Areas designated for the protection of habitats and species

Many areas of the River Dee catchment are protected by national or international legislation due to the importance of special species and habitats.

These are areas designated for the protection of habitats or species. They comprise sites designated under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), which are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), which are known as Special Protected Areas (SPAs). SACs and SPAs are together known as Natura 2000 sites. The River Dee and its tributaries have been designated as an SAC because they support internationally important freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon and otter populations. The Glen Tanar and Loch of Skene SPAs are in the Dee catchment; the headwaters of the Dee are part of the Cairngorms SPA.

Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. There are two Ramsar Sites in the Dee catchment: the Loch of Skene and the Muir of Dinnet.

Most of the upper main river and tributaries are are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).