Regulator profile
NatureScot
Enforcement Regulator3 areas of regulation · 325 official guidance documents · 13 laws enforced · Scotland
What NatureScot does
Scotland's nature agency. Advises government, manages protected areas, licenses activities affecting wildlife. Formerly Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Additional information
Scottish equivalent of Natural England. Manages NNRs and SSSIs in Scotland.
Contact NatureScot
Types of regulation
Nature Conservation
Protected Areas
Wildlife Licensing
Official guidance from NatureScot
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
-
Bats and licensing | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Beavers and Licensing | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
European protected species licensing | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Protected species: badgers | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Dolphins, whales and porpoises and licensing | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Land management order | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Managers of conservation land and greenspace: relevant policy | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
-
Muirburn licensing | NatureScot
Detailed Guidance Scotland
Legal framework
Legislation that NatureScot directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Act 1981
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Act 1992
- Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 Act 1996
- Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 - Scottish access rights Act 2003
- Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 Act 2004
- Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 Act 2010
- WNESA 2011 Act 2011
- WMMSA 2024 Act 2024
Secondary legislation
- Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument 1994
- Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2007
- The Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 9) (Scotland) Order 2012 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2012
- Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 UK Statutory Instrument 2019
Related legislation
Legislation connected to NatureScot's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Establishing / enabling
-
Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991
UK Act of Parliament 1991 -
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
UK Act of Parliament 2010
Referenced in enforcement
-
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
UK Act of Parliament 1997 -
National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000
UK Act of Parliament 2000 -
Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005
UK Act of Parliament 2005 -
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
UK Act of Parliament 2006 -
Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010
Scottish Statutory Instrument 2010 -
Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017
Scottish Statutory Instrument 2017 -
Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018
UK Act of Parliament 2018 -
Environment Act 2021 (enhancement)
UK Act of Parliament 2021
Sectors regulated
Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and pets
Coverage area
Scotland