Launching the Bill, Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"This Bill is fundamentally about improved protection for Scotland’s natural environment. It will deliver new safeguards for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and for vulnerable species. Scotland’s most special natural heritage sites deserve – and will get – enhanced protection.

We have already introduced legislation to protect Scotland’s wildlife from the activity of criminals and we intend to do more. We will be consulting on a detailed list of further wildlife crime measures for inclusion in the draft Bill."

The 3 month consultation will run until 6th June, and we will post our response here in due course.

The consultation documents can be downloaded from the Scottish Executive website.

• Part 1 contains the draft bill and the wildlife crime policy statement.
  www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/environment/lnsp1.pdf

• Part 2 contains draft Financial Guidelines (relating to management agreements covering SSSIs) and a Regulatory Impact Assessment.
  www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/environment/lnsp2.pdf

An additional consultation paper, covering technical amendments to the existing Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, is available at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/environment/tacnh-00.asp

The Executive announcement of the consultation in full.