The Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2010 - 2015 Argyll and Bute Biodiversity Action Plan - Draft Welcome to the Second Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan. This document sets out the projects which partners will deliver in the Council area over the next 5 years (2010-2015). Divided into 6 Ecosystem Work Programmes, these priority projects have emerged from a long process of consultation, a detailed review of the first Plan and the Scottish Government’s more recent biodiversity priorities. Several other factors have also been particularly important in determining the Plan’s scope, and how it will be delivered up to 2015. Firstly, the inescapable fact is we are facing a major economic recession, which is likely to last at least for the first half of the Plan period. The scope and ambition of the new LBAP has had to reflect these circumstances. Whilst a range of excellent and valuable projects are already being carried out by project partners, all bodies, particularly the Council and government agencies face substantial cuts. The result is less public money for biodiversity work and on top of this the state of the economy will have a knock on effect for the charity sector on which so much conservation work depends. In response to these economic constraints, the approach taken in the LBAP is to highlight the work organisations are carrying out, with the aim of drawing contributions to these projects from other sources, especially the private sector. With any funds and staff capacity that this frees up, resources become available to undertake new conservation projects. A small number of high priority, but as yet un-funded projects have therefore been included in the LBAP, that partners want to implement if resources become available. The second major influence on biodiversity work over 2010-2015 is the continued peak of forest harvesting in Argyll and Bute. Forest designs have greatly improved since the days when these forests were originally planted. New commercial plantations replacing these early forests have a higher proportion of open space, more native broadleaves, and avoid sensitive habitats. This whole process of removal and improved forest planting creates a huge opportunity to redress some of the forest industry’s earlier impacts on wildlife. It also provides the chance to tackle invasive species in some cases, with the removal and suppression of Rhododendron in particular. This range of opportunities are reflected in the Woodlands Work Programme. The third key factor over the 2010 to 2015 period is a step change in the government’s investment to tackle climate change and energy security. Argyll andButeis especially well endowed with biomass, wind, wave and tidal opportunities, and the Council area is at the forefront of renewable energy development in the UK. These developments do, however, also bring real concerns about possible wildlife impacts, and it is critical that developments are steered away from sites where they risk having a significant impact on key species and habitats. Renewable energy projects do, however, represent an important opportunity over thenext5 years to increase our understanding of the distribution and abundance of many protected species and habitats, on and also offshore, through the ecological surveys required as part of their planning applications. Fourthly, through the passage of the Marine Act, and work to establish marine protected areas and management zones, it is likely that, steps to better protect and sustainably manage the marine environment will be taken. Campaigners have lobbied for many years to get progress in this area, and the hope is progress will soon be delivered. The last major influence of special relevance over the Plan period is the operation of the Scottish Rural Development Plan. Applications to this central government funding by land owners and managers can include a number of measures directly aimed at enhancing biodiversity. The operation of the scheme has had a slow start, with a number of applicants awaiting the outcome. Once these are processed, however, and the approval process becomes more streamlined, the hope is that more land owners and managers will submit applications with biodiversity benefits. The range of species and habitats that potentially stand to benefit are included in several projects within the Woodlands, Marine and Coastal, Upland and Lowland and Farmland Work Programmes. i Argyll and Bute Biodiversity Action Plan - Draft Overall, the Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2010-2015 is therefore taking place at a difficult time, but not one without important new opportunities. As always, the responsibility for implementation depends on the good will, enthusiasm, creativity and determination of those key organisations featured in this Plan. Thanks to them, it is set to deliver important benefits for this area’s very special wildlife. ii Argyll and Bute Biodiversity Action Plan - Draft Summary The Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) 2010-2015 sets out over 70 priority conservation projects being implemented by various groups over the Plan period. These priority projects will help assess, maintain and enhance a wide range of habitats and species across the Council area, and already have funding and resources largely in place. To help integrate this work, and to foster closer partnership working, the LBAP draws these projects together into 6 Ecosystem Work Programmes, an approach which follows the nationally recognised Ecosystem approach to LBAP delivery. The Freshwater, Marine and Coastal, Lowland and Farmland, Woodland, Upland and the Built Environment Ecosystem Work Programmes therefore each give the details, outputs, schedule, targets and partners delivering each project. In addition, these Work Programmes also includes a suite of potential projects which have yet to be funded, but which have lead partners keen to do the work if resources become available. The habitats and species covered by the LBAP have been taken from the UK and Scottish Biodiversity Lists, with a small number also identified as being of local importance All are under threat and in decline. Some are familiar, others less so, but all are equally important to the special diversity of life found in Argyll & Bute. The Local Biodiversity Partnership Argyle and Bute’s local biodiversity plan is a shared agenda, to be delivered in partnership to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the Council area. Its overarching aim is: ‘To conserve and enhance biological diversity within the UK and to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity through all appropriate mechanisms’. iii Argyll and Bute Biodiversity Action Plan - Draft The functions of the Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan are: to translate UK and Scottish Action Plan targets for habitats and species into positive action at local level; to stimulate effective local working partnerships to maintain and enhance biodiversity; to raise awareness about the need and responsibilities of supporting biodiversity in the local context; to identify targets for habitats and species important in the local area - these include both rare and common according to local priorities; to ensure that delivery mechanisms for the enhancement of biodiversity are promoted and understood at local level; to provide a local basis for monitoring conservation progress. The benefits of the LBAP and the Ecosystem Approach are: to raise awareness, highlight the influence of biodiversity on the quality of life and economic opportunities, promote knowledge and emphasise the local character and distinctiveness that biodiversity contributes to Argyll and Bute; to promote positive and effective action through work programmes by prioritisation of habitats/species and resources in addition to measuring achievement through the identification of clear project objectives and targets; to involve people from a range of sectors to participate, help implement and develop responsibility for the LBAP; to identify and attract further resources from a broad range of opportunities which will enable pooling of resources and make the best use of existing funding; to provide for integration of local biodiversity priorities into other plans, programmes and strategies, including statutory development plans and to convert broad sustainability objectives into specific actions for habitats and species linking to and forming an integral component of the Community Planning work programme. iv Argyll and Bute Biodiversity Action Plan - Draft Acknowledgements Behind this Plan are the people and organisations driving forward wildlife conservation in Argyll and Bute. We are very grateful for all their generous contributions to this Plan through recommendations for projects and information on species and habitats. Included in our thanks are also those who provided photographs, including Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB Images (Andy Hay). A full list of participating organisations and their abbreviations are set out in Appendix 1. The Argyll Islands – Inspiring future naturalists Dalriada’s ancient rulers were guiding my way that winter morning. A pale full moon shone west, towards the isles. The large ferry softly ruffled the satin waters of the loch and as we turned into a light westerly, my mind drifted to the wonderland ahead. Geese near and far, raptors widespread, waders up close, over 100 bird species on this island alone! Islay in winter – magic! I had the year ahead planned out – a week here, a week there, permission sought and granted, pets farmed out! My sleep was filled each night with great finds: the near endemic Welch’s Money Spider on Tiree; rare migrant goose species on Islay; white-tailed eagles drifting by within meters on Mull. I awoke each morning feeling like I was Lord of the Isles. Ever since I was young I set the islands of Argyll high on my list as a land to conquer. The mild, wet, Atlantic climate; its varied woodland, undulating terrain with lowland, and upland; its long, snaking coastline with a rich marine ecosystem make this region probably ‘the’ area with the greatest biodiversity in all of Scotland.