The Relationship Between Natura 2000 Sites and Agriculture /Farmland

The relationship between Natura 2000 sites and agriculture /farmland. Case Study Proposal: Best practice has to be developed in the proposal.

The relationship between Natura 2000 sites and agriculture /farmland. Member State Scotland, UK

Contact details of proposer Contact points: Maria de la Torre/Marie Pages Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Great Glen House Leachkin Road Inverness IV3 8NW 00 44 01463 725000

[email protected]

NATURA Site summary 10 Corncrake SPAs in Britain (all in Scotland): Conservation objectives etc. - Aird and Borve, Benbecula - Coll (corncrake) - Eoligarry, Barra - Kilpheder to Smerclate, South Uist - Ness and Barvas, Lewis - North Uist Machair and Islands - Oronsay and South Colonsay - Rinns of Islay - South Uist Machair and Lochs - Tiree (corncrake)

These Natura sites hold a mix of cultivated land, grassland cut for hay or silage, pastures and semi- natural marshy areas that provide cover and breeding sites for corncrakes. The objectives are to sustain traditional crofting activities that maintain suitable habitats for corncrakes (tall vegetation, undisturbed areas during the breeding season, early/late cover)

Habitat / Species Corncrake (Crex crex) represented.

Agricultural systems Agricultural activities (crofting) are crucial to Does farming system maintaining the suitable breeding habitats for

1 conflict with conservation corncrakes. Hay meadows or late cut silage leys and tall objectives or CAP support? vegetation on semi-natural areas such as iris beds are good habitats. Intensification of agricultural practices and changes in land-use with earlier mechanised hay or silage making, improvement of grassland, drainage of marshy areas, decreased areas for mowing or abandonment of farming all together explain the severe decline of corncrakes in Britain since the beginning of the 20th Century.

Decline in sheep/cattle following SFP decoupling. Crofting not viable anymore, aging population, loss of skills: more grazing on the in-bye, less production of winter feed (more bought-in) so less areas where stock is excluded in spring.

Possible conflict with CCAGS (Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme (subsiding land improvements) and subsidies encouraging intensification in the past.

Major Challenges faced Former schemes (see details below)have successfully reversed the decline of the corncrake populations in Northern and Western Scotland (which increased by 5.7% per year between 1993 and 2003 – Green et al. 20061). However with the end of SNH corncrake schemes, the transfer of the legacy agreements into SRDP (Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13) is at present challenging. Lack of commercial consultants in remote areas to advise crofters and process online applications is one problem. The modest value of the (RP- Rural Priorities) contracts compared with the hassle and costs of applying is another issue, along with the general perception that SRDP is too complex. As an example, Ness and Barvas SPA had approximately 80 crofts under SNH natural care scheme (which expired in 2009) of which 10-15% have secured RP contracts (Roddy MacMinn’s, area officer, pers. comment).

SRDP payments may also not be a sufficient incentive to justify delaying silage cutting and restrictions on operations during the bird breeding season. This was one of the issues raised by the Borve Monitor Township who

1 Green, R.E., O’Brien, M., Wilson, J. 2006. Partial recovery of the population of Corncrakes Crex Crex in Britain 1993-2004. Bird Study, 53, 213-224

2 investigated different grass mixes to improve silage quality despite late cutting (trial funded by SNH).

Other more marginal issues include American mink predation and disturbance due to recreational activities.

Integrated management Maintaining early/late cover for corncrakes adopted (undisturbed tall vegetation) Delaying hay and silage cutting until the end of July/August Adoption of corncrake friendly mowing techniques

RSPB (some SPA included in RSPB reserves), Scottish Crofting Federation (corncrake initiative), SNH (SNH Participatory approach e.g. Corncrake Management Schemes). Other stakeholders Advice by RSPB and SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) in the Uists. Machair Life + (this 4 year project, which started in 2010, brings together a range of partners aiming to promote positive management and trial different management in designated Machair Natura sites, including corncrake interests2).

Good practice resolving Work in partnership with crofters (Machair Life+), conflict advice, trials to combine silage quality and late cutting (Monitor Farm project).

Use of other instruments Different schemes since 1993: e.g. Agri environment  Corncrake Initiative funding  Skye Grassland Scheme  The Uist Machairs ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) and the Argyll Islands ESA  SNH Natural Care schemes  Countryside Premium Scheme/Rural Stewardship Scheme options  SRDP Rural Priority options. High demonstration value. Previous initiatives over a sustained period of time in combination appear to have resulted in a considerable increase in corncrake population3. However challenges remain in terms of supporting land management practices for corncrakes.

2 http://www.machairlife.org.uk/. 3 O, Brien et al (2006) report that 1040 singing males were found in 2004, compared to only 446 in 1993, having increased in ten of the 11 years since then.