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Species Conservation Translocations: Update and Opportunities 2019

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Species Conservation Translocations: Update and Opportunities 2019 SAC/2019/03/03 SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Species conservation translocations: Update and opportunities 2019. Summary 1. This paper provides an update on issues relating to species reintroductions and other types of conservation translocations, the work of the National Species Reintroduction Forum, and some future opportunities. Action 2. SAC members are invited to note the recent work on conservation translocations, and to comment on the scientific issues and potential opportunities presented in sections 27-35. Preparation of Paper 3. This paper has been prepared by Martin Gaywood, and is sponsored by Eileen Stuart. Background 4. Conservation translocations refer to the intentional movement and release of living organisms where the primary goal is a conservation benefit. They may include reintroductions, reinforcements and assisted colonisations. More background, including definitions of terms, the work of the National Species Reintroduction Forum (NSRF), and a description of the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations (which are based on the IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations), can be found in paper SAC/2016/03/08 produced in March 2016. 5. Scotland remains a leader in conservation translocation work. It is a topic that can generate substantial public, media and political interest. The use of conservation translocations (especially reintroductions) has increased dramatically in recent years. The following sections provide an update of relevant activities that have taken place since the 2016 paper, and sets out some possible future opportunities. Update since March 2016 6. The Terms of Reference for the National Species Reintroduction Forum (NSRF) were revised and updated in December 2017. This clarified that its remit covers all conservation translocations, and not just reintroductions. There are now 19 full members and eleven corresponding members. Eileen Stuart of SNH has recently become the new chair. 1 SAC/2019/03/03 7. Until recently the NSRF have focussed more on developing, improving and communicating best practice approaches to conservation translocations, which culminated with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations. However, another NSRF sub-group has been set up to develop a strategic approach to how species that might benefit most from conservation translocations could be identified and prioritised. 8. SNH held a ‘Sharing Good Practice’ event on conservation translocations in April 2016. The event was fully subscribed with 70 attendees including consultants, local authority ecologists, NGO representatives, and staff from statutory bodies. The event was used to promote best practice as set out in the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations, but also to get feedback on the approach set out in the Code. 9. The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations has now become embedded as best practice to employ when working in Scotland, and must be used when applying for any SNH licence that includes conservation translocation. The aim is that the Code will be revised and improved in due course, taking into account the feedback and experiences to date, and to further harmonise it with SNH licensing requirements. In 2017 it was ‘highly commended’ at the ‘Nature of Scotland Awards’. The IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group (IUCN RSG) has highlighted Scotland as the first country to adopt the IUCN guidelines in a national context via its Code. 10. The 2nd International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference, organised by the IUCN RSG, was held in Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago on 13-16 November 2018 (abstracts are available). SNH was represented, and a talk was given on ‘Conservation translocations in Scotland – people and species’ which focussed on socio-economic considerations. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) was also represented and gave an ePoster presentation on the beaver reinforcement project at Knapdale, of which SNH is a partner. Some of the key developing areas highlighted at the conference reintroduction are set out in section 26. 11. The RZSS has recently announced plans to develop a ‘National Wildlife Reintroductions Centre’ in the Cairngorm National Park. The centre will initially focus on wildcats (see wildcats update below), but with the flexibility to support work for other priority species in the future. Fundraising for this facility has now begun. 12. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), in collaboration with international partners, has recently submitted a grant application for a European training programme (including at doctoral level) designed to improve the knowledge base and practice of conservation translocations of threatened plants, with a focus on the use of ex situ material. If successful, an independent advisory board will be set up, 2 SAC/2019/03/03 consisting of five international specialists – SNH has accepted an invitation to sit on this board, which will provide an opportunity to link with the NSRF and SNH activities. 13. The UK Government’s ‘25 Year Environment Plan’ has a section on species reintroductions, and includes a commitment to produce a code that will apply in England. An advisory group, chaired by Defra, has been set up to develop the English Code, which is being drafted by Natural England (NE). SNH have been advising Defra and NE, and the decision has been made to use the Scottish Code as a template for the English version. Publication is expected at some point in spring 2019, and a permanent advisory group will also be established along the lines of the NSRF, chaired by Defra. Examples of species projects 14. There have been a number of recent projects, and proposals, involving conservation translocations with Scotland as a receptor and/or donor. A sample is briefly referred to here. 15. The Species Action Framework (SAF) was a programme of targeted management action for 32 species that operated from 2007-2012, led by SNH. Many of these projects have continued in different forms after 2012. Conservation translocation was used a tool for several of the species including woolly willow, freshwater pearl mussel, pine hoverfly, vendace, water vole, white-tailed eagle and Eurasian beaver. The work and experience gained was recorded in the ‘Species Action Framework Handbook’ published in late 2016. 16. Flavocetraria centralis – This is an arctic alpine species of lichen restricted to a few montane sites in the Cairngorms, and likely to be sensitive to small-scale variation in environmental conditions. It became the focus of a licensed, experimental assisted colonisation involving SNH, the James Hutton Institute and the RBGE. 17. Alpine sow-thistle Cicerbita alpina – This is one of our rarest alpine plant species, only four native sites remain in the UK, all situated in the eastern Cairngorm mountains. Research carried out by RBGE has shown that the genetic diversity at each remaining site is low. Led by RBGE and SNH, translocations to three new sites (one close to a native site) were undertaken during 2017. Planting in Glen Doll was assisted by Graeme Day MSP, “Species Champion” for woolly willow Salix lanata (another species that has been successfully translocated in recent years). 18. Native oyster Ostrea edulis – Glenmorangie Distillery and Heriot Watt University have a well-developed proposal to restore native oyster to the Dornoch Firth. Controlled trials have taken place. Discussions are taking place with SNH over licensing arrangements and best practice. 19. Golden eagle – The ‘South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project’ involves a partnership between SNH, RSPB, Scottish Land and Estates and 3 SAC/2019/03/03 Buccleuch Estates, funding from a range of sources including £1.3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Until recently there were between two to four pairs of eagles across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, but the habitat is suitable for up to 16 pairs. Early advice was received from the NSRF. It has a significant socio-economic component, with two ‘community outreach officers’ and one ‘stakeholder engagement officer’ in the project team. The first three birds were released in August 2018. 20. White-tailed eagle – There have been no further releases of birds since the end of East of Scotland Sea Eagle project in 2012 (described in the Species Action Framework Handbook). However post-release management issues remain sensitive, particularly on the west coast. There is a Sea Eagle Management Scheme designed to provide livestock farmers and crofters with support and advice. 21. Eurasian beaver – SNH provided Scottish Government the ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report in 2015. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced in November 2016 that she was minded to allow the existing Knapdale and Tayside populations to remain, and for them to recolonize naturally. A Scottish Beaver Forum was established, made of key conservation and land use stakeholder organisations, and SNH has been working with them to finalise appropriate advisory, management and licensing tools. A reinforcement project started at Knapdale in autumn 2017, the site of the original Scottish Beaver Trial. The statutory instrument to make beavers a ‘European Protected Species’ was laid on 22 February 2019, with the aim of legal protection coming into force in early May 2019. One of the tasks to take forward will be the further development of a research, survey and monitoring strategy for beavers in Scotland. 22. Red squirrel – Trees for Life have a licence for their ‘Red
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