| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Woodland - Upland Oakwoods |
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CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR
DECLINE
In Scotland large scale planting of oaks was undertaken on estates between 1780
and 1830 for tanning bark, timber, coppice for charcoal making and general landscape
value. In the last hundred years, the advent of the First World War
saw a severe decline in oakwoods which continued during the Second World War
as timber was utilised for the war effort. There has been a decline of about
30 - 40% of oakwoods across the British Isles over the last sixty years.
Lack of management of the remaining oakwoods, grazing pressure and adjacent land
use changes (for example development pressures such as new roads, quarrying and
recreational access) have led to a limited age structure within
most of these woods. With increased planting of exotics from 1940 onwards the
last sixty years has seen a further reduction. In more recent times such woods
have remained relatively stable with only slight decreases being recorded
by the Forestry Commission between 1980 and 1995.
There is, however, a wide range of factors that have contributed to Upland Oakwood
decline. Those contributory factors, specific to Tayside, are listed below in
order of priority of seriousness: |
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1 |
Historical under-planting of oakwoods
with coniferous species, for example Carie Oakwood (case
study). |
2 |
The spread of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
which can limit regeneration. Because the oak is a strong
light demander, regeneration of oak under oak canopy is difficult
enough without other competition. Invasion of species such
as Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. and Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
also provides competition against oak seedlings. |
3 |
In some cases unsympathetic forest management
practices do not produce the biodiversity benefits such woodlands
can provide, for example inappropriate planting for game
cover or a lack of appropriate management. |
4 |
Limited markets for hardwood timber products
produced in Scotland. |
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OPPORTUNITIES
AND CURRENT ACTION
The government through the Forestry Commission (FC) regulates the management
of all woodland in the UK. The Commission also encourages forestry expansion
through the payment of grants where creation of new woodland is in accordance
with forestry and conservation policies. Such policies are informed by both national
and international priorities and these are set out in a series of publications
that provide the framework for environmental regulations and incentives. The
UK Forest Standard defines and applies government commitments to sustainability
and biodiversity and this is augmented by a series of environmental guidelines
on conservation, landscape and water. The Scottish Forestry Strategy contains
a strong commitment to achieve the current Action Plan targets.
There are a number of resources available, both financial and advisory support,
for native woodland management and establishment. The main sources of funding
are through the FC which offers a wide range of grants to private landowners
to assist specifically for native woodland management, improvement and expansion.
Opportunities are also available through:
The
introduction of a new grants initiative - Scottish Forestry
Grants Scheme - to be launched in April 2003. The key changes
to the FC grants will allow greater focus on the management
of existing oak woodlands and will target grants towards
areas where significant Habitat Action Plan (HAP) targets
can be met.
LIFE European funding to manage SAC (Special Areas of
Conservation) designated oak woodland sites (for example:
Comrie woods cSAC)
Ongoing development and promotion of training on the
conservation and management of oak HAP types with particular
reference to the problems associated with regenerating
oakwoods. At present, for example, Scottish Native Woods
organises a range of courses tackling the issue of regeneration. |
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Case
Study
COMRIE WOODS
The Comrie Woods SSSI and cSAC lies just north of the town
of Comrie and the Highland Boundary Fault. This part of the
wood is situated to the west of the River Lednock gorge.
As a whole the SSSI is a primary woodland site representing
the largest area of acid sessile oakwood (Quercus petrea/Betula
pubescens/Dicranum majus W17
community) in Perth & Kinross. In addition, the Lednock
gorge and adjacent areas contain fragments of richer mixed
ash, hazel, wych elm woodland (W9b) whilst bluebell dominated
oakwood (W11) is characteristic on more neutral soils.
The primary objectives of management are:
To enhance and safeguard the integrity of natural woodland
communities on the site principally by managing beech colonisation
and promoting regeneration of native species.
