Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 449b Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands (2nd edition) COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 449b Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands (2nd edition) For further information on this report please contact: Dr David Genney Policy & Advice Officer - Bryophytes, Fungi and Lichens Scottish Natural Heritage Great Glen House Leachkin Road Inverness, IV3 8NW Telephone: 01463 725000 Email:
[email protected] This report should be quoted as: Averis, A.B.G., Genney, D.R., Hodgetts, N.G., Rothero, G.P. & Bainbridge, I.P. (2012). Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands – 2nd edition. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.449b 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 2012. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Bryological assessment for hydroelectric schemes in the West Highlands – 2nd edition Commissioned Report No.: Report No. 449b Project No.: 10494 Contractor: A.B.G. Averis Year of publication: 2012 Background Proposals for run-of-river hydroelectric schemes are being submitted each year, but developers and planning consultees are often unclear about when to commission a bryophyte survey as part of the information submitted in a planning application. This project was commissioned by SNH to provide a means of assessing the bryological importance and/or potential of watercourses. This will help to clarify whether a survey is needed for any particular hydroelectric proposal.