Description: These are the Core paths within Renfrewshire. This dataset is a statuatory requirement which requires that Core Paths - ie important paths be identified and assessed. This went to the board for approval at the end of Feb 2008 , was approved & submitted to Scot Govt. The paths are now going out for Consultation on 7/04/2008 Paths originally taken from CAMS system and smaller sections of Paths merged together to give complete path lengths - new reference number also given to each path. Consultaion finished & revisions made, this was passed to Board for finalisation Feb 2009.
Description: This dataset contains information gathered by
remote means using 1970s sources (maps, aerial
photos) about the woodland cover present on
Ancient & Long-Established Woodland Inventory
sites. It does not contain information about
woods not on the Inventory. More accurate and
complete information about the current (1988)
woodland cover of all Scottish woods, ancient or
otherwise, may be derived from the Caledonian
Partnership's Millennium Guide to Scotland's
Forest Resource
All woodland within 1km buffer of Renfrewshire Council is included in the dataset.
Description: In response to a 1980 select committee which recommended that ancient woods should be recognised and treated as a separate category, the NCCs compiled the Inventories of Ancient, Long-established and Semi-natural woodlands. A more sophisticated classification was developed for woodlands in Scotland due to the nature of the available historical sources. IMPORTANT. For Scottish woods, the category Ancient' comprises woods recorded as being of semi-natural origin on EITHER the 1750 Roy maps OR the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey maps of 1860. This is due a) to the likelihood of the latter having been omitted from the Roy maps and b) to render the Scottish classification compatible with that for England and Wales.
Feature class holds All Ancient Woodlands on the SNH register within 1Km of the Council boundary.
Description: Boundaries of Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). Areas that require protection because of their special natural interest and/or educational value. Updated Dec 2007. Previous version can be found within the PT_Manager.Archived dataset
Description: The SSSI series has been developed over the last 50 years as a series of sites providing statutory protection for the best examples of the UK's flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. These sites are also used to underpin international nature conservation designations. Most SSSIs are privately owned or managed; others are owned or managed by public bodies or non-government organisations. The SSSI designation may extend into intertidal areas out to the jurisdictional limit of local authorities - that is the Mean Low Water of Spring tides in Scotland. There is no provision for marine SSSIs beyond low water mark.
SSSIs were first designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The majority of these were later re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. All 1981 Act SSSI designations are carried forward, and all new SSSI designations are now made, under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
Boundaries of Sites of Special Interest (SSSIs) - areas which require special protection because of their unique fauna, flora, geological or topographical features.
The 2004 Act strengthens the protection of sites and gives legal backing to the increased involvement of land owners and managers and local communities. SNH must notify SSSI owners and occupiers of why the land is of special scientific interest. The notification packages include a description of why the land is an SSSI, listing its protected natural features, a list of operations likely to damage the natural features and requiring prior consent from SNH (exceptions apply) and a boundary map. Before carrying out any listed operation requiring consent an owner or occupier other than a public body must give written notice to Scottish Natural Heritage and can only proceed if: SNH consents in writing, permissions granted by a designated regulatory authority in compliance with section 15 of the 2004 Act; the operation is undertaken in accordance with a management agreement with SNH, a land management order or a restoration order or in an emergency and SNH was notified as soon as practicable after the need for the operation was realised.
Prior to carrying out any operation on or affecting an SSSI, public bodies must consult SNH. If the operation os likely to damage natural features of an SSSI, whether or not it is on an SSSI or on the relevant list of operations requiring consent, it must apply for prior consent from SNH. A public body may proceed without consent, as for other owners and occupiers (above) or in compliance with the requirements of section 14 of the 2004 Act.
The Act also makes it an offence for anyone to intentionally or recklessly damage any natural feature of a SSSI.
Designating Authority
SNH
Legislative Context
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (section 3). Previously the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 28 (as amended) and the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, Section 23 (which still applies to a few sites).
Supplied under licence from SNH for Council use only. This dataset may not be transmitted on in any form whatsoever.
Description: 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 and together with SACs, form the Natura 2000 network.
Proposed Special Protection Areas (pSPA) may be subject to change prior to classification.