Habitats and species get boost from £7.2m funding
A PROJECT which will help to restore natural habitats and protect endangered species across the west coast of Scotland has received up to £7.2 million of EU funding.
Scottish Natural Heritage and the Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust are the two of the 12-partner Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) project, which will improve the conservation status of more than 25,000 hectares of land.
The project has received funding from the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Working on Special Areas of Conservation in the west of Scotland, including Islay, Glencoe and Ben Nevis, both Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) will create a detailed map for each site using remote sensing technology, to help identify and manage endangered habitats in need of conservation.
Iain MacGowan, habitat map manager at SNH, said: ‘The project will ultimately provide us with a very detailed habitat map of these sites which will help us to find better ways of managing some of the special areas of conservation. Ultimately, this information will also be included as part of the habitat map of Scotland project.
‘The information on the map is essential for policy-makers and will help us to meet targets set under the EU’s Birds and Habitats directives, and in the EU Biodiversity Strategy.’
Some of the endangered species which will be involved in the project include the marsh fritillary butterfly, hen harrier, breeding waders (curlew, redshank, snipe), golden plover, corncrake and red grouse.
ACT is working with Islay landowners and managers, Butterfly Conservation Scotland’s (BCS) Bog Squad and Islay volunteers to remove sapling spruce and rhododendron from peatland sites, which is helping to restore this key habitat on the island.
Site co-ordinator on Islay Sarah Edwards said: ‘It was very beneficial for our CANN partners to work with ACT on Islay to gain an insight into delivering the project.
‘We greatly appreciate the co-operation we have had from island landowners and volunteers so far. They have achieved a great deal so far and have helped us towards one of the CANN project targets.’
Welcoming the funding, Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB, which manages the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, said: ‘This project brings together a wide range of partners with an impressive depth of experience in the field of environmental projection. By working in collaboration with each other they will be able to make a real and lasting difference on both sides of the Irish border and in Scotland.
‘This approach is reflective of the core objective of the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, which has been designed to support the creation of a more sustainable and prosperous cross-border region.’
The project will deliver seven species action plans and 25 conservation action plans covering more than 25,000 hectares of land in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland designated as being Special Areas of Conservation.
Upon completion, the project will have restored the condition of protected habitats and priority species found in western Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the border region of Ireland.
Match-funding for the project has been provided by the department for agriculture, the environment and rural affairs in Northern Ireland, the department of housing, planning, community and local government in Ireland, and SNH.