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A Review of Approaches to Developing Lowland Habitat Networks in Scotland

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COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 104 A review of approaches to developing Lowland Habitat Networks in Scotland (ROAME No. F02AA102/2) For further information on this report please contact: Claudia Rowse Scottish Natural Heritage 2 Anderson Place EDINBURGH EH6 5NP Telephone: 0131–446 2432 E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Humphrey, J., Watts, K., McCracken, D., Shepherd, N., Sing, L., Poulsom, L., Ray, D. (2005). A review of approaches to developing Lowland Habitat Networks in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 104 (ROAME No. F02AA102/2). This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2005. All maps reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Forestry Commission PGA 100025498–2004 COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary A review of approaches to developing Lowland Habitat Networks in Scotland Commissioned Report No. 104 (ROAME No. F02AA102/2) Contractor: Forest Research, Scottish Agricultural College, Forestry Commission Scotland Year of publication: 2005 Background Habitat fragmentation, coupled with habitat loss and degradation has had a detrimental impact on the biodiversity of lowland agricultural landscapes in Scotland, especially over the last 50–60 years. Site- protection measures alone are insufficient to conserve biodiversity and a wider landscape scale approach is needed which fosters connectivity between habitats through the development of ecological networks. Current ecological theory and approaches to landscape evaluation for biodiversity are reviewed and tools offered for developing habitat networks in Scottish lowland agricultural landscapes, focusing at the sub- catchment scale (~200km2). Main findings ● Two contrasting ecologically-based approaches to landscape evaluation can be identified: the first focuses on landscape structure (eg metrics); the second on landscape processes (eg species dispersal and habitat usage). ● Focal species modelling integrates both structural and species-based approaches and is recommended as a practical, ecologically robust method for constructing and evaluating habitat networks. Sources of data on lowland habitats and species are identified and examples given of ecological profiles for focal species. ● Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is recommended as a tool for assessing the aesthetic and visual impacts of network development but needs to be combined with a Historic Land use Assessment. ● Computer-based visualisation packages are available to help with communicating LCAs. ● Work is required to integrate the LCA boundaries with Natural Heritage Future boundaries (the latter provide the ecological framework for networks). ● A GIS-based approach to assessing recreational impacts on habitat networks is proposed involving analysis of buffer distances around access and recreational facilities. ● Network construction and analysis tools which combine ecological, cultural and aesthetic attributes can be developed but need to be tested within case-study areas. ● A number of factors may constrain the practical implementation of habitat networks such as climate change, cultural resistance and the economic uncertainties facing the agricultural sector. For further information on this project contact: Claudia Rowse, Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP. Tel: 0131-446 2432 For further information on the SNH Research & Technical Support Programme contact: The Advisory Services Co-ordination Group, Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP. Tel: 0131–446 2400 or [email protected] Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 104 (ROAME No. F02AA102/2) Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Colin Stewart, Daniel Gotts, Claudia Rowse and John Hood for providing information and commenting on earlier versions of the report, and to Kirsten Hutchison for help with library and literature searches. Lachlan Renwick provided information on the Scottish Paths Record and Angus MacDonald helped with discussions on delineating lowland areas. Nigel Buchan provided an update on progress with testing landscape character assessments. Chris Quine, Peter Freer-Smith and Richard Brand- Hardy also made helpful comments on the report. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 104 (ROAME No. F02AA102/2) Extended Summary Habitat fragmentation, coupled with habitat loss and degradation has had a detrimental impact on the biodiversity of lowland agricultural landscapes in Scotland, especially over the last 50–60 years. There is recognition that site-protection measures alone are insufficient to conserve biodiversity and a wider landscape scale approach is proposed which fosters connectivity between habitats through the development of ecological networks. The theory and development of Forest Habitat Networks (FHNs) is well advanced in Scotland. As government policy is now encouraging better integration of forestry, agriculture and other land-uses, there is a need to assess the applicability of the network concept to agriculturally-dominated landscapes and explore ways of generating a positive interplay between Agricultural Habitat Networks (AHNs) and FHNs. This report reviews current ecological theory and approaches to landscape evaluation for biodiversity and offers tools for developing habitat networks in Scottish lowland agricultural landscapes. The intention is to provide support for the strategic planning of biodiversity enhancement in combination with other landuse objectives such as landscape design, recreation and access. The Scottish lowlands are defined with reference to SNH’s Natural Heritage Futures (NHFS). Seven areas of predominantly lowland character are identified using climate, geology and land-use criteria (Figure 6). A variety of spatial scales are relevant to the development of networks ranging from country/regional scales through landscape/catchment scales to individual farms. End-user needs/questions, ecological requirements of key species, and data availability combine to determine the scale of interest. Sub-catchment scale (~200km2) is suggested as a practical starting point for developing the network approach. Two contrasting ecologically-based approaches to landscape evaluation can be identified from the literature and case-studies. The first focuses on assessing landscape structure, and includes the use of landscape metrics/indices; defining threshold values for certain structural elements, or spatial targeting of structural change either within a network concept (ie emphasising physical connections between elements) or by prioritising changes in area or quality of individual elements. The drawback of purely structure-based approaches is that they take no account of landscape function (eg dispersal processes) or the needs of specific species. Species differ in their spatial preferences and movement capacity and require an array of different types of network. Species-based approaches to landscape evaluation can be classed into empirically-based habitat suitability modelling; metapopulation modelling; focal species modelling and spatially-explicit population modelling. All have their advantages and disadvantages. Focal species modelling sits mid-way on the modelling continuum between simple structure-based models and detailed single species-based models and is recommended as the most practical approach for constructing multi-species based networks. The GIS-based modelling tool BEETLE (Biological and Ecological Evaluation Tools for Landscape Ecology) integrates land cover and focal species (either real or generic) data to evaluate habitat suitability and functional connectivity within landscapes at a variety of spatial scales. Connectivity is modelled on the Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 104 (ROAME No. F02AA102/2) dispersal ability of a focal species and the ease of movement through the landscape surrounding suitable habitat patches. In lowland agricultural landscapes, remnant semi-natural habitats such as woodland, scrub, hedgerows and unimproved grassland provide the permanent framework for network development, but need to be integrated with short-term habitats such as arable crops, field margins and set-aside. Species of agricultural landscapes vary greatly in their habitat preferences and sensitivity to fragmentation. Some are highly mobile; others are very restricted in their movements. Some are habitat generalists; others are specialists, or require specific habitats at specific times of the year or during their lifecycle. A range of typical focal species are identified for potential use in network modelling. The availability of autecological information is limited for some of these focal species but general assumptions can be used for certain parameters based on expert opinion. Examples are given of ecological profiles for a woodland species and an open ground species. Generic species profiles can be constructed where data is lacking for specific species. The BEETLE model is recommended as a tool for constructing lowland habitat networks based on focal species analysis.
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