Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement Part D: Fastlink 40 Ecology and Nature Conservation This chapter provides a description of existing ecological conditions in the vicinity of the Fastlink section of the proposed scheme, assesses the likely impacts on ecological receptors, and proposes mitigation to ameliorate these potential impacts. The Fastlink section of the proposed scheme would pass through a diverse range of habitats of varying sensitivity. Although the majority of the proposed scheme would pass through an agricultural landscape of relatively low ecological value, important habitats are present at a number of locations, including Limpet Burn, Megray Wood, Fishermyre and the Burn of Muchalls. The main potential impacts would be likely to occur at Fishermyre, which is an important area supporting modified bog, heathland, wet woodland and marsh habitats, as well as protected species including otters, bats, birds and water voles. In this area, the proposed scheme would result in habitat loss, fragmentation, severance and hydrological damage to peat-based habitats. Habitat loss and fragmentation impacts are likely to be most important where the proposed scheme would affect burns and associated riparian habitat that form important wildlife corridors. The most important of these are Limpet Burn and the Burn of Muchalls, where there are likely to be significant impacts on birds and otters. Additional impacts would be associated with the localised fragmentation of woodland and heathland habitat and where the proposed scheme would potentially result in the fragmentation of bat flight routes and foraging areas. In general, residual impacts as a result of the proposed scheme are not expected to be significant. At several locations, licences will be required for a number of protected species, including the closure of badger setts, the exclusion/disturbance of otter holts/couches, and the exclusion of bat roosts. 40.1 Introduction 40.1.1 As reported in this ES, ecology is defined as the scientific study of the processes that influence the distribution and abundance of organisms, and the interactions between those organisms and their environment. Nature conservation is the maintenance of viable populations of fauna and flora and the habitats and communities to which they belong. 40.1.2 The objectives of nature conservation are the: • maintenance of diversity and landscape character, including wildlife communities and important geological and physical features; and • maintenance of viable populations of native species throughout their traditional distribution range, and the improvement of the status of rare or endangered species. 40.1.3 This chapter is concerned with the impacts of the proposed scheme on habitats and species present within the Fastlink study area. Survey and assessment reports are provided as appendices in Part C of the Environmental Statement (ES). 40.1.4 Cumulative impacts, combining the predicted impacts for all habitats and species over the entire AWPR proposed route, are described in Part E of the ES. 40.1.5 To aid the interpretation of the assessment, the study area has been sub-divided based upon habitat boundaries either man-made such as existing roads or due to habitat changes such as wooded areas changing into intensive agriculture. The sections for the Fastlink are as follows: • Section FL1: Stonehaven to Howieshill (ch0-3200); • Section FL2: Howieshill to Cookney (ch3200-6300); and • Section FL3: Cookney to Cleanhill Junction (ch6300-10200). 40-1 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement Part D: Fastlink Legislative and Policy Framework 40.1.6 Relevant nature conservation legislation and policy are described in detail in Chapter 10 (Ecology and Nature Conservation, Part B: The Northern Leg). 40.2 Approach and Methods Overview of Approach 40.2.1 The DMRB Stage 3 ecology surveys and assessment of impacts for the AWPR involve a process of Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) that is based on a matrix approach to Impact Assessment. This system of EcIA has been previously adapted for road construction projects and is recommended in Transport Appraisal Guidance documents such as Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and the Highways Agency’s guidance WEBTAG. 