2012 08 21 Cadair Idris SAC Management Plan Eng
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CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES CORE MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDING CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES FOR Cadair Idris Special Area of Conservation Version: 2 (Minor map edit August 2012) Date: 31 January 2012 Approved by: Mike Willis 31 st January 2012 A Welsh version of all or part of this document can be made available on request. CONTENTS Preface: Purpose of this document 1. Vision for the Site................................................................................................................. 3 2. Site Description 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan....................................................... 4 2.2 Outline Description................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management……………………………………... 5 2.4 Management Units……………………………………………………………….. 5 3. The Special Features 3.1 Confirmation of Special Features......................................................................… 6 3.2 Special Features and Management Units...................................................…….. 6 4. Conservation Objectives for SAC features Background to Conservation Objectives 4.1 Clear-water lakes............................................................................................................. 9 4.2 Scree ............................................................................................................................... 12 4.3 Calcareous chasmophytic vegetation+ (combined in section 4) ……………………… 15 4.3 Siliceous chasmophytic vegetation.+ (combined in section 4) ……………………….. 15 4.3 Tall herb ledge communities+(combined in section 4) ……………………………….. 15 4.4 Dry heaths* combined in section 4 .............................................................…………...22 4.4 Wet heaths* combined in section 4.................................................................………… 22 4.5 Blanket bogs.................................................................................................................... 27 4.6 Oak woods...................................................................................................................... 32 4.7 Molinia meadows............................................................................................................ 38 4.8 Alkaline fens................................................................................................................... 42 4.9 Slender green feather moss ............................................................................................47 4.10 Marsh fritillary.............................................................................................................. 52 5. Assessment of Conservation Status and Management Requirements for SAC features: 5.1 Clear-water lakes............................................................................................................. 57 5.2 Scree ............................................................................................................................... 57 5.3 Calcareous chasmophytic vegetation+ (combined in section 5) ………………… .….. 58 5.3 Siliceous chasmophytic vegetation.+ (combined in section 5) ……………………….. 58 5.3 Tall herb ledge communities+(combined in section 5) ……………………………….. 58 5.4 Dry heaths* (combined in section 5) .............................................................………… 60 5.4 Wet heaths* (combined in section 5).................................................................………. 60 5.5 Blanket bogs.................................................................................................................... 62 5.6 Oak woods...................................................................................................................... 63 5.7 Molinia meadows**(combined in section 5)......................................................……… 64 5.8 Alkaline fens**(combined in section 5).............................................................…........ 64 5.9 Slender green feather moss**(combined in section 5).........................................…….. 64 5.10 Marsh fritillary.............................................................................................................. 66 6. Action Plan: Summary.............................................................................................………68 7. Glossary 8. References and Annexes 2 PREFACE This document provides the main elements of CCW’s management plan for the site named. It sets out what needs to be achieved on the site, the results of monitoring and advice on the action required. This document is made available through CCW’s web site and may be revised in response to changing circumstances or new information. This is a technical document that supplements summary information on the web site. One of the key functions of this document is to provide CCW’s statement of the Conservation Objectives for the relevant Natura 2000 site. This is required to implement the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended (Section 4). As a matter of Welsh Assembly Government Policy, the provisions of those regulations are also to be applied to Ramsar sites in Wales. 1. VISION FOR THE SITE This is a descriptive overview of what needs to be achieved for conservation on the site. It brings together and summarises the Conservation Objectives (part 4) into a single, integrated statement about the site but currently only covers the SAC features. Cadair Idris is a remarkable upland landscape, at the southern most limit for a number of alpine species and vegetation types in Britain. The site encompasses the mountain and lower slopes which are a mosaic of habitats including woodland and the species-rich Molinia grasslands of Tir Stent common. The low nutrient or clear-water lakes should be maintained as naturally clear and unpolluted, with hopefully reduced inputs of acid rain. The acid or base-poor nature of much of the underlying rock means that the lakes are especially vulnerable to acidification. The vegetated scree should be maintained in its current favourable condition. The tall herb ledges and chasmophytic vegetation should be maintained and preferably increased in area beyond the current ledges to which they are confined by current grazing. The dry heath, wet heath and blanket bog should be restored by grazing and water level management and be encouraged to increase at the expense of less desirable vegetation. The fragile damp, moss and liverwort rich heath should continue to flourish and increase in cover on suitable north and northeast facing slopes. In the longer term, the development of open woodland and scattered trees onto heath, as a more natural tree line develops, is considered desirable. The woodland area should remain stable or increase by trees spreading up onto the mountain and by bracken communities developing into woodland or wood pasture. The woodland condition should be restored by eradication of rhododendron and invasive species and the managed removal of most conifers and other non-natives over the longer-term. The Molinia grassland, alkaline fen and slender green feather moss should be maintained in area and location by appropriate management particularly grazing. Similarly the population of marsh fritillary at Tir Stent, (and on neighbouring habitat off the SAC), would benefit from restoration habitat management so that this butterfly meta population does not decline. 3 2. SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan The coverage of this plan adheres to the boundaries of Cadair Idris SAC. Grid reference(s): centred on approximately SH710130 Unitary authority: Gwynedd County Council. Area (hectares): 3785 ha Designation covered: Cadair Idris Special Area of Conservation Map. SAC, SSSI, and NNR designations at Cadair Idris. This plan covers the green area only. 2.2 Outline Description The site is located to the south of Dolgellau and is of special interest for its biological, Ordovician/igneous bedrock geology and Pleistocene/Quaternary geomorphology features. Cadair Idris SAC is underpinned by Cadair Idris SSSI. The woodlands on the northern edge of the SSSI form part of Coedydd Derw a Safleoedd Ystlumod Meirion SAC and are not covered by this plan. The site encompasses Cadair Idris mountain and the lower slopes, which are a mosaic of broadleaved woodland, wet meadows, upland habitats and grassland. It is a truly spectacular area with very many habitats and species, which are of national and international importance. The broad range of physical conditions gives rise to a wide range of habitat types. These include dwarf scrub heath communities, montane grasslands, herb- and fern-rich communities, blanket mire, soligenous flush communities, a spring-flush habitat, open water and oak woodland. The most prevalent are acid grasslands dominated by Nardus stricta and Festuca ovina and acid dry heaths dominated by Calluna 4 vulgaris . In the context of the SSSI the site is also of special interest for its assemblage of higher plants, lichens, bryophytes and montane invertebrates. Nine higher plants are of special interest in their own right as is the (SAC feature) slender green feather moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus and an edge of range lichen species. Also of special interest are populations of the marsh fritillary butterfly, Welsh clearwing moth, and lesser horseshoe bat. Cadair Idris SAC includes five oligotrophic lakes, namely Llyn y Gadair, Llyn Gafr, Llyn Arran, Llyn Cyri, and Llyn Cau. The Cadair Idris National Nature