Biodiversity Action Plan

BiodiversityProgress Progress Report Report 2003 2003 - 2008- 2008

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LBAP launch May ‘03 In the beginning... The story so far... In order to establish the biodiversity process in this Partnership working is key to the implementation of area, the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership any BAP. Members of the CBP have worked together (CBP) was formed in July 2001. The CBP is composed and with other groups and individuals to conserve of representatives from key sectors including land and enhance our biodiversity and to monitor and owners, government agencies, environmental report progress towards these actions. organisations and community groups, as well as interested individuals. With the current edition of the BAP coming to an end this report has been produced to celebrate many of The first duty of the CBP was to produce a the achievements of the CBP and its partners. Over Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Clackmannanshire. the past 5 years there have been notable successes, This first edition of the BAP pulled together this report highlights a number of these key information on the priority habitats and species achievements, provides a summary of the progress within Clackmannanshire and set out targets and towards implementing the actions contained within actions, for the five year period from 2003 - 2008, to the BAP and sets out the future for biodiversity conserve and enhance the biodiversity present in this conservation in Clackmannanshire. area. The work of the CBP and its partners has been For further information on biodiversity and the BAP reported to the Scottish Government and to process visit the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity the UK BAP group. The actions of the CBP and Partnership Website. local volunteers have contributed directly to the achievement of Scottish and UK biodiversity targets.

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The long-term visions of the BAP are to create and/

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National spring clean spring National • A fully functioning habitat network, comprising The future... woodland, grassland and wetlands. • A catchment wide network of high quality water The publication of this report brings to a close the courses incorporating a series of measures for current edition of the Clackmannanshire BAP. A natural flood management. review process is underway that will produce a • A landscape which provides a mosaic of habitat new edition of the BAP to provide guidance and set types and supports a rich diversity of wildlife. targets and aspirations for biodiversity conservation over the next 3 - 5 years. The involvement of local communities is key to the review process and to the implementation of the It will work to keep Clackmannanshire at the revised BAP. A full consultation on the reviewed BAP forefront of biodiversity conservation and be a will take place later in the year. At this stage we key document for guiding local actions that will would welcome your input on the following subjects; contribute to the fulfilment of both Scottish and UK biodiversity targets. • Do you have information relating to species that you would be willing to share? Much needs to be done to conserve our biodiversity • What species and habitats are of local concern and to combat the effects of climate change. The or importance? greatest threats to Clackmannanshire’s biodiversity are; • Would you like to be involved in conserving our wildlife through practical action, surveys or • suburban growth, and the resultant increase in membership of the CBP? pollution • Do you know of any groups or individuals who • fragmentation and degradation of natural and may wish to be involved? semi-natural habitats • the presence of invasive non-native species For more information on how you can get involved visit the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership • climate change website or contact: The BAP will take a holistic approach to biodiversity Guy Harewood conservation and focus on habitat connectivity Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Coordinator, across the whole area. This ecosystem approach, as call on 01259 452639, described in the Convention for Biological Diversity, or email [email protected] is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources. By working to establish functioning ecosystems we will assist our wildlife to adapt as required in response to our changing climate.

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The BAP contains 23 Habitat Action Plans (HAP)and 27 Species Action Plans (SAP), as well as 41 species Sticky Catchfly Species Action Plan statements (SS). Each of these plans contains a number of actions to be implemented by the CBP This plant is nationally rare in Britain and is listed and its partners. as ‘threatened’. In 2005 a survey of sites within the Ochils was completed to map the distribution of this This section of the report highlights a number of plant within Clackmannanshire. the key achievements from a selection of the HAPs, SAPs and SSs within the Clackmannanshire BAP. Otter Species Action Plan Twice yearly surveys have been carried out since Barn Owl Species Action Plan 2004 at locations throughout the county. These The Barn Owls of Lowland (BOOLS) surveys show that otter numbers are increasing in Project has installed and monitored 18 nest boxes Clackmannanshire, a trend that is being seen across throughout Clackmannanshire. In the past 2 years 22 the country. barn owl chicks have been raised in these boxes. Lochs & Ponds Habitat Action Plan Coastal Lagoons Habitat Action Plan Improvements in and around the Delph Pond, The Black Devon wetlands lie southwest of Tullibody have included a new nesting platform at the confluence of the River Black Devon and the for the resident swans and two floating reedbeds. . Over the life of the BAP the existing These projects have had the full support of the local complex of freshwater and brackish pools have been community with over 100 people involved in the complemented by newly created, award winning project work days. lagoons.

