AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Scotland's wildness - absence of modern artifacts

One of four component layer of the Scottish map of relative wildness. This layer shows the level of modern artefacts (detractors)that are visible. The dataset is on a scale of 1-256 indicating relative levels of visual influence. Consequently the data is best viewed at a national or regional scale. The methodology is adapted from the 2008 Wildness Study in the Cairngorms National Park. NextMap Digital Surface Model (DSM) gives the height of the surface including the detractors from which a viewshed can be produced. Viewsheds up to 15 km were created for 3 feature layers at 50m resolution, 1) Buildings and other structures, 2) Railway lines, roads and tracks and 3) Pylons and ski lifts. A fourth viewshed up to 30 km was created for wind turbines whose heights were added to a DTM. The resulting calculations were then re-scaled 1-256 to produce the map of lack of built human artefacts.

Tags: Countryside conservation, Elevation, Geology, Soil
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
CSGN - Habitat Networks and Opportunity Areas

These are a suite of datasets which make up the CSGN 2021 Habitat Connectivity Map. The map identifies areas of habitat (woodland, grassland, wetland and bog and heath) across central Scotland which should be protected and improved, as well as key sites for connecting these habitats so that species can move between them.

These data are intended to support planners, developers, land managers and communities identify where there are areas of neutral grassland and the dispersal zones will help identify where there are opportunities to improve habitat connectivity. These opportunities are highlighted on the Grassland Opportunity Areas dataset. The data will also support the Scottish Government’s commitments to protect and restore biodiversity and to develop nature-based solutions to the climate emergency.

The existing habitats shown on the Connectivity Map are limited to ‘natural’or ‘semi-natural’habitats. This means that they have not been significantly modified by humans; they have natural characteristics with a range of associated plant and animal species. Therefore, the existing habitats shown on the map do not include coniferous forest plantations or urban green spaces such as parkland. The map does not show acid or calcareous grassland habitats, nor does it show coastal, intertidal or marine habitats. Watercourses and open water are not included within the model, but can be identified from the base map or through other GIS layers used for analysis. Information on the current condition and future targets for rivers, lochs, coastal waters and groundwater can be found on the SEPA water environment hub. It is recommended that each habitat type is initially viewed alongside the other habitat layers, to ensure that the full range of habitats in an area are included in the decision-making process.

Tags: Downloadable Data, GB-SCT, Habitats and biotopes, bog, heathland
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Counil of the Isles of Scilly Brownfield Land Register

Under regulation 18(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017) the Government has introduced a requirement for all Local Authorities to prepare a Brownfield Land Register for their area and publish it by 31st December 2017. The Brownfield Register for the Isles of Scilly has now been published and can be viewed below.

Organization: Isles of Scilly
Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can be designated by Scottish Ministers under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The boundaries of the designated Nature Conservation MPAs provided in this dataset represent the final recommendations within both the 12 nautical mile Territorial Sea limit (on the basis of advice provided by NatureScot - the Scottish Government's adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland) and in the UK offshore waters adjacent to Scotland (on the basis of advice provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee- the statutory adviser to UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation). 

A suite of 30 Nature Conservation MPAs (MPAs) were designated by Scottish Ministers on the 24th July, 2014.

A further site West of Scotland MPA managed by JNCC was designated by ministers on 25th September 2020. 

Four additional Nature Conservation MPAs were designated by Scottish Ministers on the 3rd December 2020. 

Red Rocks and Longay (Urgent ncMPA) was designated by Scottish Ministers on the 10th March 2021 

The following URLs provide links to the consultation process websites: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/marine-protected-areas/scottish-marine-protected-area-advice, https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/nature-conservation-mpas/ and https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-environment/marine-protected-areas/.

Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Scotland's wildness - perceived naturalness

One of four component layer of the Scottish map of relative wildness. This layer shows perceived naturalness of the landscape. The dataset is on a scale of 1-256 indicating relative levels of naturalness. Consequently the data is best viewed at a national or regional scale. The methodology is adapted from the 2008 Wildness Study in the Cairngorms National Park (https://wildlandresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2018/10/Cairngorm2008.pdf). Each different land class is given a 'naturalness score' from 1 (low perceived naturalness) to 5 (high perceived naturalness).
For example built up areas and gardens are scored 1, arable and horticultural land are scored 2, calcareous grassland scored 3, acid grass scored 4 and bog scored 5. A focal statistics window of 250m is passed over the dataset averaging the naturalness values to account for surrounding areas.

