Protecting wildlife sites

Protecting sites in Scotland
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Protecting sites in Scotland

Adult Slavonian grebe in summer plumage

The RSPB makes the case for birds in Scotland by commenting on about 270 development and land use proposals each year that could affect important places for birds.

We negotiate changes where we can, as co-operation is better than conflict. With developers and decision-makers we put back lost habitats, creating places for wildlife and for people to enjoy. But if we have no choice, we will stand firm and oppose damaging schemes.

Important cases

At present, the RSPB is involved in a number of major cases that affect important wildlife sites in Scotland and raise important issues about how these precious places are protected. Use the links below to see some examples of our casework.

Responsible renewables in Scotland

RSPB Scotland is working with developers to ensure that renewable energy is delivered sustainably and is sited in such a way that it does not significantly impact upon Scotland’s birds and other wildlife. More...

Adult male hen harrier perched on heather, RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, Islay

Help oppose the proposed Hunterston coal-fired power station

RSPB Scotland is extremely worried about the proposed coal-fired power station at Hunterston in North Ayrshire and the permanent damage it would cause to a fragile habitat, as well as the wider implications of increasing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. More...

Mudflat with birdfootprints across it, Malden, Essex

Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm

A proposal has been put forward to install 23 turbines in a grid formation 1 km offshore at the south end of Aberdeen Bay, an area very rich in birds. More...

Adult red-throated diver

Beauly to Denny, Highland

An application to upgrade overhead transmission line linking the Highlands with the Central Belt of Scotland would result in the loss of 6.5 hectares of raised bog. More...

Beinn Mhor Power wind farm (Muaitheabhal), Eisgein Estate, Isle of Lewis

RSPB Scotland has objected to a wind farm proposal at Muaitheabhal on the Eisgein estate on the grounds of impacts on golden eagle. More...

Golden eagle adult in flight, Scotland

Ben Aketil/Edinbane wind farms, Isle of Skye

The Highland Council, despite RSPB objections based on predicted high risk of collisions by golden eagles, has now approved two wind farms on the Isle of Skye. More...

Close up view of frozen wind turbine blades, Burnley

Black Law Wind Farm, South Lanarkshire

An application to construct 42 turbines has enabled the largest heathland restoration project in the region. More...

Wind turbines at Royd Moor, West Yorkshire

Firth of Forth ship-to-ship oil transfers

Proposals to transfer large volumes of oil between ships at anchor in the Firth of Forth will significantly increase the risk of oil spills harming seabirds and seaducks. More...

Gannets displaying at nest

Forth Crossing at Queensferry (Fife, City of Edinburgh)

Proposals for an additional crossing of the Firth of Forth near South Queensferry concern the RSPB because they are unsustainable and have potential impacts on biodiversity. More...

Common tern in flight

Granton Waterfront Central Development Area/North Shore Master Plan, Edinburgh

This mixed-use development will result in the loss of intertidal and subtidal habitat will have an adverse impact on an internationally important site. More...

Breeding-plumaged Slavonian grebe

Gruf Hill, Orkney

Following the inquiry, Scottish Ministers made a decision to refuse this planning application for 3 wind turbines that would have resulted in habitat loss for foraging hen harriers and short-eared owls. More...

Female hen harrier flying low over heather

Highland Council Renewable Energy Strategy

Due to the lack of strategic direction from the Scottish Executive, Highland Region, in common with many parts of the uplands, has seen a recent large-scale upsurge in wind farm applications. More...

Heather and scots pine

Kirkcaldy Esplanade, Fife

The application to extend Kirkcaldy’s shopping area was refused due to the scheme’s environmental impacts . More...

Flock of knots

Largie Wind Farm, Argyll & Bute

An application relating to a potential wind farm that has involved the RSPB in discussions since 1994 has now been refused. More...

Adult male Greenland white-fronted goose at the RSPB Loch Gruinart nature reserve

Menie Estate Golf Development

In November 2006, Trump International Golf Links Scotland (TIGLS) submitted a planning application for a golf course and resort development at Menie Estate, just north of Aberdeen. In addition to two golf courses with associated structures, TIGLS sought permission for a large hotel, 500 houses and 1,000 holiday homes More...

Menie Estate Foveran Links SSSI

Save the Lewis Peatlands

One of the most important and special areas for wildlife in Scotland and Europe is under threat from a proposed 181-turbine wind farm. Help us save the Lewis peatlands. More...

Dunlin walking in rough grass

Lingerbay Superquarry, Western Isles

This is one of the longest running cases in Scottish planning history. The original superquarry planning application, in an isolated area of Southern Harris in the Western Isles, prompted numerous objections. More...

Adult golden eagle at eyrie

Little Raith Wind Farm, Fife

A 9-turbine wind farm at Little Raith in Fife raises issues over collision risk for wintering population of pink-footed geese. More...

Pair of adult pink-footed geese feeding on remains of sugarbeet crop

Musselburgh Lagoons, East Lothian

An £11 million plan to develop and extend the racecourse at Musselburgh had the potential to impact upon the birds of the adjacent lagoons and wader scrapes, part of the Firth of Forth SPA/SSSI and Ramsar site. More...

Adult Slavonian grebe in summer plumage

Pairc wind farm, Isle of Lewis

This application by Scottish and Southern could have a significant impact on many rare bird species including: white-tailed eagles, black-throated divers, red-throated divers, greenshanks, golden plovers and dunlins. More...

Golden plover in breeding plumage

Penbreck and Carmacoup, South Lanarkshire

An application for 18 wind turbines in the North Lowther and Muirkirk Uplands Special Protection Area in East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire has been refused by ministers following RSPB Scotland’s concerns about the proposal. More...

Golden plover in summer plumage

Phoenix Park, Renfrewshire

RSPB Scotland has serious concerns about the impact a proposed mixed-use development development would have on the Black Cart Special Protection Area, designated for its over-wintering whooper swan population. More...

Whooper swan swimming, head-on

Powharnal Coal Mine, East Ayrshire

In October 1999, Scottish Coal submitted an application to extract coal by opencast method from Powharnal in the Muirkirk Valley in Ayrshire. A package of land management measures to mitigate its impacts have made this development acceptable. More...

Male hen harrier in flight, with prey

Robin Rigg Wind Farm, Solway Firth

The Scottish Executive gave consent in 2004 to this 60-turbine wind farm. A program of monitoring will show if all of its impacts have been correctly predicted More...

Close up of wind turbine

Shieldaig Hydro Electric Scheme, Wester Ross

A 2.1MW hydro electric scheme at Shieldaig Forest, Wester Ross has been refused as it could have an adverse impact on three pairs of breeding black-throated divers. More...

Black-throated diver nesting on artificial island

Viking Energy proposed windfarm, Shetland

The proposed Viking windfarm on Shetland is a partnership project between Scottish & Southern Electricity (SSE) and Shetland Islands Council. It consists of 150 3.6 MW turbines and 73 miles (117 km) of tracks and would have an installed capacity of 540 MW, within an area 10 km x 20 km in north Mainland. More...

Golden plover in breeding plumage

Waterhead Moor Wind Farm, North Ayrshire

A wind farm application could affect an area in North Ayrshire containing internationally important numbers of rare birds. More...

Adult female hen harrier in flight