Woodland Habitat Restoration : Core sites for a forest habitat network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Scotland hosts a range of UK woodland types including several that are protected by the EU Habitats Directive. A number of these are under threat from problems associated with invasive species, over-grazing and land ownership issues. Such nature conservation concerns can fragment habitat integrity and adversely affect the functionality of woodland ecosystems.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE project’s main objective involved improving the conservation status of priority woodland habitats. A network of 12 sites in Scotland was targeted by the project. These sites featured priority woodland types like: Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines; and alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. Also assisted were old oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles.

LIFE funds were to be used to act as a catalyst for a larger integrated woodland managment initiative. This blended several different Scottish and EU funding sources to general larger scale and synergetic habitat improvements. Core tasks involved facilitating and co-financing practical work in woodlands by landowners to remove exotics, repair and establish fencing, plus carry out necessary structural modifications to promote regeneration on over 4000 ha.

RESULTS

The project achieved its main objective of providing restorative habitat management and removing threats for three priority woodland habitats at 11 SCIs in Scotland. The project was particularly successful in harnessing nature conservation commitments from private landowners. A strong partnership was developed between these woodland owners and conservation bodies from the public and voluntary sectors.

Integration with mainstream woodland conservation initiatives and funding mechanisms was considered highly beneficial. This integrated methodology has helped establish management agreements that will safeguard a long-term legacy from LIFE’s initial ‘pump-priming’ funds.

In total, the LIFE project outcomes covered over 4000 ha, which is a substantial area of woodland habitat in Scotland. Monitoring indicates that LIFE’s support resulted in the required improvements to the conservation status of the target habitats (which are now classified as either in ‘favourable’ or ‘unfavourable – recovering’ conditions). Detailed results include:

Rhododendron ponticum eradicated over 376.9 ha within 8 SCIs and controlled over 72.8 ha adjacent to 4 SCIs;

Exotic broadleaves removed over 577 ha within 8 SCIs and 10.6 ha removed adjacent to 1 SCI;

Native trees established over 16.5 ha at 3 SCIs;

3.2 ha non-woodland forest habitats protected at 1 SCI by c. 950 m of stock fencing;

Removal of 64 tonnes of rubbish and 12 cars cleared over 16 ha, plus erection of 6 heavy duty gates, 3 anti vehicle chicanes, 360 m heavy duty fencing, and a further 2.3 ha cleared in Clyde Valley SCI;

Removal of rubbish from 6.9 ha at one other SCI;

2 100 m of public access provided at Crieff Woods SCI and access reviewed at 2 SCIs (Cawdor Woods and Trossachs);

Additional car park safety works at Clyde Valley.

In March 2016, 11 years after the project closed, an ex-post follow up visit was carried out by the LIFE external monitoring team. This confirmed that the project had achieved its overall objective, and reached or exceeded most of its key targets. Habitat improvements had been sustained at most sites, and increased for some. A key project achievement was securing 10-year management agreements with 91 private landowners or estates, obliging them to continue nature conservation actions. The project identified the spread of non-native species and overgrazing by deer as the main threats to priority woodland habitats. It successfully cleared invasive rhododendron (and non-native broadleaf and conifer trees) from private land within and adjacent to Natura 2000 sites; though some landowners did not remain in the management agreement scheme and re-incursion of rhododendron has occurred from their land. The regeneration of native woodland in cleared areas had mixed results, due to regrowth of invasive species and overgrazing, with a lack of coordination between adjacent landowners hindering deer management. The ex-post report revealed that, in some cases, the project partners were fighting a constant battle to maintain the gains achieved at the end of the project. The greatest success in engaging private landowners was achieved at sites with dedicated project officers (e.g. Clyde Valley and Sunart). Social benefits arising from the project have continued, for example, at Sunart where a business was established to sell removed rhododendron as wood chips or firewood. Much of the project’s dissemination materials remain online, through some of it has been superseded by new information (e.g. the critical review of rhododendron management carried out by project partners FCS and SNH in 2013).