Priority habitats as qualifying interests of SACs in Scotland

PRIORITY HABITATS IN SCOTLAND

Article 1 of the Habitats Directive sets out the purpose of the Directive. It identifies priority natural habitat types as those "in danger of disappearance ...and for the conservation of which the Community has particular responsibility" (Article 1(d) of the Directive). Priority species are also defined as endangered species for the conservation of which the Community has particular responsibility (Article 1(h) of the Directive). Following EU exit the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 continue to use these Articles as the reference for priority habitats and species.

It should be noted that there are no priority species in any SAC in Scotland; species such as otter, wild cat, and bottlenose dolphin are all non-priority. No bird species, including those listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive, has priority status in the context of the Habitats Directive and so Habitats Regulations.

It is worth noting other committees/frameworks use the term ‘priority’ when referring to species or habitats but these are not priority habitats or species within the meaning of the Habitats Directive or the Habitats Regulations.

For a plan or project where it cannot be ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of a European site, Article 6.4 of the Habitats Directive and regulation 49 of the Habitats Regulations set out the circumstances whereby the proposal may be carried out, in the absence of alternative solutions, and for imperative reasons of overriding public interest.

Where a priority habitat or species is affected, the only such reasons that may be considered relate to human health or public safety; beneficial consequences to the environment; or other imperative reasons agreed with Scottish Ministers and the JNCC.

The priority habitats which are qualifying interests on sites in Scotland are:

• Active blanket bogs

• Active raised bogs

• Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Pandion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)

• Alpine pioneer formations of Caricion bicoloris-atrofuscae

• Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea)

• Bog woodland

• Caledonian forest

• Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.

• Coastal lagoons

• Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum

• Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)

• Limestone pavements

• Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)

• Species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain areas

• Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines

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