This layer shows the distribution of Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHN) issued in Scotland by Scottish Forestry. A Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) is a legal Notice requiring landowners to take certain steps to prevent the establishment or spread of a controlled plant pest. Each SPHN states what the landowner must do, where they must do it, and within what time frame. Find out more about SPHNs on our webpage 'Legislation for tree health', linked below.
The layer includes SPHNs issued for any regulated pest or disease. At present, in Scotland, the majority of SPHNs are issued to limit the spread of the regulated non-quarantine pest Phytophthora ramorum. Our approach to managing the disease, including our Action Plan, is described on our website 'Ramorum disease', linked below.
Each SPHN is displayed as a polygon defining the furthest extent to which any SPHN condition applies. Note that some conditions may apply to a smaller target area within that boundary.
Dataset Attributes:
SPHN Reference: A unique reference number given to each SPHN
SPHN Status: Currently recorded SPHN status. Issued: Conservancy have issued the SPHN meaning it is active. Withdrawn: an SPHN was issued but then withdrawn and no conditions now apply, for example in response to legislative change. Closed: the SPHN is no longer active.
Pest or Disease: Species of tree pest or disease the SPHN was issued to control.
Primary Host Species: Primary host species found infected by the pest or disease within the SPHN.
Primary Host Area (ha): Area (in hectares) of the primary host species included within the SPHN.
Year Issued: Year the SPHN was issued in.
Conservancy: Scottish Forestry Conservancy that issued the SPHN.
FLS Land: SPHN is located on land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland.
P. ramorum Policy Zone: This field only applies to SPHNs issued under our current Action Plan for Phytophthora ramorum. There are two policy Zones for Priority Action or Risk Reduction. Zones were introduced in 2021 and the boundaries are available on the Scottish Forestry Open Data site, called 'Phytophthora ramorum SF Policy Zones'.
P . ramorum Management Zone: This field only applies to SPHNs issued for Phytophthora ramorum. The Yes or No value describes if the SPHN lies within the Phytophthora ramorum Management Zone, created in 2014. The Zone boundary is available on the Scottish Forestry Open Data site, called 'Phytophthora ramorum Management Zone'.
Total SPHN Area (ha): Total area of the SPHN in hectares.