Question reference: S6W-02677
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 3 September 2021
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Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review its policy on Ramsar sites, in light of reports that such sites receive a higher level of protection in the rest of the UK.
Answer
Ramsar sites are currently afforded a high level of protection in Scotland by virtue of their co-designation as Sites of Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation or Special Protection Area. We are committed to producing a new Biodiversity Strategy by autumn 2022. As part of the development of that strategy and the implementation of key commitments such as the protection of 30% of our land for nature by 2030, we will look at how best we can protect and restore nature in Scotland. This will include looking at the levels of protection given to our protected areas.