Highland Biodiversity Action Plan 2010
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HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 Foreword Facal-toisich This Biodiversity Action Plan has been drawn up by Highland Council on behalf of the Highland Biodiversity Partnership. The Partnership is made up of representatives of around 30 local groups and organisations committed to understanding, safeguarding, restoring and celebrating biodiversity within Highland. Our purpose is to provide guidance and support to the existing network of Local Biodiversity Groups, and to make progress on the key strategic biodiversity issues in the Highlands. It is this last point that we hope to address through this Plan. The Plan lists the key issues that have been brought to our attention since the Partnership started in 2005, and proposes a range of future actions or projects that we’d like to undertake in the next three years. We have made progress on nine of the ten strategic issues that were identified in the 2006 Highland BAP. This Plan proposes 24 new projects, each with simple, measurable targets and an identifiable lead partner. It is perhaps fitting that this Plan is being launched in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity and understandably, a desire to raise awareness building on all the good work undertaken to date features strongly in it. We are of course bound by limits on the budget and resources that our partners can muster in these difficult times, but nonetheless we are confident that we can achieve a lot by working together and planning ahead. Please visit our website www.highlandbiodiversity.com for further information and an electronic version of the Plan. Councillor Audrey Sinclair Chairperson, Highland Biodiversity Partnership Highland Biodiversity Partnership British Association of Shooting & National Trust for Scotland Conservation Northern Constabulary British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Ross & Cromarty (East) Biodiversity Group Cairngorms National Park Authority Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Caithness Biodiversity Group Scottish Agricultural College Community Woodlands Association Scottish Environment Protection Agency Crofters Commission Scottish Gamekeepers Association Deer Commission for Scotland Scottish Government Rural Payments & Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group Inspections Directorate Forestry Commission Scotland Scottish Natural Heritage Highland Biological Recording Group Scottish Rural Property & Business Highlands & Islands Enterprise Association Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Scottish Wildlife Trust Service Skye & Lochalsh Environment Forum Lochaber Biodiversity Group Sutherland Partnership Marine Conservation Society The Crown Estate Moray Firth Partnership The Highland Council National Farmers Union (Scotland) Wester Ross Environment Network 2 HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 Table of Contents Clàr-innse Page Duilleag Introduction 4 Ro-ràdh What is Biodiversity? 4 Dè tha ann am Bith-iomadachd? The Biodiversity of Highland 6 Bith-iomadachd na Gàidhealtachd Biodiversity Action Planning 8 Dealbhadh Gnìomha Bith-iomadachd Highland Biodiversity Action Plan 10 Phlana-gnìomha Bith-iomadachd na Gàidhealtachd Highland BAP Objectives 11 Mion-amasan 1. Biological Recording & Data Management 12 Clàradh & Stiùireadh Dàta Bith-eòlasach 2. Local Biodiversity Group Capacity 15 Comas Buidhne Bith-iomadachd Ionadail 3. Invasive Non-Native Species 17 Gnèithean Neo-dhùthchasach Ionnsaigheach 4. Biodiversity Awareness & Knowledge 21 Mothachadh & Fios mu Bhith-iomadachd 5. Planning, Building & Infrastructure 27 Dealbhadh, Togail & Bun-structair 6. Sustainable Use of Habitats & Species 29 Cleachdadh Seasmhach Àrainnean & Ghèithean 7. Local Sources of Wildflowers, Trees & Shrubs 35 Tùsan Ionadail de Dhìthein Fhiadhaich, Chraobhan & Phreasan 8. Local Nature Reserves & Community Gardens 37 Raoin-glèidhteachais Nàdair Ionadail & Gàrraidhean Coimhearsnachd Summary of Proposed Actions 39 Geàrr-chunntas de Ghnìomhan a Thathar a’ Moladh Annex 1: List of Priority Habitats & Species 41 Leas-phàipear 1: Liosta de dh’Àrainnean & Ghnèithean le Prìomhachas Annex 2: Highland Biodiversity News (April 07) 49 Leas-phàipear 2: Naidheachdan Bith-iomadachd na Gàidhealtachd (Giblean 07) Annex 3: Highland Biodiversity News (August 09) Leas-phàipear 3: Naidheachdan Bith-iomadachd na Gàidhealtachd (Lùnastal 09) 3 HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 Introduction Ro-ràdh What is Biodiversity? Dè tha ann am Bith-iomadachd? Biodiversity is short for “biological diversity”, or the variety of plants and animals in the world. We depend on this richness of plants and animals. It has important economic benefits through farming, forestry, fishing, tourism and through the provision of raw materials for medical research (for example). Plants and animals are an important part of our cultural heritage, and