Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan 2020 Main Issues Report Evidence Paper: Conservation CONTENTS under Europe’s nature conservation legislation: the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive; which together form the 1. Context 1 Natura 2000 network of Special Areas of 2. Baseline 2 Conservation (SAC) and Special 3. Key issues / implications for 73 Protection Areas (SPA). The National the Local Development Plan target is to bring 80% of designated sites 4. References 74 into favourable condition by 2016. The priorities for action on biodiversity and nature conservation in the National 1. CONTEXT Park are set out in the Cairngorms Nature The Cairngorms National Park is one of Action Plan (CNAP) 2013-2018. The four the best places in the country for nature. aims of the CNAP are to: This is where we find some of Scotland’s wildest land, arctic-like mountain plateau 1. Improve the quality and and Scotland’s most extensive seminatural connectivity of woodlands and pine forest, home to 80% of our wetlands for biodiversity capercaillie population. Half of the 2. Implement priority actions for National Park is designated as being of other habitats (e.g. peatlands European importance for nature through restoration) the Natura network and over a quarter of 3. Conserve and enhance key species the UK’s rare and threatened species are through focused conservation found here. action 4. Encourage, support and provide The National Park is of extremely high opportunities for people to realise importance for nature conservation. the benefits from and help to look Almost half of the Park is designated after nature 1 2. BASELINE protected sites, such as the RSPB reserve at “Biodiversity – the variety of Life on Earth – Protected Areas Loch Garten. makes our planet habitable and beautiful. Protected areas represent the very best of We depend on it for food, energy, raw Scotland's landscapes, plants and animals, National Nature Reserves materials, air and water that make life rocks, fossils and landforms. Their NNRs are statutory nature reserves possible and drive our economy. We look to protection and management will help to designed under Part III of the National the natural environment for equally ensure that they remain in good health for Parks and Access to the Countryside Act important things like aesthetic pleasure, all to enjoy, both now and for future 1949. Most reserves have habitats and artistic inspiration and recreation.” generations. species that are nationally or internationally important so the wildlife is managed very European Commission Natura 2000. The Cairngorms National Park is home to a carefully. However, people are also number of areas designated to meet the encouraged to enjoy NNRs too and so needs of international directives and The Cairngorms National Park is a haven most have some form of visitor facilities treaties, national legislation and policies as for nature and wildlife and is of great that are designed to ensure recreational well as more local needs and interests. significance for Scotland and the UK. The activities are not pursued without heed for National Park covers less than two per cent National Designations the wildlife and habitat that exists there. of the UK landmass but is home to 25% of National designations cover a range of The Cairngorms National Park is home to its rare animal, insect, lichen, fungi and different types of protected area, including 11 NNRs1 (Table 16 and Figure 1), which insect species. Habitats are rich and varied Natural Nature Reserves (NNR) and Sites cover a combined area of around 513 km2. and include the montane alpine plants high of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), both of on the Cairngorms plateaux, the sources of which are located within the Cairngorms renowned salmon rivers the Spey, Dee, Tay National Park. The National Park is also 1 and South Esk and stands of trembling home to a number of non-statutory While the Cairngorms NNR, Dinnet Oakwood Aspen in Strathspey which support rare NNR and Morrone Birkwood NNR are technically declared NNRs (see Table 12), they are under insects and fungi. review and not managed or promoted as NNRs. 2 The NNRs are run by a range of organisations. For example, most of the Abernethy and Inch Marshes NNRs are also North managed as part of RSPB reserves. Table 1 National Nature Reserves in the Cairngorms National Park. Site Year Area Name Code Est. (ha) 5013 Cairngorms 1954 25,963.63 5020 Craigellachie 1960 257.46 Dinnet 5023 1966 30.8 Oakwood 5032 Glen Tanar 1979 4,186.76 Morrone 5051 1972 226.48 Birkwood Muir of 5054 1977 1,166.17 Dinnet 8628 Insh Marshes 2003 695.18 8670 Corrie Fee 2005 165.38 Invereshie 10097 2007 3,730.86 and Inshriach Scale: 10098 Glenmore 2007 2,119.49 1:700,000 10099 Abernethy 2007 12,753.81 Figure 1 National Nature Reserves in the Cairngorms National Park. Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100040965 Cairngorms National Park Authority. © Scottish Natural Heritage. 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interest They are the essential building blocks of Features in ‘Favourable’ condition. Designated under the Nature Conservation Scotland's protected areas for nature Features that are in ‘Unfavourable’ (Scotland) Act 2004, SSSIs are those areas conservation and therefore many are also condition. of land and water that SNH considers to designated as Natura 2000 sites. Features that have not been monitored to best represent Scotland’s natural heritage - date. A simple colour scheme has been used to its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, highlight the condition of interests, the key rocks and landforms, or a combinations of to which is provided: such natural features (see Table 2, Figure 2 and Figure 4). Table 2 Condition of Biological and Mixed SSSIs located within the Cairngorms National Park. Total Are in Site Summary Visit Name Type Area CNP Interest Pressures Code Condition Date (ha) (ha) No negative pressures Basin fen Favourable 18/10/2014 identified Beetle assemblage Favourable Over-grazing 17/11/2002 No negative pressures Breeding bird assemblage Favourable 23/04/2013 identified Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), breeding Favourable Under-grazing 19/04/2014 9 Mixed 5793.46 5793.46 No negative pressures Crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus), breeding Favourable 03/05/1998 identified Forestry operations, Dragonfly assemblage Favourable 01/08/2013 Abernethy Forest Abernethy other Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland Favourable Invasive species 06/04/2007 Over-grazing, under- Fungi assemblage Favourable 01/10/2014 grazing 4 Total Are in Site Summary Visit Name Type Area CNP Interest Pressures Code Condition Date (ha) (ha) Invertebrate assemblage Favourable Trampling 01/08/2013 No negative pressures Lichen assemblage Favourable 25/06/2010 identified Game/ fisheries Native pinewood Favourable 30/09/2008 management No negative pressures Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), breeding Unfavourable 14/06/2013 identified No negative pressures Quaternary of Scotland Favourable 03/05/2007 identified No negative pressures Raised bog Favourable 12/08/2014 identified No negative pressures Scottish crossbill (Loxia scotica), breeding Favourable 28/03/2012 identified Unfavourable Recovering Subalpine dry heath Burning, under-grazing 27/09/2004 Due to Management Vascular plant assemblage Favourable Maintenance activities 28/03/2007 Aldclune and 30 Biological 16.61 16.61 Lowland calcareous grassland Unfavourable Under-grazing 22/08/2012 Invervack Meadows No negative pressures 44 Allt Mor Geological 40.68 40.68 Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland Favourable 27/04/2007 identified No negative pressures 53 Alvie Biological 339.01 339.01 Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), breeding Favourable 15/05/2013 identified 5 Total Are in Site Summary Visit Name Type Area CNP Interest Pressures Code Condition Date (ha) (ha) No negative pressures Hydromorphological mire range Favourable 13/07/2011 identified Forestry operations, Invertebrate assemblage Favourable 16/07/2013 over-grazing Unfavourable Recovering Upland oak woodland Over-grazing 20/07/2005 Due to Management Game/ fisheries Breeding bird assemblage Favourable 20/06/2013 management No negative pressures Bryophyte assemblage Favourable 17/08/2013 identified No negative pressures Caledonian Igneous Favourable 24/11/2010 identified Beinn a' No negative pressures 161 Mixed 8084.76 7763.08 Dalradian Favourable 25/04/2002 Ghlo identified No negative pressures Upland assemblage Favourable 22/07/2010 identified No negative pressures Upland birch woodland Favourable 30/07/2004 identified Vascular plant assemblage Favourable Agricultural operations 29/08/2002 Unfavourable Blair Recovering 223 Atholl Biological 0.55 0.55 Lowland calcareous grassland Agricultural operations 17/07/2007 Due to Meadow Management 235 Bochel Biological 197.87 197.55 Upland birch woodland Favourable No negative pressures 19/06/2000 6 Total Are in Site Summary Visit Name Type Area CNP Interest Pressures Code Condition Date (ha) (ha) Wood identified Over-grazing, Breeding bird assemblage Favourable 01/07/2003 recreation / disturbance Bryophyte assemblage Favourable Trampling 31/12/2005 Dystrophic loch Favourable Over-grazing 02/07/2004 No negative pressures Invertebrate assemblage Favourable 15/08/2011 identified 282 Biological 4974.75 4974.75 No negative pressures Lichen assemblage Favourable 03/10/2010 identified Caenlochan Montane assemblage Unfavourable Over-grazing 16/07/2006 No negative pressures