To maintain the intrinsic qualities of the woodland experience
available to visitors. The factors that define this experience
also include large veteran trees and conifers. |
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OBJECTIVES
AND TARGETS
The UK Habitat Statement for Upland Oakwoods gives a conservation direction to
Local Biodiversity Action Plans which may adopt some or all of the relevant measures
identified nationally to be applied locally. The targets established for local
plans are based on maintaining the current extent of Upland Oakwoods and encouraging
the balance of appropriate management regimes across the distribution of the
type.
Objectives |
Targets |
1 |
Maintain existing area and improve
the condition of Upland Oakwoods in Tayside and prevent net
loss or reduction in area. The core areas for Scotland total
30,000 ha. The Tayside area is
approximately 2,600 ha. |
All 2,600 ha. to be identified and managed
to increase their biodiversity value whilst not compromising
any existing commercial operations or other nature conservation
interests by 2005. |
2 |
Restoration of upland oakwood cover. The restoration
figures for upland oakwood in Scotland are 3,000 ha. by 2010.
This is made up of 10 ha. in Angus and 350 ha. in Perth & Kinross. |
Restore 360 ha. by 2015, completing half of
this by 2010. |
3 |
To bring under management existing upland
oakwoods to increase their biodiversity/ conservation value. |
Raise the awareness of the importance of upland
oakwoods to woodland owners through examples of good practice,
workshops, publicity and other promotional opportunities.
Provide habitats for associated key species utilising current
European LIFE funding initiatives (such as at Comrie Wood
cSAC and SSSI case study). |
4 |
Increase the area of upland oakwoods on suitable
sites within Tayside. The expansion targets for upland oakwood
in Scotland are 3,000 ha. by 2005. This is made up of 110
ha. in Angus and 280 ha. in Perth & Kinross. |
Revised IFS (Indicative Forestry Strategy)
to be drawn up by Local Authorities incorporating the figures
below by 2005.
Expansion of upland oakwood area, preferably through natural
regeneration, in suitable sites in Tayside by 390 ha. by
2005. |
5 |
Ensure the long term future of this habitat. |
Raise the public’s awareness of the
importance of upland oakwoods and newly planted oakwoods
within the Tayside area through examples of good practice,
workshops, publicity and other promotional opportunities. |
6 |
Ensure the long term future of upland oakwoods. |
Ensure all new upland oakwood sites are incorporated
into positive management through the new Scottish Forestry
Grant Scheme by 2005. |
7 |
Extend and enhance upland oakwoods by developing
Forest Habitat Networks as detailed in the Scottish Forestry
Strategy. |
Priority action point in SFS document.
Partnership involvement from grant setting (FC) to guidance
(SNH) and adoption by private sector, FE and woodland Initiatives
providing ongoing advice.
Target is to act on advice and recommendations currently
being prepared by FC and SNH.
Also required are revised IFS (Indicative Forestry Strategies)
to be drawn up by Local Authorities by 2005. |
8 |
To improve the ecological value of native
woodlands through work related to native woodland Habitat
Action Plans. |
To deliver new FC grants by April 2003 that
will be designed to contribute towards costs for work that
achieves at least one of the following:
improves the natural heritage value of semi-natural woodlands;
restores native woodlands on ancient woodland sites; secures
natural regeneration within or immediately adjacent to native
woodlands. |
9 |
To improve the environmental value of woods
and forests through work related to Biodiversity Action Plans
(Habitat and Species Action Plans and Local Biodiversity
Action Plans) and designated sites or species listed in the
schedules of the Wildlife and Countryside Act or the EU Habitats
and Species Directive. |
To deliver new FC grants by April 2003 that
will be designed to contribute towards costs for work that
is necessary to implement agreed HAPs, SAPs & LBAPs including
work in open space and non-woodland habitat within the woodland
or forest area. |
10 |
To put forward recommendations for changes
to the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
in Scotland so as to improve their effectiveness in delivering
priorities identified in the Scottish Forestry Strategy. |
A joint Forestry Commission / Scottish Executive
Steering Group report submitted for European approval in
autumn 2002. Provisional launch of new scheme (Scottish Forestry
Grants Scheme) in April 2003.
Revised IFS’s put in place across Tayside incorporating
HAP and LBAP targets by 2005. |
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