Natural Heritage Designations in Fife
There are a large number of different natural heritage designations throughout Fife; over one hundred and fifty individual sites, which cover almost 65,000 ha, representing eleven separate designations. Some of these designations afford legal protection on the sites and the wildlife they contain. Details of what these designations are and information about individual sites is valuable for all those with an interest in conservation and land development.
Designations in Fife fall into these categories:
International Designations: Ramsar Sites, Special Protection Areas (SPA), and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
National Designations: National Nature Reserves (NNR) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Local Designations: Local Nature Reserves (LNR), Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS), Wildlife Sites and Reserves, Country and Regional Parks.
Fife Nature has published a comprehensive guide to natural heritage designations in Fife. This publication is available in hardcopy format on request. Alternatively relevant sections of the publication can be provided electronically e.g. Local Nature Reserves Introduction (attached to this page). The publication includes summary details for all Fife's sites as well as explaining the purpose of the designation systems. A simple list of all Fife's sites is also attached to this page.
Click here to view the list of sites within Fife.
Click here to find out more about Local Nature Reserves.
Click here to view a summary of Fife's Local Nature Reserves.