Protection for golden eagles in Scotland could be increased under proposals announced yesterday.
More than 864,850 acres of north and west Scotland have been earmarked as potential Special Protection Areas (SPA) for the species.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will begin a three-month consultation on the proposals in the new year.
The golden eagle prefers the wild countryside of peatlands, uplands and mountains, but is threatened by habitat change and inappropriate development.
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said it was important to try and safeguard the bird’s future.
She said: “Scotland is an internationally important stronghold for this species. But their future is finely balanced due to their need for large, undisturbed spaces in which to live.
“While we have a duty to protect our biodiversity for future generations, this should not automatically mean that leisure and economic activity cannot take place in our countryside. We must find a balance between access, conservation and development to ensure that all sectors can benefit from and enjoy the countryside.”
There are currently eight SPAs for golden eagles in northern and western Scotland.
The proposed new ones would be from Glen Affric to Strathconon in the central Highlands, the Cairngorms , Foinaven at Durness, and Moidart and Ardgour, near Fort William. The fifth would be from Glen Etive, near Bridge of Orchy, to Glen Fyne, near Arrochar, and the sixth would be Jura, Scarba and the Garvellachs, off the west coast.
SNH has been asked to carry out the consultation by the Scottish Government.
But there are fears that the new SPA could rule out large areas of north and west Scotland for windfarms.
The developers behind Stacain windfarm, near Inveraray in Argyll, wanted Ms Cunningham to delay making the announcement because the move would mean that the Glen Fyne and Glen Etive area, within which the proposed windfarm lies, will be afforded the same protection as a full SPA.
Developers Wind Prospect and Ridgewind are concerned no prior consultation has been made with landowners, industry or the public.
Stacain windfarm received planning permission from Argyll and Bute Council in December 2007, but the decision was called in by ministers. The Scottish Government found the windfarm would not cause “unacceptable harm” to the eagle population, but rejected it as the site could be designated as an SPA in the future. An appeal by the developers is before the Court of Session.