20 Years of Action for Biodiversity in North East Scotland Contents
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20 Years of Action for Biodiversity in North East Scotland Contents The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership is a shining example of how collective working can facilitate on the ground conservation through active 1.3 million wildlife records and counting 1 engagement with local authorities, agencies, community groups, volunteers and Capercaillie: monitoring and conservation in North East Scotland 2 academics. As one of the first local biodiversity action partnerships in Scotland, its achievements in protecting threatened habitats and species over the last two Community moss conservation and woodland creation 3 decades is something to be proud of. The 20 articles highlighted here capture Community-led action to tackle invasive American Mink 4 the full spectrum of biodiversity work in the region, including habitat creation Drummuir 21: Unlocking the countryside 5 and restoration, species re-introduction, alien eradication, as well as community engagement, education and general awareness-raising. East Tullos Burn - Nature in the heart of the city 6 Halting the Invasion - Deveron Biosecurity Project 7 Much of the success in enhancing our rural and urban environments in North East Scotland reflects the commitment of key individuals, with a ‘can- Hope for Corn Buntings; Farmland Bird Lifeline 8 do-attitude’ and willingness to engage, widely. Their passion for nature, Local Nature Conservation Sites 9 determination to make a difference on the ground, and above all, stimulate Mapping the breeding birds of North-East Scotland 10 a new generation of enthusiasts, is the most valuable asset available to us. Without these dedicated individuals our lives will not be so enriched. Meeting the (wild) neighbours 11 OPAL - training the citizen scientists of the future 12 The strengths of our local biodiversity partnership make me confident that over the next 20 years there will be even more inspirational action for biodiversity in Red Moss of Netherley - restoring a threatened habitat 13 North East Scotland. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels: Reclaiming the North East 14 Scottish Wildcat warriors – fighting the good fight 15 Ten years of Aberdeen Red Kites 16 The ABC of Slopefield Allotments 17 Steve Albon The Wards Wildlife Site - Elgin 18 Chair Steering Group, The Ythan Strikes Back! 19 North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership Tree for Every Citizen Project 20 Photo - Vascular plants identification day at Insch Meadow, Photo - Capercaillie displaying in the rain, Desmond Dugan Glenn Roberts Capercaillie: monitoring and 1.3 million wildlife records conservation in North East and counting Scotland NESBReC is the Local Records Centre for North Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland and Scottish East Scotland. Founded in 2000, NESBReC collates, Natural Heritage. Furthermore, it relies on the Capercaillie, the iconic giant grouse of the Scots and supporting the creation of new habitat through manages and provides biological information for fantastic contribution of so much useful data sent in pinewoods, underwent a roughly 90% population suitable woodland creation projects. Blaeberry is Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Moray and the by volunteer recorders in North East Scotland. decline in Scotland between the 1970s and 1990s a key field layer plant for Capercaillie, so reducing Cairngorms National Park. Currently, over 1.3 and although the population has remained between herbivore grazing pressure to allow it to thrive is million species records are held, as well as datasets Free training events are offered every summer by 1000 and 2000 birds for the last 20 years, the an ongoing issue. Likewise, deer fences have long on habitats and sites of conservation value. NESBReC in order to increase wildlife identification range has continued to contract. Now, Capercaillie been recognised as a killer of Capercaillie, so the skills and promote the biodiversity of our local area. are restricted to five areas in Scotland, all relatively marking of fences and the removal of all but the Records are welcomed by NESBReC of all wildlife. By giving people the skills to start identifying what isolated from each other. The area with the largest most necessary remains a priority. amount of pine forest is Strathspey and this forms Every record is important. All records help to build they see, those people will, hopefully, feel confident Set against the backdrop of national decline, up a more comprehensive understanding of our enough to submit records to NESBReC in the future the population stronghold, with around 85% of the national total. In Aberdeenshire, the forests of two sites on Deeside where Capercaillie have local biodiversity and can help ensure that decisions and contribute to the database of biodiversity been absent in recent years have started to show that may affect habitats and species in the North information. Deeside now hold between 5 and 10% of this total, with a far smaller number of birds left on Donside. promising signs following deer reduction or East