A European workshop on managing upland grazing is being held at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, from 1

The James Hutton Institute

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A NEW MANUAL FOR PRODUCING MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR UPLAND SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATION

A European workshop on managing upland grazing was held at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, from 1 - 3 October 1997. Experts from across Europe discussed the management of grazing in the uplands to assess the usefulness of a manual which describes a protocol for producing management plans for Special Areas of Conservation in the uplands. The manual is expected to be applicable to a range of sites across Europe.

The workshop is the culmination of a two year Upland Grazing Project which began in January 1966 and is funded under the European Union "LIFE" programme. The project has studied the management of grazing animals for nature conservation purposes at four sites of European nature conservation value in the Scottish uplands. These sites are currently candidate Special Areas for Conservation (SAC) under the European Habitats and Species Directive. Grazing management plans have been produced for these sites and the experience so gained has been used to develop the manual which should enable management plans to be written for any potential upland SAC across Europe.

The management of grazing and conservation in the uplands requires careful planning and the integration of scientific information with practical grazing management. The manual, which was presented in draft form at the workshop, describes a step by step protocol for writing grazing management plans for any upland areas that may be designated under the European Habitats and Species directive. The protocol described in the manual will reflect the best available expertise in Europe in planning grazing management for nature conservation.

The project is headed by the National Trust for Scotland, with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute as partners. The project employs a team of two full-time staff and one part-time member and is based at the ITE station at Hill of Brathens, Banchory.

Sarah Eno, Project Leader,
Banchory Research Station
Hill of Brathens
Glassel
BANCHORY
Kincardineshire AB31 4BY