Reserves have an increasingly important role in wildlife conservation, both to provide safe havens for endangered wildlife and to act as showcases for sustainable management techniques. The Scottish Wildlife Trust owns or manages nine reserves within Dumfries and Galloway. These range in size from 6 to 90 hectares, but each is equally important, either as one of the last areas of a particular habitat in the region, as a haven for rare and endangered species, or simply for its recreational value to the local community.

For further details of SWT's reserves in Dumfries and Galloway use the map and links below. Each description is proceeded by the reserves number and name, details of its conservation status, any access conditions, site facilities present and its map reference (prefixed by the O.S. 1:50,000 sheet number). The leaflets produced for certain reserves are available from SWT and local tourist offices.

The only site with an access condition is Dowalton Marshes, SWT only owns part of the site and does not have right of access. Anyone wishing to visit this site should first contact the Regional Reserves Manager at; SWT Dumfries, Mabie Steading, Mabie Forest, Dumfries.