| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Upland -
Montane (habitats above the treeline) |
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OPPORTUNITIES AND CURRENT ACTION
Neighbouring Local Habitat Action Plans About half of montane Tayside is also
included within the Cairngorms Partnership area. The Cairngorms Partnership have
produced a Strategy for The High Hills (included in their Work Plan 1999-2001) ‘Biodiversity
of the Cairngorms– An Assessment of Priority Habitats and
Species’ and a Montane Action Plan. The Tayside Biodiversity Partnership
will work in conjunction with the Cairngorms Partnership to raise awareness of
major issues affecting the montane habitat. The following key Biodiversity Action
Plan issues were identified:
Lack of data/important information;
Awareness raising;
Access to appropriate policy and funding sources;
Direct habitat loss and fragmentation;
Inappropriate management;
Climate change and pollution;
Non-native/alien animal and plant species.
The four main objectives are:
Quantify the distribution, area and ecological status/importance of montane
habitats in the Cairngorms;
Ensure no net loss in the overall area of montane habitats in the Cairngorms;
Ensure good ecological status/quality of key montane habitats in the Cairngorms;
Ensure no net loss in the key biodiversity associated with Cairngorms montane
habitats. |
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There are
also a number of other Tayside Habitat Action Plans with links
to this one. Reference should be made in particular to the
Upland Heath Action Plan which has many interests in common
and the Calcareous Grassland Action Plan which includes two
particularly relevant proposed actions:
To achieve the UK HAP target of favourable condition for at least 75% of calcareous
grassland by favourable management;
To monitor the condition of calcareous grasslands within SSSIs and SACs and
also sites managed under agri-environment schemes.
Designated sites
Most montane areas of high biodiversity interest in Tayside are within designated
sites - SSSIs, cSACs, SPAs and NNRs. All these sites have management plans drawn
up by SNH and are implemented through voluntary agreement with landowners and
tenants. This offers scope for some enhancement and protection. However, as deer
numbers are perhaps the key factor affecting montane biodiversity, the protective
effect is very limited because deer are wild animals and their management does
not normally require consent from SNH. It is also difficult to control deer numbers
on individual sites without widespread co-operation with neighbouring estates.
Regular survey and monitoring of important habitats and species is carried out
on designated sites on a six-yearly cycle through SNH’s programme of site
condition monitoring. SNH have a Cairngorms Monitoring Programme which includes
montane birds, montane habitats in relation to human trampling and grazing, recreation
and red deer numbers and distribution.
Deer management
The Deer Commission for Scotland have produced a vision document and ‘Collaborative
Deer Management - Guidelines for a Deer Management Plan’. Their rationale
for deer management is ‘to manage populations of all species of deer at
levels and in ways which will enable the achievement of sustainable land-use
objectives’ (land use objectives include agriculture, forestry and natural
heritage interests). Some local Deer Management Groups, in partnership with the
Deer Commission for Scotland and SNH, have commissioned Habitat Impact Assessments
for their area. Many of the Deer Management sub-groups are also drafting Deer
Management Plans for their area, using the DCS guidelines. These should address
issues relating to biodiversity and promote action towards a more sustainable
deer population.
Sheep grazing
The Rural Stewardship Scheme allows for more sympathetic management of stock
in upland areas.
Current action:
SNH’s Natural Heritage Zone prospectus for Cairngorms (Zone 11), Angus
Glens (Zone 12) and Breadalbane (Zone 15) include priority actions for the montane
area.
The Montane Scrub Action Group have organised conferences and contributed existing
knowledge and experience to promote montane scrub regeneration. Highland Birchwoods,
in collaboration with others, produced ‘Montane Scrub’, a publication
achieved through the Montane Scrub Restoration Project.
The National Trust for Scotland, also in partnership with others, attracted EU
LIFE funding and produced ‘Grazing Management Planning for Upland Natura
2000 Sites - A Practical Manual’. The National Trust for Scotland has also
pioneered methods of regenerating montane willows and other rare plants at Ben
Lawers.
