Many parts of Scotland legally protected for nature are in a worse condition than 15 years ago, a worrying new report revealed. Around 18 per cent of Scottish land currently has legal nature protections - but a study by Scottish Environment LINK found some of these measures are not working.
There are more than 1,800 sites in Scotland protected by law, such as designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and European conservation and protection sites. But the report found a fifth of features in these areas - including habitats and species - to be in an “unfavourable condition”.
And the number assessed as in good health has fallen since 2007 from 67.5 per cent to 65 per cent. It comes as one in nine species in Scotland are at risk of national extinction due to climate change and human activities.
