Skógræktarritið - 15.05.2001, Side 137

published Cairngorms Forest and
Woodland Framework (Cairn-
gorms Partnership 1999). The
Cairngorms contains a large part
of the remaining Native Pine-
wood resource of Scotland, but it
also contains a number of other
important habitats, notably
heather moorland which 'com-
petes' for much of the land suit-
able for woodland. Based on
FHN principles, priority wood-
land management options and
locations have been identified
including enhanced management
of the existing native woodland
resource, priority linkage corri-
dors and new native woodiand
plantings identified, diversifica-
tion opportunities on agricultural
land and improved management
of riparian woodlands. Preferred
locations for non-native species
were also identified. The Frame-
work is supported by a number of
maps which should be used in
conjunction with the text.
Figure 2 demonstrates the use
of the model output in helping to
identify corridors to link existing
native woodlands, in this case, of
Scots Pine in the Cairngorms, in
effect to develop a Forest Habitat
Network. By displaying only the
woodland categories which are
considered to have some poten-
tial for pine, priority areas can be
identified and resources targeted
to them.
For the first time in a strate-
gy/policy document of this type
(Cairngorms Partnership 1999),
the expansion of montane scrub
is a priority objective in specific
parts of the Cairngorms. The
modelling indicates that in two
areas in particular, the existing
native pine woodland is close to
its natural limit and that natural
regeneration, in broad terms,
could achieve the 'natural’ tree
line and provide a continuum of
habitat from the woodland zone
through montane scrub to the
Figure 2. Site Suitability for Pine in the Cairngorms Partnership Area.
unsuitable land on the mountain
plateaux. However, a number of
actions are required to enable
this to happen, notably control
of deer numbers and burning.
Among the benefits which could
accrue from this expansion are
increased biodiversity and land-
scape enhancement.
2. The UK Biodiversity Action
Plan (BAP) programme
Scotland does not have a reliable
inventory of woodlands that
includes species or habitat type.
Given the demands of the
Habitat Action Plans (HAP) with-
in the BAP for the enhancement,
restoration and expansion of a
number of woodland types, this
is a serious limitation.
Dependant on the accuracy of
the NWM predictions (by match-
ing the predicted and actual
woodland types where both
exist), a more comprehensive
picture of the current extent of
different woodland types can be
derived by extrapolation. Some
further field validation would be
necessary, but this approach
should limit the amount of
expensive field survey and help
target resources. This inventory
would act as a statement of the
'Current Status’ of woodland
within HAPs and allow the vari-
ous other elements of Habitat
Action Plans to be developed
from a more robust footing. This
approach is more relevant and
necessary for some woodland
types than others, for example
Upland Ashwoods.
3. The Natural Heritage Zone
programme
Scotland has been divided into 21
Natural Heritage Zones (Figure 3).
These have been derived from
SNH's work on Biogeographical
Zonation and Landscape
Character Assessment. Although
the zones are not intended to be
precisely determined, they do
have distinctive features that dis-
tinguishes them from their neigh-
bours. It provides a Framework for
SNH to prioritise conservation
objectives in sympathy with the
existing local character of the
land resource.
SKÓGRÆKTARRITIÐ 2001 1. tbl
135