of Scotland are made with the best available exclusion and the subsequent tree regeneration and knowledge. Records submitted to NESBReC may In 2010, NESBReC produced its first atlas field layer recovery. be shared with other organisations and users for publication, for Dragonflies and Damselflies, based Working in partnership, private landowners, the the benefit of the conservation and understanding on the records held in its database from 1900-2008. National Forest Estate, RSPB Scotland, Scottish At Mar Lodge, a cock and hen were seen together of species and habitats, not just in North East In 2017, NESBReC is to publish the Mammal Atlas Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission during the spring lek period in 2016, which is Scotland, but in the wider context of the UK, and of North-East Scotland and the Cairngorms. This Scotland have been delivering work prioritised possibly the first breeding attempt here for over a even Europe. is the culmination of a three year project aimed at by the Capercaillie BAP Steering Group. This has decade, and at the RSPB’s Crannach site, suspected galvanising mammal recording and producing the included identifying and protecting areas of suitable Capercaillie droppings suggest that birds are NESBReC is currently supported financially by first account of the distributions of the 43 mammal habitat, improving habitat where it isn’t optimal moving in as the young woodland matures. Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, species that are present in the area. Cairngorms National Park Authority, Forestry Glenn Roberts Gareth Marshall Page 1 NESBReC Co-ordinator Page 2 Capercaillie Project Officer Photo - First Tree Panting in 2010, Ken Watson Photo - Water Vole conservation began in the Ythan Catchment Community moss conservation Community-led action to and woodland creation tackle invasive American Mink Portlethen Moss is an area of rare natural raised the ponds, so our amphibians have somewhere The North East Scotland Water Vole project was systematic use of mink rafts, floating platforms acidic bog supporting a unique and diverse safe to hibernate. Another project, supporting initiated and led by scientists from the University with a footprint-recording plate made of moist variety of plant and animal species. Over the biodiversity, is an area of gorse control which of Aberdeen with facilitation from NELBAP and clay and sand under a wooden tunnel. Mink years it has been subject to development has allowed heather to regenerate, creating an support from Scottish Natural Heritage. Initially rafts are designed to act both as a monitoring pressures, consequently much of it has been lost. ideal habitat for moths, butterflies, bees etc. focussed in Aberdeenshire, the project has device and as a trapping site for American In 2004 a local group of volunteers formed the A second project of the group is the creation expanded to include multiple fisheries trusts and Mink. Traps are placed in the tunnel of the raft Portlethen Moss Conservation Group to preserve and ongoing maintenance of a local community other partners and funders and has been led by subsequent to mink footprints being recorded what is left of this environmentally sensitive area woodland, from what was a disused agricultural Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) during checks. and the unique flora and fauna it supports. We field. In partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, since 2009. After the first 6 years, the project expanded work in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Talisman, the Forestry Commission Scotland and 2 who own part of the Moss, and raise awareness local schools the first trees were planted in 2010. American Mink is an invasive species responsible mink control from an initial 30 km area holding for the decline of Water Voles and other a residual Water Vole metapopulation to a of the site’s importance. The Moss is now a A hedgerow surrounds the periphery of the site 2 Local Nature Conservation Site. and is developing nicely and already attracting riparian fauna. This project coordinated and vast 6,000 km encompassing the Cairngorms optimised the efforts of an existing, local and National Park. Following this an enormous birds. 2 Conservation work continues to help keep the skilled workforce with convergent interests to 29,000km area protecting one third of Scotland peat from drying out. An example of this was We chose species that would provide blossom deliver coordinated, systematic sub-catchment from the influence of mink was secured. Large the creation of new ponds and a dam to slow and berries to attract as many insects and birds by sub-catchment eradication and monitoring scale mink control initiated by NELBAP and the water passing through the moss; this has as possible. Each year we top up tree numbers, of American Mink. This has achieved maximum involving multiple volunteers and organisations increased biodiversity by attracting dragonflies adding new native species and plant wild conservation benefit on a scale not previously created the conditions for an ongoing and damselflies. We also created an area of flowers, adding to the biodiversity that increases attempted.