Mr Finnie talks of how to "minimise" redundancies

Staff at the organisation are concerned they could lose their jobs if they refuse to leave Edinburgh.

But SNH's board confirmed it will only move from the current headquarters if it is formally ordered to do so.

Following a meeting, board members also said they want the Scottish Executive to pay for the move, rather than have the cost - which they claim could be up to �30m - fall on their budget.

Earlier it emerged in a leaked letter that Environment Minister Ross Finnie had failed to rule out compulsory redundancies for staff.

The news came as a contradiction to an apparent pledge made by First Minister Jack McConnell during the election campaign.

About 270 SNH staff currently work from premises in Edinburgh.

'Last resort'

But the executive is keen for them to move as part of its policy of dispersing public sector jobs.

A spokesman for SNH said: "The board would like the move to be funded in whole by the executive, rather than money being taken from SNH's existing budgets.

"The board also agreed that they would seek a formal direction from ministers in order for the move to proceed."

A Scottish Executive spokesman said ministers are seeking "as flexible an approach as possible" for staff unable to move to Inverness.

The jobs will be transferred to Inverness

He added: "The executive has already made it clear that it will be prepared to contribute to the funding of the necessary extra costs of the move by way of an increase in grant-in-aid.

"On direction, ministers' wishes are clear - that SNH relocate its headquarters to Inverness.

"However, we are happy to look at options for communicating ministers' wishes more directly, if that is required to move things along."

A staff survey has suggested 90% of employees are unwilling to relocate.