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Scotland's Wildlife

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Scotland's Wildlife Scottish Natural Heritage Scotland’s wildlife An assessment of biodiversity in 2010 External sources are shown in the text. Otherwise the content of this report is taken predominantly from SNH sources. The report should be cited as follows: Mackey, E.C. and Mudge, G.P. (2010). Scotland’s Wildlife: An assessment of biodiversity in 2010. Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness. Principal contributors: Angus, S. Bassett, D. Christie, M. Davies, M. Eardley, B. Foster, S. Hendrie, C. Marrs, S.J. Whittaker, S. With contributions from other colleagues in SNH and SEPA. This is an updated and revised version of the assessment first published in January 2010. December 2010. ii Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 3 Foreword ................................................................................................................ 1 Section A .................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 2 2 Executive summary ............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Scotland’s contribution to the UK assessment in 2008..................................... 3 2.2 Scotland’s biodiversity indicators...................................................................... 6 2.3 Site condition monitoring outcomes.................................................................. 9 2.4 Progress with Scotland’s 2010 biodiversity targets......................................... 10 2.5 Conclusion...................................................................................................... 11 3 The biodiversity of Scotland............................................................................... 12 3.1 Scotland’s wildlife ........................................................................................... 14 3.2 People and nature .......................................................................................... 16 3.3 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 17 4 Climate change.................................................................................................. 19 4.1 People ............................................................................................................ 19 4.2 Coastal and marine......................................................................................... 20 4.3 Lowland and farmland .................................................................................... 20 4.4 Fresh water and wetland ................................................................................ 20 4.5 Woodland and upland..................................................................................... 21 5 Coastal and marine ecosystems........................................................................ 23 5.1 Habitat extent.................................................................................................. 23 5.2 Habitat condition............................................................................................. 24 5.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species....................................... 26 5.4 Wildlife indicators............................................................................................ 30 5.5 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 31 6 Lowland and farmland ecosystems.................................................................... 33 6.1 Habitat extent.................................................................................................. 33 6.2 Habitat condition............................................................................................. 36 6.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species....................................... 36 6.4 Wildlife indicators............................................................................................ 39 6.5 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 39 7 Freshwater and wetland ecosystems................................................................. 41 7.1 Habitat extent.................................................................................................. 41 7.2 Habitat condition............................................................................................. 42 7.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species....................................... 47 7.4 Wildlife indicators............................................................................................ 49 7.5 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 50 8 Woodland ecosystems....................................................................................... 51 8.2 Habitat condition............................................................................................. 53 8.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species....................................... 53 8.4 Wildlife indicators............................................................................................ 56 8.5 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 56 9 Upland ecosystems ........................................................................................... 58 9.1 Habitat extent.................................................................................................. 58 9.2 Habitat condition............................................................................................. 63 9.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species....................................... 63 9.4 Wildlife indicators............................................................................................ 65 9.5 Action for biodiversity...................................................................................... 65 10 Scotland overview............................................................................................ 67 10.1 Habitat extent................................................................................................ 67 10.2 Habitat condition........................................................................................... 69 10.3 Trends in the status of priority habitats and species ..................................... 70 10.4 Wildlife indicators.......................................................................................... 74 11 Assessing the 2010 target ............................................................................... 75 11.1 Scotland’s contribution to the UK assessment.............................................. 80 11.2 Scotland’s Biodiversity Indicators ................................................................. 81 11.3 Site condition monitoring outcomes.............................................................. 87 11.4 Progress with Scotland’s 2010 biodiversity targets....................................... 89 11.4 Conclusion.................................................................................................... 91 Annex 1 – ............................................................................................................. 92 2010 Indicator Framework ........................................................................................ Annex 2 .............................................................................................................. 100 Scotland's 2010 Biodiversity Targets........................................................................ Annex 3a ............................................................................................................ 113 People and Communications Group......................................................................... Annex 3b ............................................................................................................ 154 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Group ................................................................... Annex 3c............................................................................................................. 196 Farmland and Lowland Ecosystems Group .............................................................. Annex 3d ............................................................................................................ 204 Freshwater and Wetland Ecosystems Group ..................................................... 204 Annex 3e ............................................................................................................ 208 Woodland Ecosystems Group .................................................................................. Annex 3f ............................................................................................................. 210 Upland Ecosystems Group ....................................................................................... 4 Foreword Roseanna Cunningham, MSP Minister for Environment I welcome the publication of this assessment by Scottish Natural Heritage of Scotland's progress against the 2010 biodiversity targets. While there are clearly still some challenges to address, I think that we can
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