Tags: Countryside conservation, Elevation, Geology, Habitats and biotopes, Land cover, Soil
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
HabMoS - NVC Survey Coverage - Non-overlapping

This dataset provides a non-overlapping polygon layer of the NVC survey coverage.
It covers the NVC habitat surveys currently in the Habitat Map of Scotland as of October 2023.
This dataset does not include the Saltmarsh survey 2013, Sand Dune Vegetation survey 2012 or Coastal Vegetated Shingle survey.

Tags: Habitats and biotopes
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
30 x 30 Dissolved Protected Areas

An update for 30x30 project in NatureScot. These data contain all terrestrial, protected area sites that contribute toward Scotland's commitment to protect or conserve 30% of land by 2030. This includes SSSIs, SACs, SPAs, Ramsars, and NNRs. The sites have been dissolved to create one continuous layer showing locations of any 30x30 protections on land. This data has been clipped to Boundary Line, and the data is dissolved to summarise what areas are protected under a designation which contributes to 30x30. 
This data differs to that which Scotland reports 30x30 progress to, which uses MLWS. 
Purely geological SSSIs were not included. 
The protected areas are up to date as of 31/05/2024.
OS Boundaryline product information : https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/documents/product-support/user-guide/boundary-line-product-information-v5.0.pdf

Tags: GB-SCT, Nature conservation, Protected sites; environment
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands

This dataset provides assessment of over 5600 watercourse along the west coast of Scotland for their nationally/internationally important water-loving oceanic bryophyte (moss and liverwort) communities. The approach is applied in line with Scottish Natural Heritage’s 'Planning for Development - Service Statement'. The aim of the database is therefore to help users take account of Europe's most important watercourses for these species before selecting sites for potential hydro development. Individual watercourses, or sites that contain multiple watercourses, have been assessed for either their known (categories A-C) or potential (categories D-E) importance.

The category descriptions provide clear guidance as to whether a watercourse is known to hold bryophytes or likely to be of low bryological importance, and whether further survey is recommended. This assessment only considers the impact of water abstraction on water-loving oceanic bryophytes and additional consideration should be given to direct impacts of construction on important bryophyte habitats (e.g. springs/flushes, ancient woodland, deadwood, bogs). 

The full methodology is described in SNH Commissioned Report 449b: Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands (2nd edition) - https://www.nature.scot/doc/naturescot-commissioned-report-449b-bryological-assessment-hydroelectric-schemes-west-highlands-2nd.

For more information visit https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-advice/renewable-energy/hydroelectric-power/hydroelectric-development-planning

Tags: Agricultural and aquaculture facilities, Energy resources, Habitats and biotopes, Species distribution, biosphere, organism, plant (biology), cryptogam, b
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Geological Conservation Review Sites (Scotland)

The Geological Conservation Review (GCR) is the register of known nationally and internationally important Earth science (geological and geomorphological) sites in Great Britain.

The GCR underpins designation of Earth science features in Sites of Special Scientific Interest  (SSSIs). The majority of GCR sites, therefore, now have statutory protection through designation as notified features in SSSIs. In these cases the GCR site boundary indicates the extent of the Earth science interest within the SSSI. Some GCR sites, however, remain unnotified and are known as unnotified GCR sites.

National Park Authorities and some Local Authorities treat these as candidate SSSIs and afford them the same protection as SSSIs. Some unnotified GCR sites are also Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS), and as such they are afforded levels of protection appropriate to locally important sites (though they are, themselves, considered to be of national or international importance).

The remaining unnotified GCR sites have no statutory protection, although they are considered to be sites of national or international importance.  Initially developed between 1977 and 1990, the GCR network is periodically updated and this dataset is subject to change. Boundaries of GCR sites are often not co-incident with SSSIs.

For more information visit https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/local-designations/geological-conservation-review-sites

Tags: Environmental protection, Geology, Protected sites, Soil
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
RDC - Woodland Creation Options

Woodland Creation formed part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2007 - 2013.  The SRDP is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, utilising European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funding plus Scottish Government match funding. The RDC-RP programme was designed to support rural Scotland between 2007 and 2013. Individuals and groups could seek funding to help deliver the Government's strategic objectives in rural Scotland.

Woodlands are a vital sustainable natural resource and funding was aimed to encourage the creation of new woodlands with grants that contributed to the cost of their establishment.

Within Rural Priorities there were eight woodland creation options.

Productive conifer woodland (low cost)
Productive conifer woodland (high cost)
Productive broadleaved woodland
Native Woodlands
Naturally regenerated native woodland
Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland
Northern & Western Isles Native Woodland
Central Scotland Mixed Woodland

The woodland creation polygons in this dataset represent the areas which were approved for new planting.  Data was captured by the woodland creation option type and by the year that planting was intended to take place (claim year).

