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Additional habitat plans for Scotland announced on world biodiversity day
29/12/1998
Additional Biodiversity Action Plans to conserve the natural habitats of several Scottish species will be announced today, World Biodiversity Day.
The ten new Habitat Action Plans prepared by the UK Biodiversity Group and published today, will help to ensure the conservation of some of Britain's most important and endangered habitats. Of the ten habitats, seven are found in Scotland:
· Upland mixed ashwoods - rich in lichens and flowering plants such as the bluebell, and found in the north-west of Scotland.
· Wet woodlands - found in Northern Scotland and important for its fragments of ancient floodplain. It is also an important habitat for otters and craneflies.
· Wood pastures and parkland - examples such as the Hamilton High Parks and Dalkeith oakwood are valuable for fungi and lichens and also support bat and bird colonies.
· Lowland hay meadows - a critical habitat for corncrakes in the crofting areas of Scotland.
· Upland hay meadows - found in the uplands of Scotland and rich in wild flowers.
· Lowland dry acid grassland - very rare and restricted to upland fringes. This habitat is used by hen harriers and merlins.
· Eutrophic standing waters - lochs and reservoirs rich in submerged vegetation and fish. Loch Leven is an important site for water fowl including whooper swans.
The publication of these 10 habitat action plans is the most recent step in an ongoing process to identify, draft and publish action plans for all of the priority species and habitats listed in the 1995 UK Steering Group Report. A number of organisations, both Government agencies such as Scottish Natural Heritage and voluntary bodies such as RSPB, have worked in partnership to develop these plans. The action plans will also help to preserve the diverse range of species which make these habitats their home.
The action plans set out the current resources already being deployed on these habitats and the estimated costs of their full implementation in the UK. The Government is committed to conserving and enhancing Scotland's distinctive natural habitats through the biodiversity process. The involvement and contribution from other sectors is welcomed.
BACKGROUND
1. The UK Biodiversity Steering Group prepared and published action plans for 116 species and 24 habitats in December 1995. The action plans are contained in the Steering Group's report "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report Volumes 1 and 2". Both volumes are available from The Stationery Office.
2. A further volume of 56 species action plans was published by the UK Biodiversity Group in June. Copies of this, the Government response and the new habitat action plans can be obtained free of charge from: Scottish Biodiversity Group Secretariat, SOAEFD, Room 028, Pentland House, 47 Robbs Loan, Edinburgh (Fax 0131 244 4071 or e-mail fiona.currie@scotland.gov.uk)
News Release: 2719/98
29 December 1998