The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2012

Duties relating to compliance with the Directives3

1

The Scottish Ministers, the appropriate nature conservation body6 and, in relation to the Scottish marine area, a competent authority must exercise their functions which are relevant to nature conservation, including marine conservation, so as to secure compliance with the requirements of the Directives.

2

Paragraph (1) applies in particular to functions under the following enactments:—

• the Dockyard Ports Regulation Act 18657;

• the Hill Farming Act 19468;

• Part III of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 19499;

• the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 195810;

• the Harbours Act 196411;

• the Forestry Act 196712;

• section 49A of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 196713 (management agreements);

• section 15 of the Countryside Act 196814 (areas of special scientific interest);

• Part II of the Control of Pollution Act 197415 (pollution of water);

• Part I and section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 198116;

• sections 120 to 122 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (control of the seashore, adjacent waters and inland waters)17;

• sections 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 199118;

• the Sea Fisheries Acts within the meaning of section 1 of the Sea Fisheries (Wildlife Conservation) Act 199219 (conservation in the exercise of sea fisheries functions);

• the Environment Act 199520;

• the Deer (Scotland) Act 199621;

• the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 199722;

• the National Parks (Scotland) Act 200023;

• Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 200324 (access rights);

• Part 1 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 200325 (protection of the water environment);

• Part 2 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 200426 (conservation and enhancement of natural features);

• the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 200627;

• the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 200928;

• the Marine (Scotland) Act 201029;

• the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 201130; and

• these Regulations.

3

Without prejudice to the preceding provisions, a competent authority, in exercising their functions, must have regard to the requirements of the Directives so far as they may be affected by the exercise of those functions.

Duties in relation to wild bird habitat3A

1

Without prejudice to regulation 3(1), the Scottish Ministers, the appropriate nature conservation body and, in relation to the Scottish marine area, a competent authority must take such steps in the exercise of their functions as they consider appropriate to secure the objective in paragraph (3), so far as lies within their powers.

2

Except in relation to the Scottish marine area, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Forestry Commissioners31, local authorities and National Park authorities32 must take such steps in the exercise of their functions as they consider appropriate to contribute to the achievement of the objective in paragraph (3).

3

The objective is the preservation, maintenance and re-establishment of a sufficient diversity and area of habitat for wild birds in Scotland in implementation of Article 3 of the Wild Birds Directive (including by means of the upkeep, management and creation of such habitat, as appropriate), having regard to the requirements of Article 2 of that Directive.

4

Paragraphs (1) and (2) apply in particular to functions under the following enactments:—

• sections 23 and 25 of the Hill Farming Act 194633;

• sections 16 to 18, 20 and 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 194934 (agreements for management of nature reserves, powers of compulsory acquisition of land for nature reserves, and powers to make byelaws for the protection of nature reserves);

• section 49A of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 (management agreements);

• sections 3, 7, 8A, 9, 10, 17A, 39, 40 and 46 of the Forestry Act 196735;

• section 15 of the Countryside Act 1968 (areas of special scientific interest);

• sections 14D to 14P of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 198136 (species control orders);

• sections 7, 8 and 10 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 199637;

• section 1 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000;

• section 22 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003;

• Part 2 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (conservation and enhancement of natural features);

• the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010;

• the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011; and

• any function exercisable in relation to town and country planning38.

5

In section 79(3)(a) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (creation of network of conservation sites), the reference to “the conservation or improvement of the marine environment” includes the objective in paragraph (3), and accordingly the duty in section 103 (reports to Parliament) of that Act applies in relation to that objective.

6

In considering which measures may be appropriate for the purpose of securing or contributing to the objective in paragraph (3), regard may be had to economic and recreational requirements.

7

The Scottish Ministers must take any measures they consider necessary to facilitate or co-ordinate arrangements to secure the taking of steps under paragraphs (1) and (2) by the persons mentioned in those paragraphs.

8

So far as lies within its powers, a competent authority must use all reasonable endeavours to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats of wild birds in Scotland.

Review and guidance3B

1

The appropriate nature conservation body must from time to time—

a

review the extent to which the objective in regulation 3A(3) has been met, other than in relation to the Scottish marine area;

b

set out the conclusions of the review in a report, including any recommendations for further action; and

c

send the report to the Scottish Ministers.

2

In carrying out the review, the appropriate nature conservation body must, so far as is reasonable, take account of any measures taken which contribute to the achievement of that objective, whether or not taken pursuant to a requirement imposed by any enactment.

3

After consultation with the appropriate nature conservation body, the Scottish Ministers must give guidance to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Forestry Commissioners, local authorities and National Park authorities—

a

to facilitate the determination by those bodies of the extent to which the diversity and area of wild bird habitat is sufficient; and

b

on the steps that it may be appropriate to take pursuant to regulation 3A(1) or (2).

4

In exercising a function to which regulation 3A(1) or (2) applies, a body to which guidance has been given under paragraph (3) of this regulation must have regard to that guidance.

Research111

1

The Scottish Ministers must take such steps to encourage research and scientific work as they consider necessary—

a

having regard to the objectives in Article 2, and the obligation in Article 11, of the Habitats Directive; and

b

for the purpose of the protection or management, and in relation to the use, of any population of wild bird.

2

The Scottish Ministers must supply such information as they consider appropriate to the European Commission and, in the case of information supplied for the purposes of the Habitats Directive, to member States, to further the proper co-ordination of research carried out by member States or by the European Commission for the purposes of the Directives.

3

In deciding what steps to take under paragraph (1), the Scottish Ministers must have particular regard to the need for research and scientific work—

a

on the subjects listed in Annex V to the Wild Birds Directive; or

b

which may be required to implement Articles 4 and 10 of the Habitats Directive.

2A

In subsection (2)(b) the reference to preserving flora or fauna includes enabling or facilitating its recovery or increase.