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Report produced by Scott Wilson Scotland Ltd. in conjunction with: Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Norsk Regnesentral (Norwegian Computing Centre), Royal Agricultural College, CFA Archaeology Ltd.
ISBN 978 0 7559 9132 7 (Web only publication)
This document is also available in pdf format (1.9mb)

Contents

Abstract

1 Executive summary
1.1 Purpose of the study
1.2 Methods
1.3 Conclusions of the study

2 Introduction
2.1 Agri-environment schemes in Scotland
2.2 Monitoring requirements
2.3 Report structure

3 General description of schemes monitored
3.1 Organic Aid Scheme ( OAS)
3.2 Countryside Premium Scheme ( CPS)
3.3 Rural Stewardship Scheme ( RSS)

4 Methodology
4.1 Project organisation
4.2 Stakeholder survey
4.2.1 Scheme participants
4.2.2 Non-participants
4.3 Sampling strategy for field surveys
4.3.1 General design
4.3.2 Power calculation
4.3.3 The sampling approach
4.3.4 Actual farms surveyed
4.3.5 Evaluation of the sampling strategy
4.4 Field survey methodologies
4.4.1 Data collection
4.4.2 Biodiversity
4.4.3 Evaluation of biodiversity sampling
4.4.4 Landscape
4.4.5 Cultural heritage
4.5 Statistical analysis

5 Results
5.1 Stakeholder survey
5.2 Biodiversity
5.2.1 Organic Aid Scheme ( OAS)
OAS farms visited once
OAS farms surveyed twice - Birds
OAS farms surveyed twice - Vegetation
OAS farms surveyed twice - all invertebrate data
5.2.2 Countryside Premium Scheme ( CPS)
CPS Birds
CPS Vegetation
CPS Butterflies and ground-active invertebrates
Effect of time of entry into the CPS on bird numbers
5.2.3 Rural Stewardship Scheme ( RSS)
RSS Birds
RSS Vegetation
RSS Butterflies
RSS Ground-active beetles and other invertebrates
Consideration of farm type and regional effects
Estimation of the overall effect of the RSS on biodiversity
5.2.4 Comparison between schemes, incorporating farm type and regional effects
5.3 Landscape
5.4 Cultural heritage

6 Discussion and Conclusions
6.1 Stakeholder survey
6.1.1 Demographics
6.1.2 Qualitative responses
6.2 Biodiversity
6.2.1 Discussion of results
6.2.2 Potential confounding factors
6.3 Landscape
6.4 Cultural heritage

7 References

Appendix 1: Full results of stakeholder survey
1.1 Demographics
1.2 Qualitative responses

Appendix 2: Stakeholder survey RSS questionnaire and covering letter

Appendix 3: Stakeholder survey OAS questionnaire and covering letter

Appendix 4: Stakeholder survey non-scheme questionnaire and covering letter

Appendix 5: Stakeholder survey percentage data of participants and non-participants

Appendix 6: Indicators used in statistical analysis of vegetation

Appendix 7: Biodiversity, landscape & archaeology proformae

Appendix 8: Recommendations

Appendix 9: Glossary

List of Figures
Figure 4.1 Distribution of farms surveyed in 2004/2005 and again in 2007/8
Figure 4.2 Distribution of farms surveyed in 2006
Figure 4.3 Boundaries and offices of SGRPID areas
Figure 5.1 Effect of scheme, farm type and region on difference in abundance of Tits between scheme and non-scheme farms
Figure 5.2 Effect of scheme, farm type and region on the abundance of Pigeons on scheme farms only
Figure 5.3 Effect of scheme, farm type and region on the abundance of Tits on scheme farms only
Figure 5.4 Effect of scheme, farm type and region on the total number of bird species on scheme farms only
Figure 5.5 Effect of scheme, farm type and region on the total number of bird BAP species on scheme farms only
Figure 5.6 Summary of detected landscape changes for each farm type
Figure 5.7 Example of year-1 and year-4 landscape photographs
Figure 5.8 Example of year-1 and year-4 landscape photographs
Figure 6.1 Monthly averages for mean temperature, mean rainfall and total hours of sunshine, for three regions of Scotland (North, East and West)

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