A boundary which encompasses all the new planting options and claim years within a specific case is available in the Woodland Creation Boundary RDC dataset.



Dataset Attributes:

CASE_NO     :     SRDP RDC-RP Case Reference Number
CLAIM_YEAR     :     Year planting is due to take place and grant claimed
RPAC     :     Name of RPAC Region (Regional Proposal Assessment Committee)
ORGANISTN     :     Name of organisation responsible for administering the case
RDC_OPTION     :     RDC-RP Option Code and Description
TOTAL_AREA     :     Total area of the option approved within the case

Tags: Environment, Felling, Forest Management, Forestry, Grant Schemes, Land use, Landscape, Licence, Ownership, Planning, RDC, Woodland
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Biogenetic Reserve (Scotland)

Biogenetic reserves act as 'living laboratories' and are representative examples of various types of natural environment in Europe. They can consist of natural or semi-natural habitats and their selection is based on their value for nature conservation and protected status based on four criteria: 'typical', 'unique', 'rare' and/or 'endangered' which can be applied to habitats or species. The protected status must be adequate to ensure the conservation or management of the sites in the long term in accordance with fixed objectives.

For more information visit https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/international-designations/biogenetic-reserve

Tags: Habitats and biotopes, Nature conservation, Protected sites, genetic diversity
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
RDC - Woodland Creation Boundary

Woodland Creation formed part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2007 - 2013.  The SRDP is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, utilising European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funding plus Scottish Government match funding. The RDC-RP programme was designed to support rural Scotland between 2007 and 2013. Individuals and groups could seek funding to help deliver the Government's strategic objectives in rural Scotland.

Woodlands are a vital sustainable natural resource and funding aimed to encourage the creation of new woodlands with grants that will contribute to the cost of their establishment.

Within Rural Priorities there were eight woodland creation options.

Productive conifer woodland (low cost)
Productive conifer woodland (high cost)
Productive broadleaved woodland
Native Woodlands
Naturally regenerated native woodland
Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland
Northern & Western Isles Native Woodland
Central Scotland Mixed Woodland

The woodland creation boundary polygons in this dataset represent the total area covered by a single application and may encompass several different planting options and claim years.

More details on specific options within a case can be found in the Woodland Creation Options - RDC dataset.


Dataset Attributes:

CASE_NO     :     SRDP RDC-RP Case Reference Number
RPAC     :     Name of the RPAC Region (Regional Proposal Assessment Committee)
ORGANISTN     :     Name of organisation responsible for administrating the case
TOTAL_AREA     :     Total area approved for the case (hectares)

Tags: Environment, Felling, Forest Management, Forestry, Grant Schemes, Land use, Landscape, Licence, Ownership, Planning, RDC, Woodland
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Wind Farm Proposals Scotland

The windfarm footprint map is intended to provide an overview only and we endeavour to keep the map as up to date as possible. However, users should note:
•The map is updated regularly, but will never be 100% accurate.
•There are several 'gaps' on the map where SNH are seeking appropriate mapping of proposals to add to the map.
•The map should not be used to form the basis of detailed environmental assessment or regional planning work - it is an overview only.
•The map shows the approximate physical footprint of the wind farm and is usually based on the site boundary as shown on the Environmental Statement. Where we don't have site boundary, a turbine 'envelope' is used instead, using the outer turbine locations. This will often include site access tracks, but generally excludes grid connections.
•The map does not show the 'visibility' footprint of the windfarms, it shows the physical footprint only.
•It is acknowledged that the word 'footprint' could be misleading - it does not represent the physical footprint of the turbines (or their foundations) themselves - it shows the area of land occupied by the windfarm and is intended to illustrate the relative scale of windfarm proposals.
•The map only shows windfarms which are installed, consented, in planning or at scoping stage. It does not show proposals which are still confidential, or proposals which have been withdrawn or refused consent. 
•The map does not include small domestic wind turbines and generally only includes wind turbines of greater than 50m in height.
•The map only includes proposals on which SNH are consulted, some small wind clusters or community scale proposals, which have not been reviewed by SNH may not appear.

Note: this is not necessarily a comprehensive dataset of all wind farm schemes in the public domain and there may be some errors in the information supplied on this map. Windfarms which have been withdrawn from planning or refused consent do not appear on the map.

Tags: Energy, Energy resources, Environment, Natural risk zones, Planning Applications, Wind Power
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Scotland)

World Heritage Sites are designated to meet the UK's commitments under the World Heritage Convention. The UK's ratification also extends to its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. These sites are designated for their globally important cultural or natural interest and require appropriate management and protection measures. Natural properties may be terrestrial or marine areas.

