| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Upland -
Upland Heath |
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Forestry and Woodlands
Since the 1970s large areas of upland heath in Tayside have been converted to
either exotic or new native woodlands in response to attractive incentives and
a decline in grouse shooting. The scale and location of some of these woodlands
have fragmented quite large areas of upland heath, compromising the management
of the surviving fragments both for commercial grouse and for key species. Many
woods also have sharply-defined edges and are surrounded by deer fencing. This
adversely affects key species such as Black grouse which need a gradual transition
from woodland to heath. These woodlands represent not only a loss of heathland
area, but also a wider and more serious loss of heathland quality.
Recent new woodlands have been much better integrated with adjacent habitats
through greater attention to site, scale, species and design. Many of these new
woodlands have also integrated commercial objectives by balancing exotic conifers
with native species, whilst many older commercial woodlands are being Restructured
under the Woodland Grant Scheme for greater integration. Collisions with deer
fences cause considerable mortality amongst such species as Black grouse so any
new deer fencing must now be justified in applications for the Woodland Grant
Scheme. Where fences are considered necessary to protect young woodland from
deer, but are also in sensitive areas for Black grouse, they must be clearly
marked in an acceptable manner to reduce collision rates. |
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Black Grouse
At dawn, throughout much of the year, male Black Grouse gather
at
favoured sites (leks) to display.
They engage in mock fights, raising their lyre-shaped tails
and inflating
their blue necks.
Invariably, but not always, they are watched by the grey/brown
females. |
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Red Deer
A long-term increase in Red deer numbers in Tayside has led
to some localised heavy grazing within the traditional
Red deer range. The extent of this is unclear. There has
also been a long-term expansion of the Red deer range which
has impacted on important areas of upland heath on the
lower fringes of the Grampians, particularly in winter.
The expansion appears to have been driven by deer population
pressure, expansion of
forestry onto traditional wintering areas and the vacuum
left in many areas by the removal of hefted sheep flocks. |
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MAIN
THREATS TO KEY SPECIES
| Water Vole |
Loss and fragmentation
of habitats
Disturbance of riparian habitats
Pollution of watercourses and poisoning by rodenticides |
| UK Importance of Tayside
population: |
moderate |
| Black Grouse |
Inappropriate grazing removes
key food plants such as blaeberry, heath and birch scrub
Poor muirburn practices
Habitat fragmentation leads to isolated populations
Collisions with deer fences
Loss of under-storey food plants in mature conifer plantations |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
high |
| Red Grouse |
Loss of habitat and fragmentation
to grassland or conifer woodland |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
| Merlin |
Afforestation on grouse
moors |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
| Hen Harrier |
Deliberate and illegal
persecution on grouse moors |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
| Ring Ouzel |
Threats not properly understood |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
high |
| Mason Bee |
Loss of herb-rich upland
grasslands or moorland with short swards
Inappropriate grazing regimes, including cessation of grazing
or grouse-moor management
Direct loss of habitat owing to afforestation
Climate change |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
high – restricted to one site
in Tayside
(only other site known in the UK) |
Netted Mountain
(a moth) |
Inappropriate moorland
management, including neglect
Poor muirburn practices
Over-grazing |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
high |
Mountain ringlet
(a butterfly) |
Inappropriate grazing regimes
(both over-grazing and under-grazing can cause problems
to habitat)
Climate change
Inappropriately sited new woodlands |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
Large Heath
(a butterfly) |
Inappropriate grazing regimes
(both over-grazing and under-grazing can cause problems
to habitat)
Site drainage for agricultural improvement or new woodlands
Direct habitat loss through peat extraction |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
| Marsh Clubmoss |
Habitat loss, including
drainage or improvements to unmade trackways
Cessation of traditional management practices, including
grazing
Climate change and atmospheric pollution
Inappropriately sited new woodlands |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
| Juniper |
Excessive grazing (which
prevents establishment of young bushes)
Insufficient grazing which reduces area suitable to juniper
regeneration or allows other
tree species to out-shade new growth
Direct clearance of stands
Excessive burning which may destroy both mature bushes
and regeneration |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
moderate |
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OPPORTUNITIES AND
CURRENT ACTION
Upland heath is unique among major terrestrial habitats in having no obvious
dedicated public funding mechanism. Outwith designated sites positive management
is almost entirely dependent on funding by private sporting owners
whose activities make public support problematic.
Rural Stewardship Scheme - incentives for sympathetic management of stock. Overall
budget too low to outweigh effects of mainstream supports.
SSSI and SPA designations of key heathland areas like the Forest of Clunie with
supporting management incentives and monitoring.
Cairngorms Partnership Board lottery bid for moorland demonstration sites.
Woodland Grant Scheme - incentives and constraints which integrate woodland with
upland heath.
SNH conservation grants for both designated and non-designated sites, especially
the Community Grant Scheme and the new Natural Care programme.
Development of demonstration moors on SSSIs and within Cairngorm Partnership
Area with European and other support.
Moorland Working Group - national partnership of statutory agencies, conservation,
landowning and sporting bodies to promote effective and legal management of grouse
moors.
Tayside Indicative Forestry Strategy - provides for planned woodland expansion
based on criteria which includes conservation of upland heath (to be revised).
Independent Study Groups, including the Raptor Study Group and the Black Grouse
Study Group monitor key species and indicator species across the area.
Opportunities taken for promoting and developing good montane and moorland practice
for biodiversity may increase appropriate tourism and recreation and foster a
greater understanding of the role of traditional and appropriate management in
shaping the surrounding landscape. |
Objectives |
Targets |
1 |
Ensure the quality of important
upland heathland habitat in Tayside is retained and improved. |
No net loss in area of good quality upland
heath habitat by 2010
Restoration or improvement of 20,000 ha. of upland heath
by 2010 |
2 |
Determine the condition of key upland heath
habitats in Tayside by 2006 |
Complete survey of condition of key upland
heath habitats by 2006 |
3 |
Set up programme to raise awareness of contribution
of upland heath to biodiversity, particularly regarding provision
of dedicated management incentives. |
Set up awareness programme by 2003. |
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Stakeholders
Landowners, land managers and advisors, statutory bodies and local authorities,
Deer Commission for Scotland, tourists and local users, members of the public. |
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