40.2.2 The matrix approach to EcIA involves a three stage approach to impact assessment: • firstly, all ecological features are evaluated in terms of their ecological importance and/or conservation value; • the magnitude of the impacts on these features is assessed according to a simple scale; and • finally, the significance of the impacts is determined by combining the information on the ecological importance of the feature with the magnitude of the impacts upon it. 40.2.3 The three stages of the EcIA process have been modified to be directly applicable to the proposed scheme, and are based on matrices from an early draft version of IEEM guidance on EcIA (IEEM, 2002) and Transport Advisory Guidance (STAG and WEBTAG). The bulk of the assessment for the AWPR Northern Leg was produced before the 2006 issue of the IEEM guidelines. Therefore, to maintain consistency and relevancy to other road construction guidelines, the assessment for the subsequent Southern Leg and Fastlink sections of the AWPR also follow the general approach described in the IEEM 2002 guidelines, although impact assessment is only addressed in generic terms. Scope of Assessment 40.2.4 The scope of this ecology assessment was determined through scoping and consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, and in accordance with client instruction and programme. The relevant information is summarised in this chapter, however further details of the EIA consultation process and respondees are provided in Chapter 6 (Scoping and Consultation). 40.2.5 Detailed ecological assessments were undertaken for habitats and for a range of rare or protected species, as agreed with SNH. Assessment results are summarised within this chapter and provided in full in the following technical appendices: • A40.1 – Terrestrial Habitats; • A40.2 – Badger (Confidential Document); • A40.3 – Bats; • A40.4 – Breeding Birds; • A40.5 – Otter; • A40.6 – Red Squirrel; • A40.7 – Water Vole; • A40.8 – Deer; and • A40.9 – Freshwater Ecology; 40-2 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement Part D: Fastlink 40.2.6 In addition to the species covered in the technical appendices, habitat evaluation was also undertaken for the following species and assemblages: • Amphibians; • Brown Hare; • Reptiles; • Terrestrial Invertebrates; and • Water Shrew. 40.2.7 To minimise the need for cross-referencing, these evaluations are not reported in separate technical appendices; instead, the information is presented in this chapter. As no further information is provided on these species/assemblages, the amount of detail provided in this chapter is slightly greater than that warranted by their relative importance compared to the various protected species that are reported in the detailed technical appendices and summarised in this chapter. 40.2.8 Roe deer do not have any specific legal protection for nature conservation and no ecological impact assessment has been undertaken on them. Appendix A40.8 reports the results of consultation and survey to establish baseline conditions for deer in the vicinity of the proposed scheme. It also provides a risk assessment that identifies key areas where there is a risk of deer/vehicle collisions. These data on deer have been included in the context of a potential traffic hazard associated with the proposed scheme, rather than because of their nature conservation value – so they will not be further reported in this chapter. Baseline Conditions 40.2.9 All ecological assessments were undertaken by Jacobs, with the exception of bird and bat surveys, which were undertaken by Mackenzie Bradshaw Environmental Consulting (MBEC) and electric- fishing surveys, which were undertaken by the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board (DDFSB). The names and qualifications of the ecology team are presented in Table 40.1 – Lead Surveyors. 40.2.10 Ecological baseline conditions were identified using two methods, described in more detail below: consultation, of statutory and non-statutory organisations and of recognised publications; and specialist field survey. Table 40.1 – Lead Surveyors Responsibility Name and relevant qualifications Ecology Team Leader Rebecca Hewlett BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Ecology Team Leader Jon Huckle BSc (Hons) MSc PhD MIEEM Ecology Assessment Martina Girvan BSc (Hons) MSc PhD MIEEM MBEC Leader Paul Bradshaw BSc (Hons) MSc MRes Survey Scoping and Coordination Graham Rankin BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Phase 1 Habitat and NVC Chris Smillie BSc (Hons) MSc MCSM PhD MIEEM Badger Jon Guarnaccio BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Nicola Tallach BSc (Hons) BTEC HNC MIEEM Bats (MBEC) Claire Hopkins BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM Licenced Bat Worker (Jacobs) David Coote MPhys MSc Breeding Birds (MBEC) Graham Rankin BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM (Jacobs) Wintering Birds Jon Durward BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Otter Claire Hopkins BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM Red squirrel Kate Finlinson BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM Water Shrew and Vole Richard Roe BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Amphibians and Reptiles Chris Kerfoot BSc (Hons) International MSc AIEEM 40-3 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement Part D: Fastlink Responsibility Name and relevant qualifications Deer Alastair Miller BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM Brown Hare Alastair Miller BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM Freshwater Habitat Rachel Wilson BSc (Hons) MSc AMIBIOL LMIFM River