give us pleasure and enjoyment. Biodiversity also provides us with natural services such as soil creation, biological control of pests and flood prevention. Where did it all start? Càite an do thòisich e? The word “biodiversity” came from the “Earth Summit” held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where 159 countries (including Britain) recognised the value of biodiversity to human life and signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. This pledges the UK to conserve biodiversity, to use its components in a way that ensures they continue to be available for future generations, and to share the benefits of biodiversity fairly and equitably between all nations and people. This way of using resources is an integral part of the philosophy of sustainable development, whereby any development should ensure that it does not deprive the quality of life of future generations. Dunbeath Strath, Caithness What has happened so far? Dè tha air tachairt gu ruige seo? The UK Government commissioned a detailed set of recommendations on how the Convention on Biological Diversity should be implemented, known as the “UK Biodiversity Action Plan”. This includes lists of habitats and species which are considered to be the ones most in need of conservation in the UK. Action plans have subsequently been drawn up for these habitats and species, focusing particularly on national objectives. 4 HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 More recently, the Scottish Executive passed the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, which places a duty upon public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity. The Executive has also produced The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and a series of implementation plans that suggest ways of furthering the conservation of biodiversity at a Scotland-wide level. Hawthorn blossom In Highland, a number of local biodiversity groups were set up in 2002-4. The groups produced Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) to identify locally important habitats and species, as well as a range of issues threatening them and projects that could be undertaken to help them. A Highland Biodiversity Partnership was set up in 2005, which meets twice a year to oversee progress and address some of the more strategic issues facing Highland’s nature and wildlife. A Highland Biodiversity Action Plan was produced in 2006, and the purpose of this document is to update the Highland BAP and reprioritise work for the Partnership for the next three years. The Rum Cullin & Canna 5 HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 The Biodiversity of Highland Bith-iomadachd na Gàidhealtachd The UK Biodiversity Action Plan identifies 1150 priority species and 65 priority habitats as priorities for action within the UK. 606 of the UK priority species occur in Scotland, and Highland supports 75% of these (455 species). Highland also holds over three quarters of the UK priority habitats (51 habitats). Annex 1 lists the national priority habitats and species that occur in Highland. A review is currently underway looking at the keys areas for these species and habitats in Scotland, which will be published soon. In Highland, we are lucky to have such a high proportion of national priority species. Not only that, but we are considered the stronghold or even sole location for several of these species. This wealth of nature and wildlife gives us enviable opportunities through tourism and joint working, for example with European partners over the conservation of migratory birds or the reintroduction of high profile birds and mammals. Many of the UK priority species occur in a very restricted number of sites. In the majority of cases, the management of these species and sites is already in hand, with the help of organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage. Often, species share the same ecological requirements and good management regimes may benefit many species. This is recognised at a national level, and either species are grouped together within single plans, or plans are being implemented in a co-ordinated way. Common darter dragonfly In Highland, a number of key habitats often support significant numbers of priority species. Continuing to manage these habitats well will usually maintain the associated species. Highland is particularly important for: • native pine woodlands (particularly important for wood ants, fungi, red squirrel, capercaillie and other priority species); • blanket bog (the peatlands of Caithness & Sutherland are the largest area of blanket bog in the world); • montane habitats (not identified as a national priority habitat in their own right, despite supporting many priority species); 6 HIGHLAND BAP March 2010 • arable farmland (8 priority bird species are associated); • marine and intertidal habitats (the Moray Firth is the most important in Scotland for its wintering waterbirds, supporting on average 142,000 birds);