SPA_SCOTLAND_GDB_27700.zip

protocol: WWW:DOWNLOAD:ESRI File geodatabase

function: download

https://gis-downloads.nature.scot/SPA_SCOTLAND_GPKG_27700.zip

protocol: WWW:DOWNLOAD:Geopackage

function: download

https://gis-downloads.nature.scot/SPA_SCOTLAND_GML_4258.zip

protocol: WWW:DOWNLOAD:GML

function: download

https://gis-downloads.nature.scot/SPA_SCOTLAND_GEOJSON_4326.zip

protocol: WWW:DOWNLOAD:GeoJSON

function: download

https://opendata.nature.scot/datasets/special-protection-areas/explore

protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link

function: information

https://ogc.nature.scot/geoserver/www/maps/naturescot-data-viewer.html?layer=protectedareas:spa

protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link

function: information

Unique resource identifier

code

SPA

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

environment

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Nature conservation

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Government Category List

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2006-05-25

Keyword set

keyword value

Protected sites

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-9.1462

East bounding longitude

0.0823

North bounding latitude

61.8049

South bounding latitude

54.3342

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

ISO 3166

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

1999-03-01

code identifying the extent

GB-SCT

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

1999

End position

2011

Dataset reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2016-10-05

date type

revision

effective date

2023-08-29

Frequency of update

continual

Quality and validity

Lineage

There are specific obligations on Member States under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives to avoid the deterioration of the natural habitats of the species and significant disturbance of the species for which SPAs have been designated. These obligations are implemented through domestic legislation in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended. Designating Authority In Scotland Scottish Ministers Role of SNH SNH acts as the advisor to Government in proposing selected sites for Ministerial approval as proposed SPAs. SNH then undertakes consultation over proposed sites with owners, occupiers, planning authorities and other interested parties on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Legislative Context Article 4 of the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds 1979 (EC/79/409, as amended 30.8.85 and 8.5.91): commonly known as the Birds Directive. In GB the designation is generally underpinned through the SSSI mechanism for terrestrial sites; the Government is proposing new provisions for marine SPAs.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

false

explanation

Data format

name of format

ESRI Shapefile

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Available under an Open Government Licence licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

no limitation

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Geographic Information Officer

organisation name

NatureScot

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

INVERNESS

IV3 8NW

United Kingdom

telephone number

01463 725000

facsimile number

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

web address

https://www.nature.scot

protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link

description:

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Geographic Information Officer

organisation name

NatureScot

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

INVERNESS

IV3 8NW

United Kingdom

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

web address

https://www.nature.scot

protocol:

description:

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2025-03-05T17:42:28.186Z

Metadata language

eng