Dataset description:
Local nature conservation sites (LNCS) is a non-statutory designation given by local authorities to areas of locally important nature and landscapes. NatureScot, on behalf of the Local Nature Conservation Sites Working Group, published guidance (https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/local-designations/local-nature-conservation-sites) 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. However, many councils still use alternative names for these sites such as Local Biodiversity Sites, Local Wildlife Sites, Local Geodiversity Sites and Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation. We have merged these all into this national dataset.
Four LAs are still to confirm and digitise their LNCSs.
Source: Local Nature Conservation Sites - Scotland
| Attribute Info | Description | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| site_ref | ID for site as defined by LA | Can be text, number or both currently. No standards seem to exist for this as yet |
| site_name | The name of the site as defined by each LA | Text name with capitals for first letter (max 100 characters) without area descriptor |
| date_designated | Date on which the site was designated as being active | In format:yyyy-mm-dd |
| type | Type of LNCS site | Biodiversity, Geodiversity, Wildlife Site, Geodiversity/ Wildlife Site, Biodiversity/ Geodiversity |
| habitat | Type of habitat found on the site | Text description |
| notes | A descriptive field containing any specific instructions for this feature | Text description |
| policy_ref | A policy reference identifier associaetd with this feature | Alphanumeric |
| url | A website at which further information can be found | Must be resolvable |
| local_authority | The LA/NP that supplied the data. | Should use the exact name as it appears in the local authority sct register. |
| la_s_code | 9-digit alpha/numeric unique ID, beginning with S (for Scotland), for the geographical area of each LA/NP. | Alphanumeric Text String. Auto-generated by Spatial Hub using current list from: https://statistics.gov.scot/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fdata%2Fstandard-geography-code-register |
| sh_date_uploaded | Date on which the data was provided to the Spatial Hub. | Date. Auto-generated by Spatial Hub upon dataset registration. In format:yyyy-mm-dd |
| sh_src | Unique reference assigned to the LA/NP upload file. Used for reporting any issues back to LA. | Text String. Auto-generated by Spatial Hub upon dataset registration. |
| sh_src_id | ID for each record per Spatial Hub upload. Used for reporting any issues back to LA/NP. | Integer. Auto-generated by Spatial Hub upon dataset registration. |