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The BAP also works to raise awareness of, and encourage interest in, biodiversity. One

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Installing reed beds reed Installing environmental education and working closely with Sand Martin Species Statement Clackmannanshire’s schools. Some of our work with schools is highlighted below. Bobby’s Bank was constructed by the CBP and local volunteers to provide a secure home for sand martins. The bank is clearly visible from the bird hide Biodiversity Calendar at Gartmorn Dam from where, in summer months, In 2003 the first Clackmannanshire Biodiversity visitors can enjoy the aerial acrobatics of these birds Calendar was produced. Since then the calendar as they feed and drink on the wing. has gone from strength to strength. 2009 marked a record year for entries to the biodiversity calendar Boundary Features Habitat Action competition with school pupils submitting hundreds Plan of drawings of their local environment. Through the hedge and tree planting scheme a number of landowners and schools were able to Fish go to School plant species-rich hedgerows and contribute to Over the past 3 years every primary school in over 5km of species-rich hedgerows planted in Clackmannanshire has had the opportunity to Clackmannanshire between 2003 - 2008. participate in ‘Fish go to School’. This exciting project has provided pupils with an insight into the life cycle of the fish within Clackmannanshire’s rivers.

Eco-schools All Clackmannanshire’s schools are involved in the Eco-Schools programme. A number of schools have been awarded their green flags and some have gone on to achieve their second green flag. The CBP have worked closely with a number of schools to help them achieve this status.

John Muir Trust Award The CBP have worked with schools, youth groups and individuals to achieve their John Muir Trust Awards. Whether building a sand martin bank at Gartmorn Dam or planting trees to create a wood within Deerpark Primary School’s grounds.

Volunteers building Bobby’s bank

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Summary of the progress towards BAP actions The Clackmannanshire BAP contains 651 actions, of which 244 priority actions have been entered into the national, web-based Biodiversity Action Overall LBAP Progress Reporting System (BARS). BARS allows local action to be monitored and collated at a national level and contribute to national targets. 100

The graph below shows the progress recorded on 93 BARS towards actions contained within the BAP. The 80 implementation of these actions is very much reliant on partnership working and a great deal of volunteer 62 input. 60

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20 Abandone d 13 Not Started Partially completed Completed Unknow n 0 Projects Northern brown Argus Butterfly

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leaflet launch leaflet Biodiversity Trails Trails Biodiversity Reporting on LBAP progress - barriers and constraints

The BAP process in Clackmannanshire has A small number of actions have been ‘abandoned’ produced many commendable results but has due to findings of surveys or following further also encountered barriers and constraints consultation with partners. For example, survey to implementation. The original BAP was an work has shown that no black grouse were present intentionally ambitious document that contained in Clackmannanshire and so actions to conserve and many aspirational targets. The aim was to set monitor the population had to be abandoned. difficult goals that would drive the newly formed CBP to achieve as much as possible. Some of these Now that you have read this report, and considered aspirations have proved to be unachievable but it the successes and constraints highlighted, we would is not for the want of trying. There is evidence of like to hear your comments on the report as a whole success in many areas, particularly in raising local or on the following specific points: awareness and communication-networking. The • Do you agree with the issues raised in this process has helped provide a forum and means for report? focusing on local conservation. • What other issues/pressures do you know of A lack of reporting, whether through BARS or locally? otherwise, has left the CBP unable to meaningfully • Do you know of any initiatives or guidance that evaluate progress towards BAP targets. In the five could feed into our review process? years since the production of the current BAP a number of changes have taken place, with groups and individuals joining and leaving the CBP. This has meant that not all partners have been able to effectively report their progress towards BAP actions. Therefore a number of actions are listed If you have any questions relating to the information as ‘not started’ and ‘unknown’ due to a lack of within this report or wish to know more about the information rather than a lack of progress. Many work of the CBP then please contact: of those listed as ‘partially complete’ may well Guy Harewood be complete but, again, due to lack of Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Coordinator, reporting progress is not known. call on 01259 452639, or email [email protected]

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6 The Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the production and implementation of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Action Plan over the last seven years.

Without the efforts of CBP members, past and present, partners and volunteers the achievements highlighted in this report would not have been possible.

This report has been printed on Revive 100 offset, a 100% recyled paper. The printing was done using environmentally friendly inks.

Produced by Clackmannanshire Council Communications Unit. Greenfield Biodivnew_f.indd.

biodiversity.clacksweb.org.uk