SNH have an exclosure at Caenlochan NNR to help regenerate montane scrub and
tall herb vegetation. The Tayside Raptor Study Group carry out detailed monitoring
of upland birds of prey across the area. |
OBJECTIVES
| Objectives |
| 1 |
To reduce grazing and
trampling pressure from red deer to a level where most
montane habitats are in favourable condition. |
| 2 |
To reduce levels of sheep grazing
in key areas to allow improvement in habitat condition. |
| 3 |
To prevent further loss and fragmentation
of rarer montane habitats such as willow scrub and tall
herb communities and their associated rare species, and
to work towards re-establishing these areas as viable
populations regenerating successfully. |
| 4 |
To identify particularly sensitive
areas to recreational pressures and take steps to reduce
disturbance/ damage by re-routing paths or raising awareness
and encouraging responsible behaviour. |
| 5 |
To raise awareness among all those
involved in management of upland areas or using them
for recreational purposes of the value of these areas
in terms of biodiversity and of best practice management
and use. |
| 6 |
To carry out survey of extent, quality
and management regimes of all key areas of montane habitat
interest. |
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Stakeholders
Landowners, land managers and advisors; local Deer Management Groups and Deer
Commission for Scotland; local Tourist Boards and visitors; local users.
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Action - Montane |
Deliverers |
To take place by |
Meets
Objective No. |
| |
|
Lead
Partners |
Partners |
02 03 04 05 06 07 11 16 |
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LBAP
Ref. |
A |
Policy and legislation |
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| U1 |
1 |
Ensure that all policies of all partners will result in no
further deterioration in quality or area of montane habitats
and species. |
SNH
PKC
AC
DCS |
|
# # # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
2 |
Ensure that all designated sites within the montane zone are
protected from inappropriate development that would endanger
montane habitats or species through Local Plans and Structure
Plans. |
PKC
AC |
SNH |
# # # # # # # # |
|
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B |
Site safeguard and management |
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| U1 |
1 |
Develop and implement Deer Management
Plans in all sub-areas of Deer Management
Groups following DCS Guidelines. |
EGDMG
WGDMG
West Rannoch
East Glen Lyon |
DCS
SNH
FC
RSPB
all other local interested individuals |
# # # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
2 |
Help achieve UK HAP target of favourable condition for at least
75% of calcareous grassland by approving favourable management
under agri-environment schemes (see Calcareous Grassland HAP). |
SNH |
SAC
FWAG
SWT
SEERAD |
# |
|
| U1 |
3 |
Identify lengths of eroded path or badly routed paths or hill
vehicle tracks where damage is occurring to key habitats and
species and carry out path repairs/re-route to minimise damage. |
SNH |
PKC
AC |
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C |
Species management and protection |
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| U1 |
1 |
Implement proposed actions in Species Action Plans for priority
species, and other rare or threatened species where opportunities
arise, including propagation and re-introductions. |
SNH |
NTW |
# # # # # # # |
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D |
Advisory |
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| U1 |
1 |
Encourage landowners and tenants to apply for RSS to get sheep
numbers in balance with requirement of the habitat. |
SAC
FWAG |
|
# # # # # # # # |
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| U1 |
2 |
Encourage shepherds to prevent sheep straying onto key Natura
habitats on designated sites. |
SNH |
FWAG
SAC
SEERAD |
# # # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
3 |
Promote the dissemination and uptake of the advice and recommendations
in the updated Muirburn Code with land managers. |
SAC
FWAG |
|
# # # # # # # # |
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E |
Research and monitoring |
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| U1 |
1 |
Undertake rapid habitat assessments, as developed by DCS, SNH
and MLURI, to give an indication of the quality of montane habitats
throughout Tayside. |
DMGs |
DCS
SNH |
# # # |
|
| U1 |
2 |
Monitor the condition of notified montane habitats and species
within SSSIs and SACs. |
SNH |
|
# # # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
3 |
Continue research at Ben Lawers and Caenlochan NNRs to develop
methods of regeneration and expansion of relict populations of
arctic/alpine plants. |
SNH
NTS |
|
# # # # # # # # |
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F |
Promotion and awareness-raising |
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| U1 |
1 |
Promote awareness in recreational users of the potential impact
that they and their dogs can have on montane species – e.g.
promote strict control of dogs. |
Perthshire Tourist Board
Angus & Dundee Tourist Board |
TBP
ATB
AC
PKC
(Rangers) |
# # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
2 |
Encourage research into ecology and management requirements
of rare and threatened species. |
SNH |
NTS
AGRS
Universities |
# # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
3 |
Raise awareness of the biodiversity value of upland areas and
best practice management among all those involved in its management.
Work in association with the Cairngorm Biodiversity Partnership
where appropriate. |
TBP
CBP |
FWAG
SAC
SLF
DMGs
SNH
SEERAD |
# # # # # # # |
|
| U1 |
4 |
Monitor and review this plan – ensure this Plan is being
delivered annually and in detail after 5 years. |
TBP |
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# # # # # # # # |
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