More details: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/international-designations/world-heritage-site

Tags: Environmental protection, Protected sites
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Bare peat in Scotland from Sentinel 2

The dataset shows larger expanses of bare peat across Scotland from Sentinel 2 imagery taken in summer 2018. Resolution of 10m x 10m Sentinel 2 pixels. 
Produced by NatureScot Geographic Information Group Earth Observation team for the Peatland Action project to be used at a regional scale to identify those parts of Scotland with the most exposed peat.

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Standing Waters Sample Points

The Standing Waters Sample Points dataset is a GIS dataset of survey sample locations used during the course of the Scottish Loch Survey Project. The statutory nature conservation agencies in Scotland, England and Wales have a long history of carrying out routine aquatic plant (macrophyte) surveys of lakes. This involves identifying and estimating the abundance of emergent, submerged, floating leaved, and free-floating macrophytes that grow in or near the water. The results of these surveys are held in the Standing Waters Database which is available to view on the SNH website. (http://gateway.snh.gov.uk/pls/apex_cagdb2/f?p=111:1000:1289803086875801).

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Coilltean Caillte - Forgotten Woodlands of Scotland

The purpose of the dataset is to map - as far as possible - all Scottish place-names which in some way denote woodland coverage. Although all languages of Scotland are included, the onus is on the Gaelic language.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9b790daf22ba4e87836f467abb1c7e49

Tags: Geographical names, Habitats and biotopes, Protected sites
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Wild Land Areas 2014

The data contains boundaries of Wild Land Areas in Scotland as determined by their level of naturalness, remoteness, ruggedness and lack of built modern artefacts. Boundaries should be considered as ‘fuzzy’ rather than definitive to reflect the transitional nature of wild land. It is an update and replacement to the previously published Core Areas of Wild Land (CAWL) produced in 2013. Note that the areas have been renumbered sequentially and differ from those on the CAWL map.

More details:
https://www.nature.scot/doc/wild-land-areas-map-and-descriptions-2014
https://www.nature.scot/doc/assessing-impacts-wild-land-areas-technical-guidance

Tags: Land cover, Wildlife, landscape conservation, landscape management
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Country Parks (Scotland)

Parks are set up by Local Authorities to provide open-air recreation facilities close to towns and cities. All the parks have a rural character and are managed primarily for informal recreation. Some have nature reserve areas and most have a visitor centre and ranger service to encourage and facilitate visitor understanding. Country Park is not a statutory designation. Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 Section 48 gives local authorities power to assess and review the need for Country Parks in consultation with SNH.

Form more information visit https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/local-designations/country-parks

Tags: Protected sites, Recreation
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
Carbon and Peatland 2016 map

NatureScot has prepared a consolidated spatial dataset of ‘carbon rich soil, deep peat and priority peatland habitats’ in Scotland derived from existing soil and vegetation data (James Hutton Institute 1:25,000 and 1:250,000 scale soil data and Land Cover Scotland 1988). The resulting Carbon and Peatland map updated earlier work undertaken by NatureScot for the identification of natural heritage features of national importance available from Scotland’s soil website.
The map is a high-level planning tool to promote consistency and clarity in the preparation of spatial frameworks by planning authorities. The map is a predictive tool which provides an indication of the likely presence of peat on each individually-mapped area, at a coarse scale. The types of peat shown on the map are carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat.

Tags: Soil
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
John Muir Way

The John Muir Way (JMW) is a long distance coast to coast route launched in April 2014. It is a Central Scotland Green Network project developed by NatureScot in partnership with Local Authorities, landowners and other agencies such as Forestry Commission Scotland, Sportscotland, Sustrans, Scottish Canals and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

The JMW is 134 miles long and runs from Helensburgh in the west to Dunbar in the east. It is accessible to both walkers and cyclists with some sections also being suitable for horse riding. The John Muir Way has a dedicated website at https://www.johnmuirway.org.

NatureScot wishes to make accurate route information and data as accessible as possible to ensure that partners are using the most up to date information.

Tags: Human health and safety, Protected sites, Transport networks, hiking trails, recreation
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot
HabMoS - NVC Habitat Polygons - Non-overlapping - With Mosaics

This dataset provides a non-overlapping polygon layer containing multiple geometry for habitat mosaics. This is derived from the NVC conversion data currently in the Habitat map of Scotland as of October 2023.   This dataset does not include the Saltmarsh survey 2013, Sand Dune Vegetation survey 2012 or Coastal Vegetated Shingle survey.

Tags: Habitats and biotopes
Organization: Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot