Scotland’s Land use future Meeting ’s land use needs sustainably Niall Benvie (rspb-images.com)

RENEWABLE ENERGY Sustainable land use With 23% of the European wind energy resource (on- and off-shore), – the need 59% of the UK’s coastline and a well- established hydroelectric network, Scotland has a huge potential for renewable energy production. Population growth, increasing consumption and However, to achieve the Scottish demand for energy mean that Scotland’s finite land Government target for generating 50% of electricity from renewable resources are under pressure, with climate change sources by 2020 without causing environmental harm will require posing additional challenges. How we use and careful planning. RSPB Scotland is strongly in favour of well-designed manage our land resources will play a vital role in and located renewable energy schemes and only objects to those building a sustainable future for Scotland’s people that are likely to harm biodiversity and the environment. and wildlife.

Land provides a wide range of vital goods and services – so-called ecosystem services. Some of these, such as food, fibre and timber, are obvious to see but others are less evident. Rural land is habitat for a diversity of wildlife and plays

a fundamental role in water, nutrient and carbon cycles. Land has aesthetic, spiritual and cultural value, and we use it for recreation and play. FOOD and FORESTRY  Agriculture and forestry are the Sectoral, single-purpose land use policies that zone land primarily on suitability primary productive land uses, covering for development, food and timber production, for example, have largely failed 60% and 17% of Scotland, respectively. to optimise the delivery of goods and services. Ensuring the continued Within these sectors, there is a broad provision of these ecosystem services and the economic, social and range of activity and land use, from environmental benefits they provide to society is a key challenge. Halting the ancient Caledonian pine forest to Sitka loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020 must plantation, from hi-tech arable be central to how we use and manage our land in future. operations to moorland sheep grazing. There is also a corresponding broad Climate change brings new challenges. Activities such as agriculture and range of impacts on biodiversity from forestry are significant emitters of greenhouse gases, but appropriate land these activities. Food and wood Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) management can help to both reduce emissions and create carbon sinks. Land products, including biomass for management also has a vital role to play in helping us, and wildlife, adapt to energy, are needed by society but the climate change that is already happening. must be produced in ways that do not damage the natural environment. New, integrated approaches to land use policy, planning and management are Instead they must provide space needed urgently if we are to optimise the delivery of goods and services that for nature. land can provide. To realise these benefits and to help people and nature adapt to the impacts of a changing climate, we need action, planning and management at a landscape scale. The Scottish Government’s Land Use Strategy must help to achieve multi-benefit land use, and existing land use policies and funding streams must now be reviewed and revised accordingly. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

WATER RESOURCES CARBON STORAGE How land is used can have a strong With a target to achieve reductions influence on water resources. in greenhouse gas emissions Activities, such as draining peatland or of 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, pesticide application, can lead to Scotland will need to protect its pollution and additional cost to water existing carbon stores and turn customers. But land can also be used these sources of carbon into to manage water for public benefit, for carbon sinks. Peatlands, saltmarsh, example, through storing floodwater, woodland and permanent or treating farm or urban waste water. grassland are all valuable stores of RSPB Scotland seeks commitment carbon and have the potential to from government to incentivise these sequester more, but much of this

sustainable solutions, which are often Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) natural resource is damaged. cost-effective and provide benefit to Restoration of these habitats will wildlife, and to ensure land is be incompatible with some land managed to minimise pollution, with uses, but will benefit wildlife and polluters paying for damage done to carbon storage, and in the case of the environment. peatlands can also benefit

water quality.

Terry Button (rspb-images.com) Button Terry

  (rspb-images.com) Hamblin Mark BIODIVERSITY WELLBEING Scotland’s wildlife has evolved and The uniqueness and beauty of adapted over centuries to the changing Scotland’s landscape and heritage are face of the countryside and changes in well-loved and provide an incalculable how land is managed. Habitat loss has sense of wellbeing to tourists, visitors seen the most threatened and from urban centres and those who live vulnerable of Scotland’s species within it. The land provides a variety of hemmed into the last remaining rich recreational and educational fragments of habitat, mostly within opportunities, and with this comes protected areas and including RSPB valuable income and employment to reserves. Many more widespread rural areas. RSPB Scotland calls on species have undergone dramatic government to invest in the natural declines, as the broader fabric of the environment in order to increase these countryside provides fewer of their food public benefits. Scotland also needs and shelter needs. RSPB Scotland more opportunities for people to works with land managers to reverse experience nature and the landscape these declines through management within easy reach of where they live, that is more sympathetic to the needs particularly the Central Belt. of biodiversity. The RSPB Working with the land

RSPB Scotland is working on its own land and in partnership with landowners and land managers, to ensure that the countryside is managed responsibly and sustainably, to enhance biodiversity and optimise other public benefits.

The RSPB manages 68,000 ha of land in Scotland as nature reserves. This covers a broad range of land types and habitats with many managed through agricultural methods, such as grazing with livestock. Reserves are primarily managed for wildlife but also provide other ecosystem services.

We work in partnership with companies and with individual landowners and managers too, to seek similar goals on their land. Wildlife in Scotland relies on land that is being actively managed to some extent, so when working with land managers we aim to ensure the financial viability of land-based businesses whilst also ensuring the land is managed for wildlife or with wildlife in mind.

The following case studies are examples of how we are trying to pursue integrated, multi-benefit land management on our land and in partnership with other organisations and land managers. We recognise that there are many challenges facing land managers who aim to achieve this and that there is a need to share the lessons we have learnt. Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Strathspey Black Law Ecosystem flood control Renew ables in th e right place

Insh Marshes covers almost 1,000 ha maintenance of water quality. This 124 MW, 54-turbine renewable the largest heathland restoration project of the floodplain between Cumulatively, these ecosystem energy development is located in an in the region. Habitat restoration work and , at the foot of services contribute significantly to the area of North and South Lanarkshire and includes restoration of a former the . Runoff and snowmelt local economy. West Lothian extensively damaged by opencast coalmine; removal of conifer from the hills in the surrounding mining, afforestation and drainage of plantations; and restoration of a catchments reach the marshes via the Land use in the surrounding wet heath. In terms of bird interest, it is watercourse to benefit otters and water River Spey and its tributaries, or via catchments has a direct effect on water host to a locally important population of voles, and modifications to the design to the small streams that drain into the quality and quantity on Marshes breeding waders. reduce its environmental impact. marsh itself. This is and downstream in Strathspey. RSPB internationally-important for birds and Scotland is working with farmers and By working closely with the developer, Black Law wind farm has been is managed by the RSPB. The naturally their agents throughout the catchment Scottish Power Renewables, Scottish operational since summer 2005 and functioning ecosystem of the to realise the vision for integrated Natural Heritage and the three local RSPB Scotland was delighted that this floodplain and its rivers, lochs and catchment management, and has councils, RSPB Scotland secured habitat development was awarded the Best provides several social, helped to secure SRDP (Scotland Rural mitigation and enhancement to benefit Renewable Project in the 2005 Green economic and environmental benefits, Development Programme) funding for breeding waders, farmland birds and Energy Awards. An application for not least flood water storage and this purpose. blanket bog. The resulting Habitat extending the wind farm by a further 23 defence for Aviemore, and Management Plan covers 1,440 ha and is turbines is currently being considered.

Strathbeg Forestry N a tu ra l w a te r tre a tm e n t Multi-purpose, multi-benefits

The in RSPB Scotland worked with partners Multi-purpose forestry can enhance the habitat and quality timber, while Aberdeenshire is a shallow, sand dune and funders including the EU, the wildlife value of Scotland’s native restructuring parts of non-native loch supporting tens of thousands of Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural woodlands and forestry plantations. plantations can help black grouse, for birds in winter – geese, swans, ducks Heritage (SNH), Scottish New woodland needs to be example in Galloway Forest Park. and waders, and breeding birds in the Environmental Protection Agency appropriately located, designed and summer. RSPB Scotland manages (SEPA) and a Friends of Strathbeg managed to maximise biodiversity Many native woodlands, such as the nearly 1,000 ha of this internationally- group, on an ambitious project to use benefits – placing new native woods Western Atlantic oakwoods of Kintyre important wildlife site for biodiversity the land and habitats to naturally and next to remnants, such as the RSPB’s and Sunart, require remedial and and visitor enjoyment, but also to sustainably clean the loch. This was Wood of Cree expansion, while avoiding onward management to restore their provide ecosystem services such as achieved by restoring the meanders priority open ground habitats, such as wildlife value. This benefits a range of good water quality. Despite its status, and floodplain of the Savoch Burn blanket bog, semi-natural grassland priority species, as well as helping the loch’s water became a “soup” due around the main inflow to the loch, and moorland. conserve landscape, amenity and to nutrient pollution from a number of and creating a reedbed to act as a silt historic interest. Sensitive native sources, including the surrounding trap. This is showing positive results. The fortunes of key wildlife species can woodland management can also provide farmland. This had consequences for Reserve staff are now working with be improved by careful forestry design, opportunities for sustainable harvesting Strathbeg’s plant communities landowners in the catchment to reduce planning and works. Native pinewood of timber and woodfuel linked to small- and wildlife. nutrient inputs to the loch. plantations, such as in Speyside, can be scale heat generation and benefits to managed to provide both capercaillie rural communities. Futurescapes is a partnership effort among the SCAPES RSPB, fellow environment organisations, local communities, businesses and government bodies SPACE FOR NATURE, to develop a vision for a wildlife-rich countryside in LAND FOR LIFE selected areas and to work together to achieve it.

The landscape-scale approach It is clear that current conservation efforts are not enough. We must make key wildlife habitats bigger and more resilient if wildlife is to adapt to climate change, but the wider countryside must also meet wildlife’s needs alongside other uses of land. We need to learn how to make the best of our land for multiple objectives. Sometimes that will The Flows mean a change in current land uses. It will not just be wildlife that wins. By taking a landscape-scale approach to wildlife conservation, we can improve other natural services provided by the land.

Futurescapes Futurescapes is the RSPB’s boldest, most ambitious programme yet. It aims to tackle challenges to wildlife and society in the Protecting carbon stores Caledonian following important ways. Machair Forest The Flow Country of and • Building partnerships among RSPB Scotland and other is of international importance environmental groups, local communities, the private sector and for its active blanket bog, associated relevant government authorities to develop a shared vision for a Living breeding birds and other biodiversity. countryside fit for people and wildlife, now and in the future – However, due to fiscal incentives during and to work together to deliver it. Inner Forth the 1970s and 1980s, large areas of the • Creating more space for nature, by increasing the size of areas Flow Country were damaged by ploughing that are managed primarily for nature conservation. and planting with non-native conifers. Cree Valley Native • Making the countryside a better place for wildlife to adapt to RSPB Scotland now owns 17,800 hectares Woodlands Scotland’s climate change, by making wildlife habitats more resilient to of the Flows and manages it to restore the Futurescapes climate change and by managing land in ways that help species many benefits of functioning peatland portfolio move in response to climate change. ecosystems, including biodiversity. • Putting nature conservation at the heart of human responses to new pressures on the countryside, such as bioenergy production Restoration work, in partnership with SNH, and new infrastructure development. Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland Council and private landowners, includes For decades, RSPB Scotland has been working at a scale that removing inappropriately-planted blocks of Futurescapes is the embodies the Futurescapes approach. Our large-scale habitat forest and blocking muir drains, to allow recreation at Abernethy and the Flow Country have been among the the area to rewet and sphagnum moss to RSPB’s boldest, most most extensive projects anywhere in the UK. This experience will re-establish. This provides climate change contribute significantly to our ability to deliver the Futurescapes benefits by protecting the carbon-rich ambitious Programme. Our Futurescapes portfolio, includes the Flow Country, soils, enabling carbon sequestration within programme yet. Machair and Inner Forth – examined in the following case studies. the bog, and helping wildlife to adapt to climate impacts. The functioning blanket bog can also regulate water quality. Machair Making it happen – Crofting and corncrakes Government action now Machair is a rare and distinctive coastal grassland formation, the majority of which is found on the offshore islands of western Scotland. The unique habitat that develops on the low-lying coastal plain does so because of an exceptional blend of factors, including human activity. Extensive grazing regimes and low- To see more land, throughout the wider countryside, intensity systems of rotational cropping predominate through traditional crofting methods. managed sustainably and producing the sort of benefits seen in these case studies, the Scottish This High Nature Value farming system supports globally-significant conservation interests, and machair sites comprise a key element of Scotland’s Government must commit to the following. Natura network. It forms one of the last strongholds in Scotland of the elusive corncrake. • An ambitious, high-level Land Use Strategy, used to review and direct sectoral policies and funding streams in line with its own objectives. However, the special mix of agricultural, biodiversity and landscape benefits of the machair are under threat from the economics of farming, leading to pressure • Developing regional land use strategies to influence regional/local to make the arable and grazing systems more productive. RSPB Scotland has decision-making processes. worked with crofters for many years to ensure that crofting remains viable, both • Developing understanding of the value of ecosystem services to Scotland’s financially and for the wildlife that depends upon it. This work continues with EU economy and people. LIFE+ funding and in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and SNH. • Recognising the importance of the landscape-scale approach to nature conservation to build on and complement work on protected areas and targeted species conservation. Inner Forth • Directing funding to develop the resilience of wildlife populations to A wetland corridor climate change through high quality connected habitats at a landscape-scale. At the heart of central Scotland, the Inner Forth has a long history of industrial • An active programme to restore priority habitats, including peat bogs. and agricultural use that has resulted in loss of valuable habitat over centuries. • CAP reform that moves public money towards specific and targeted With new pressures from development and climate change, there is a need for payments delivering public benefits. action on a big scale to ensure this rich biodiversity interest is maintained, and to make the most of the exciting opportunities available for sustainable • Increased funding for the next Scotland Rural Development Programme flood management and climate change mitigation. and making it enable the landscape-scale approach. • High Nature Value farming identified, recognised and in receipt of RSPB Scotland’s vision is for large-scale habitat creation across 2,000 ha around adequate financial, advisory and practical support. the Falkirk and Alloa area, centred on the Skinflats nature reserve. The aim is to work in partnership with local councils, SEPA, SNH, the Forth Estuary Forum • Appropriate location of new woodland planting to benefit rather than and land managers to create a network of new saltmarsh, mudflat and reedbed harm biodiversity. habitats to benefit wildlife and to maximise opportunities for sustainable flood management, recreation and education in an area within easy reach of the • Action to meet Water Framework Directive targets for good ecological majority of Scotland’s population. status and to embed sustainable flood management approaches. • Ensuring the National Planning Framework minimises impacts on native biodiversity and facilitates the landscape-scale approach. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) FIND OUT MORE USEFUL INFORMATION From the end of November 2010, RSPB Scotland can be contacted at: RSPB documents RSPB Scotland Headquarters, Ground Floor, 2 Lochside View, Scotland’s renewable future Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9DH E-mail: [email protected] Wind farms and birds www.rspb.org.uk/scotland www.rspb.org.uk/policy/windfarms/index

Until then, please contact us at: Futurescapes - Space for Nature, Land for Life RSPB Scotland Headquarters, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, www.rspb.org.uk/futurescapes Edinburgh, EH4 3TP Tel: 0131 311 6500 The Peatlands of Scotland – The urgent need for restoration and conservation E-mail: [email protected] www.rspb.org.uk/Images/thepeatlandsofscotland_tcm9-224528.pdf www.rspb.org.uk/scotland Peatbogs and carbon – a critical synthesis www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/library/reports

Helping Nature to Help Us www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/climatechange/solutions/scotland/ scotland_act.asp

Meeting the challenges of implementing the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/library/reports.asp

LINK documents www.scotlink.org Living with the Land – Proposals for Scotland’s First Sustainable Land Use Strategy

Five Key Steps for Success

Sustainable Land Use Case Studies

Beyond the CAP -–Towards a Sustainable Land Use Policy that works for Scotland

The RSPB is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition.

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tacking the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

Cover image: RSPB by Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: and no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 780-0085-10-11