The Scottish Government

Introduction

This Option offers support for predator control and has three elements.

1. Predator control
2. Crow control
3. Predator control for Black Grouse and Capercaillie

What this will achieve

This Option will benefit ground-nesting birds that are vulnerable to predation.

What you can do

Requirements

This Option will only be available:

• where it is carried out as part of a habitat management programme aimed at achieving or maintaining favourable condition of the natural heritage interests on the site. Effort must be targeted where it will give most benefit to the notified features, e.g. moorland birds, rather than being focused on agricultural benefits

and/or

• where it is carried out as part of a Capercaillie or Black Grouse conservation plan that includes a site-specific predator/crow control plan targeted where it will give most benefit to the species.

Your application will describe the habitat management programme or Capercaillie or Black Grouse conservation plan that your application will contribute to.

Mammal and bird control must be carried out in a legal and humane manner and you must comply with all appropriate legislation and Codes of Practice including the following:

• The Open General Licence as issued each year by the Scottish Ministers,
• British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Codes of Practice on Shooting, Lamping, Trapping of Pest Mammals and Trapping of Pest Birds.

For elements 2 and 3: Crow traps will be operated within the requirements of the BASCs "Trapping Pest Birds - A Code of Practice", in particular:

• traps will be of a legal design and operated legally
• you will provide all decoy birds with shelter, food and water at all times
• you must have enough staff to inspect traps every day
• captured crows must be killed quickly and humanely
• all non-target species must be released immediately and unharmed.

For elements 1 and 3: the management programme will include details of the predator control plan which must set out:

• the areas where control will be undertaken
• the species to be controlled (which may include foxes, crows, stoats and weasels)
• the methods that will be used
• the most appropriate period for the activity within the targeted spring/early summer period. (Control may take place outwith this period but will not be funded)
• the number of days or nights that the activity will be undertaken in each month
• for those activities that are planned on a weekly basis, such as lamping or shooting, plans will be kept up to date throughout the control period and available for inspection on request. Dates when other activities will take place, e.g. setting or managing snares, will be included in the management programme
• any predator control effort in the past five years
• a summary of any other predator control effort in the remainder of the year will also be required, if any is carried out.

For element 2: The habitat management programme will detail the proposed trap locations on a map.

For all elements: you must provide an annual report covering:

• details of the methods employed
• time spent on mammal and bird control across the specified period
• number and species controlled and date of control
• where traps are located or where other control Options are applied
• the impact of the mammal and bird control, in terms of numbers taken, counts of fox scats and crows, and numbers of nesting birds
• records of the above must be kept up to date throughout the period that control is undertaken and they must be available for inspection on request.

Who can apply

This Option will benefit from a collaborative approach and will have restricted availability:

1. Predator control will be available on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Natura sites where the qualifying interests include ground-nesting birds that are vulnerable to predation and likely to benefit from predator control (this must be endorsed by SNH). These sites are likely to include upland and moorland habitats.
2. Crow control will be available on SSSI and Natura sites where the qualifying interests include birds that are vulnerable to crow predation and likely to benefit from crow control (this must be endorsed by SNH). These sites are likely to include upland and moorland habitats.
3. Predator control for Black Grouse and Capercaillie will be available to benefit Capercaillie and Black Grouse on sites containing active leks or on adjoining sites where control would be complementary.

Eligibility criteria

An applicant can apply to undertake several Elements (1, 2 or 3) under this Option, if they wish. However, only one element can apply to any given parcel of land.

Land receiving payments for similar management under other agri-environment schemes is not eligible under this Option.

Rate of support

This is a 5 year commitment. We will pay at the end of each year.

Element 1: Predator control: £2 per hectare per year.

Element 2: Crow control: £270 per trap per year with no more than 1 trap per hectare.

Element 3: Predator control for Black Grouse and Capercaillie: actual costs up to £7.50 per hectare per year.

What costs can be supported

Financial support of up to 100% of eligible actual costs is available in respect of the following:

• Capital works required for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Natura features

Please note that this capital items will not appear in a dropdown list of Standard Cost capital items and will need to be entered manually in the box for Actual Cost capital items. Only costs for the types of capital works listed above should be entered in the Actual Cost capital items box for this Option. Any other costs entered cannot be considered for funding.

To ensure value for money we require you to provide 2 competitive quotes for any capital items applied for which are based on actual cost. If, however, you are seeking grant support towards something so specialised it is only available through 1 source then we would accept 1 quote. Please see the guidance on quotes and estimates for more information.

Inspections/verification

The inspector will check the requirements (as detailed above under 'what you can do') of the Option are being met, by a visual assessment on the day of inspection.

Beneficiaries must comply with the requirements of cross compliance and the minimum requirements for fertiliser and plant protection products. You must also comply with the requirements to avoid damaging any features of historic or archaeological interest, and follow Scottish Ministers' guidance for the protection of such areas or features (detailed in links below).

The following is a brief overview of the inspection procedures, for a full explanation please see links below:

Inspectors will check:

• Habitat management programme or Capercaillie or Black Grouse conservation plan is being carried out.
• Predator control plan and map showing site and trap locations
• Predator control methods comply with all appropriate legislation and Codes of Practice
• The record of method, time spent, number and species and date of control of predators
• Claimed capital items have been completed to approved amounts and scheme standards

When you submit your claim the Area Office will verify:

• The annual report is submitted with the claim

List of links to relevant technical guidance

• Minimum requirements for Fertiliser and Plant Protection Products - detailed guidance
• Minimum requirements for protection of historic or archaeological features
• 'On the spot' inspections - overview of the inspection procedure