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THE STATE OF SCOTLAND'S FARMED ENVIRONMENT 2005

24. Natural Care

PEATLANDS MANAGEMENT SCHEMES

The aim of this scheme is to secure adequate protection for the internationally important peatland habitats, to build public support for that objective, and to provide a financial incentive for the continued management of peatland in a traditional and sustainable way in sympathy with natural heritage interests. The natural heritage interests that are targeted are blanket bog, wet heath and peatland breeding birds. Eligible areas are:

  • Peatland SSSIs in Caithness and Sutherland
  • Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area, Western Isles
  • Peatland SSSIs on Skye

Annual payments are made for undertaking a range of management measures.

SOLWAY MERSE MANAGEMENT SCHEME

The aim is to maintain and promote improvements to saltmarsh habitats, which are of interest in their own right, and which support important populations of wintering wildfowl and other wildlife. The natural heritage interests targeted are saltmarsh habitats, natterjack toads, wintering wildfowl and waders. The eligible areas of saltmarsh on the Scottish Solway are eligible.

Applicants sign up to a 5-year management agreement and must follow a grazing management plan agreed with SNH in return for annual paymentd. Grazing levels are controlled to give variations in sward height and diversity and late summer grazing makes the area more attractive for overwintering birds. A breeding wader supplement is available, to provide light grazing during nesting time.

Natural Care - CORNCRAKE MANAGEMENT SCHEMES >>