Local nature conservation sites

What are they?

Local nature conservation sites (LNCS) is a non-statutory designation given by local authorities to areas of locally important nature and landscapes.

Scottish Natural Heritage, on behalf of the Local Nature Conservation Sites Working Group, published guidance for local authorities on the establishment and management of LNCS systems in Scotland. One of the LNCS working group's recommendations was that all local authorities should adopt the LNCS name in place of the many different local names.  Here, LNCS includes also regionally important geological sites  (RIGS) and listed wildlife sites (LWS).

Where are they?

LNCS are found in every local authority area.  You should find them shown on maps in local planning documents prepared by the relevant local planning authority.

How are they selected and designated?

Many LNCS are identified and proposed by local conservation organisations such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust  and regionally important geological sites (RIGS) groups  , following surveys of local authority areas. Local authorities assess proposed sites and decide whether to adopt them as LNCS in their planning documents.

How are they protected and managed?

The main purpose of LNCS is to flag-up to planners and developers where there are natural feature of some merit.  In this way it gives planners and developers early indication of sensitive sites and opportunities for enhancing the local environment.

Having been identified in a planning document, they may then be subject to particular local planning policies which help to protect them from inappropriate development.  The land-owner or manager's day-to-day management of the land is unaffected by listing as an LNCS.