14-658: Caerlaverock is a national nature reserve (NNR) covering parts of the mudflats and shoreline of the Solway Firth about 10 km south of Dumfries , in Dumfries and Galloway , Scotland . It lies between the River Nith and the Lochar Water , and consists of a variety of wetland habitats including bare mud and sand, merse and marshes, and is fringed by neutral grassland on the landward side. A nature reserve
28-631: Is mainly due to Scotland's natural habitats being more intact than in the rest of the UK. Most NNRs in Scotland are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest . Many also form part of the Natura 2000 network, which covers Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation . Additionally, some of the NNRs are designated as Ramsar sites . National nature reserves were first created under
42-828: Is part of the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes, which is a Ramsar site and a European Union Special Protection Area for birdlife, and extends across the Solway to Cumbria. The NNR is also part of the Solway Firth Special Area of Conservation , and is partly within the Nith Estuary National Scenic Area . The NNR is classified as a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . There are other national nature reserves on
56-558: The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 . In 1996 the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage , Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH – since renamed NatureScot ), undertook a review of NNR policy that took account of the availability of other designations conferring legal protection, such as site of special scientific interest , special protection area and special area of conservation . It
70-572: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as containing habitats and species of national importance. National nature reserves can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but must be managed to conserve their important habitats and species, as well as providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and engage with nature. There are currently 43 NNRs in Scotland , which cover 154,250 hectares (1,542.5 km ), or less than 1.5% of
84-647: The NNR designation in Scotland has been through a partnership group, comprising representatives of existing reserve management organisations and community land groups, chaired by NatureScot. NatureScot remains responsible for the statutory declaration of national nature reserves. NatureScot is responsible for designating NNRs in Scotland and for overseeing the maintenance and management of each reserve. The majority of NNRs are directly managed by NatureScot; however, some are managed by, or in co-operation with other bodies. The NNR partnership consists of nine bodies: Details on
98-488: The land area of Scotland. They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate , which covers 29,324 ha. National nature reserve status is an accolade awarded to the best nature reserves in Scotland, and the selected sites provide examples of nationally or internationally important species and habitats. NNRs are intended to showcase Scotland's nature, and as well as being well managed for wildlife they must be managed to provide opportunities for
112-497: The major landowners. Management of the site seeks to balance the human activities (fishing, wildfowling and farming interests) with those of nature. Virtually the entire Svalbard population of barnacle goose (roughly 38,000 as of 2015) overwinters here. More than 140,000 wading birds, including pink-footed geese , teals , goldeneyes , dunlins , grey plovers and golden plovers have been recorded in winter. In addition, many thousands of birds stop while passing through. During
126-546: The other side of the Solway firth, in England. The reserve was formerly included among UNESCO 's Biosphere Reserves . The site was designated in the 1970s, but subsequently the focus of the UNESCO programme shifted from the idea of isolated natural environments to one that allows for the interaction with man in terms of sustainable living and education. After new criteria for biosphere reserves were agreed in 1995, Caelaverock
140-512: The public to visit and enjoy them. NNRs therefore generally have facilities such as visitor centres and trails to allow visitors to explore and understand the habitats or wildlife they contain. 19 of the reserves NNRs have IUCN Category II (national park) status, including, Glen Affric , Rùm , Abernethy Forest and the Great Trossachs Forest . There are no reserves with this status in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. This
154-429: The summer around 45-50 species of birds breed at Caerlaverock, including shelducks , common redshanks , curlews and oystercatchers . Caerlaverock is also home to the UK's most northerly population of natterjack toads , which live in shallow pools on the landward side of the reserve. SNH estimate that Caerlaverock (and the surrounding areas) may be home to up to 10% of the UK's breeding population. Carerlaverock NNR
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#1732780209086168-514: Was among four Scottish sites delisted. NatureScot have provided two carparks and several paths to allow visitors to access the reserve. The path network links to WWT Caerlaverock , a centre run by conservation charity Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust located next to the NNR, and to the neighbouring Historic Environment Scotland property of Caerlaverock Castle . National nature reserve (Scotland) The national nature reserves ( NNRs ) of Scotland are areas of land or water designated under
182-467: Was designated in 1957 at the instigation of the Duke of Norfolk . The NNR covers an area of 82 square kilometres (32 sq mi) and is an internationally important wintering site for waterfowl and wading birds. The NNR is now managed by NatureScot , but remains under private ownership, being managed by SNH under lease agreements. As much of the reserve is intertidal, Crown Estate Scotland are one of
196-601: Was determined that NNR should possess four attributes: Additionally, it was determined that NNRs should be managed for at least one of three purposes: Between 2000 and 2003 the existing NNRs were reviewed against these criteria. Prior to 2004 there were 73 national nature reserves in Scotland, however a number have since been de-designated. New NNRs have also been designated, such as the National Trust for Scotland 's Glen Coe and Mar Lodge properties, which were both designated NNRs in 2017. Since 2012 governance of
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