Cairngorms National Park Forest Strategy 2018 Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report January 2018 [CFS SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT] January 2018 Cover Note PART 1 PART 3 [email protected] To: Please tick the appropriate box or The PPS falls under the scope of Section 5(3) of the Act and SEA Gateway 2 H (South) requires an SEA under the Environmental Assessment Victoria Quay (Scotland) Act 2005. or Edinburgh EH6 6QQ The PPS falls under the scope of Section 5(4) of the Act and requires an SEA under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. or PART 2 An SEA Environmental Report is attached for the plan, The PPS does not require an SEA under the programme or strategy (PPS) entitled: Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. However, we wish to carry out an SEA on a voluntary basis. We accept that, as this SEA is voluntary, the The Cairngorms National Park Forest Strategy statutory 5 week timescale for views from the 2018 Consultation Authorities cannot be guaranteed. The Responsible Authority is: The Cairngorms National Park Authority Cairngorms National Park Authority i [CFS SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT] January 2018 PART 4 PART 5 Contact name Sally Mackenzie/Dan Harris Signature S Mackenzie (electronic signature Job Title is acceptable) 31/01/2018 Ecological Adviser /Planning Officer Date Contact address Cairngorms National Park Authority 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG Contact tel no 01479 870 553/556 Contact email [email protected]/sallymackenzie@cairn gorms.co.uk Cairngorms National Park Authority ii [CFS SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT] January 2018 Table of Contents Cover Note ........................................................................................................ i Summary of the Environmental Baseline and Main Issues ................ 23 Table of Contents ........................................................................................... iii Environmental Assessment .......................................................................... 27 List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................ 6 SEA Objectives ........................................................................................... 27 Non-Technical Summary ................................................................................ 8 Compatibility of SEA Objectives ............................................................ 34 Introduction ................................................................................................... 8 Likely changes to the environment in the absence of a Strategy .... 37 Summary of the CFS Process .................................................................... 8 Development of the CFS Outcomes and Policies .............................. 41 Summary of the SEA Process .................................................................... 8 Remit of the Environmental Report ...................................................... 41 Summary of SEA Objectives ...................................................................... 8 Compatibility of CFS Objectives with SEA Objectives ..................... 42 Summary of the Assessment of Cairngorms National Park Key Messages from the Compatibility Appraisal ................................ 42 Partnership Plan ............................................................................................ 9 Assessing the effects of the Outcomes and Options ........................ 46 Summary of Next Steps ............................................................................10 Assessing Cumulative Effects .................................................................. 51 Introduction .....................................................................................................12 Evaluation of Uncertainties and Risks ................................................... 52 What is a Strategic Environmental Assessment? .................................12 Evaluation of Reasonable Alternative and Preferred Options ......... 53 What is an Environmental Report? ........................................................12 Key Messages from Assessment ............................................................. 57 ........................................................................................................................13 Mitigation ..................................................................................................... 58 The Cairngorms National Park ...............................................................14 Monitoring ....................................................................................................... 62 The Cairngorms National Park Forest Strategy ..................................14 Next Steps ....................................................................................................... 64 Map of PPS Area .........................................................................................17 Appendices ...................................................................................................... 65 Policy Context ................................................................................................18 Appendix 1: Plans, Policies and Strategies ............................................ 65 Baseline .............................................................................................................19 International Directives and Policies ................................................. 65 Cairngorms National Park Authority iii [CFS SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT] January 2018 National Legislation (UK and Scotland) ............................................70 Geoconservation ............................................................................ 124 National Policy (UK and Scotland) .....................................................75 Energy ............................................................................................... 129 Local Strategies .......................................................................................81 Transport Infrastructure .............................................................. 130 Appendix 2: Environmental Baseline ......................................................85 Topic 6: Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora ............................................ 132 Topic 1: Climatic Factors .....................................................................85 National Designations ............................................................... 132 Past Trends ........................................................................................85 International Designations ....................................................... 151 Climate Projections ..........................................................................85 Important Woodland Species and Habitats ............................. 166 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................89 Woodlands .................................................................................. 166 Topic 2: Air .............................................................................................96 Uplands ........................................................................................ 182 Topic 3: Water ...........................................................................................99 Topic 7: Landscape and Cultural Heritage ..................................... 186 Water Quality ................................................................................ 101 Landscape ......................................................................................... 186 Water Quantity .............................................................................. 103 Landscape Character Areas .................................................... 188 Flooding ............................................................................................ 103 National Scenic Areas ............................................................... 189 Woodland role in Natural Flood Management ....................... 111 Special Qualities ......................................................................... 190 Topic 4: Soil .......................................................................................... 113 Wildness ...................................................................................... 193 Woodland Soil Ecology ................................................................ 113 Wild Land .................................................................................... 194 Organic Matter ............................................................................... 116 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................ 195 Contamination ................................................................................ 118 Historic Landscape .................................................................... 195 Soil Erosion ..................................................................................... 119 Scheduled Monuments ............................................................. 198 Topic 5: Material Assets .................................................................... 123 Designated Landscapes and Gardens .................................... 198 Natural resources .......................................................................... 123 Battlefields ..................................................................................