Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

1. Introductory Text

2. Part 1 Targets for improving biodiversity

   1. 1. Targets for improving biodiversity

   2. 2. Reports on compliance with biodiversity duty

3. Part 2 National parks

   1. Modification of aims and purposes of National Parks

      1. 3. Aims of National Parks

   2. Policy statement on National Parks

      1. 4. Policy statement on National Parks

   3. National Park proposals

      1. 5. Advice before making National Park proposals

   4. Reports on National Park proposals

      1. 6. Choice of reporter for National Park proposals

   5. Definitions for the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000

      1. 7. Definitions for the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000

   6. Duties in respect of National Parks

      1. 8. Duty to facilitate implementation of National Park Plans

   7. National Park authorities as local authorities for access rights

      1. 9. Meaning of local authority for the purpose of access rights

   8. Enforcement of National Park byelaws

      1. 10. Power to make regulations for the issuing of fixed penalty notices

4. Part 3 Deer management

   1. Aims and purposes of deer management

      1. 11. Aims and purposes of deer management

   2. Membership of advisory panels

      1. 12. Scottish Natural Heritage representation on advisory panels

   3. Code of practice on deer management

      1. 13. Code of practice on deer management

   4. Deer management plans, control agreements and control schemes

      1. 14. Grounds for intervention

      2. 15. Deer management plans

      3. 16. Control agreements

      4. 17. Right to request action where deer are not being managed

      5. 18. Control schemes

      6. 19. Recovery of costs and expenses

      7. 20. Limitation of criminal liability

   5. Preventing or stopping damage by deer

      1. 21. Measures to prevent damage by deer

      2. 22. Action to prevent or stop harm to persons

   6. National deer management and venison plan

      1. 23. National deer management and venison plan

      2. 24. National deer management and venison plan: matters which may be considered

      3. 25. National deer management and venison plan: initial consideration of matters relating to venison

   7. SNH investigatory powers

      1. 26. Power to enter on land

      2. 27. Power to require information and documents

      3. 28. Giving notices electronically

   8. Authorisations for particular activities

      1. 29. Authorisation for taking or killing deer during close seasons

      2. 30. Authorisation for taking or killing deer at night

      3. 31. Authorisation for use of vehicles to drive deer

      4. 32. Offence of shooting deer with a shotgun

      5. 33. Register of authorised persons

      6. 34. Repeal of obligation to carry out competence review

      7. 35. Requirement to be fit and competent for certain authorisations

      8. 36. Repeal of saving of right to take deer on land

      9. 37. Right of occupier or grazings committee to prevent damage by deer

   9. Stray farmed deer

      1. 38. Liability for taking or killing stray farmed deer

   10. Licensing of dealing in venison

       1. 39. Removal of requirements related to licensing to deal in venison

   11. Review of modifications

       1. 40. Review of modifications to the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996

5. Part 4 Miscellaneous and general

   1. Building regulations: swift nest box

      1. 41. Building regulations: swift nest box

   2. Marine protection

      1. 42. Nature conservation marine protected areas: climate adaptation

   3. Salmon and freshwater fishing

      1. 43. Modification of offences and penalties related to fishing

   4. Report on penalties in sea fisheries legislation

      1. 44. Report on penalties in sea fisheries legislation

   5. Gulls

      1. 45. Report on gull population

   6. Scallop shells

      1. 46. Guidance about scallop shells

   7. Wildlife licensing

      1. 47. Licensing: protection of mountain hares

      2. 48. Licensing: land on which certain birds may be killed or taken

   8. Wildfires

      1. 49. Wildfires: enabling local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices

   9. Meaning of public authority in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

      1. 50. Meaning of public authority etc. in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

   10. Ramsar sites

       1. 51. Further provision about Ramsar sites

   11. Forestry

       1. 52. Sustainable forest management

       2. 53. Forestry: offence of unauthorised felling

   12. Improvement plans under the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021

       1. 54. Procedure to approve improvement plans

   13. Muirburn

       1. 55. Muirburn licensing: making muirburn for purpose of approved training course

       2. 56. Muirburn licensing: grounds for grant of licence

   14. General

       1. 57. Regulations

       2. 58. Ancillary provision

       3. 59. Commencement

       4. 60. Short title