SCOTLAND: Wildlife Survey Optimistic for Many Species of Birds
Copyright 2001 The Scotsman
November 24, 2001
By Fordyce Maxwell
NUMBERS of seabirds, wildfowl and waders in Scotland have increased, according to an optimistic report published by Scottish Natural Heritage.
The annual trends survey, released yesterday, revealed that most butterfly species are now stable, the number of broadleaved woodlands has increased and moves to improve fresh water quality have been a success.
But the document also noted that half of 26 native freshwater species are in decline, as are nine of the 12 commercially-fished species, including cod. Introducing the Trends 2001 report yesterday, Professor Roger Crofts, the SNH director, said: "Too often, we seem to see only gloom and doom and think it's all downhill.
"But in this most comprehensive report we have tried to be as objective as we can."
All six senior SNH staff involved with compiling the survey of Scotland's biodiversity, the countryside, distinctive natural heritage settings such as fresh water and forest and woodland, the sea and changing climate, said that, on balance, they were optimistic about the future.
Prof Crofts said: "We are also optimistic because there are now lots of policies
in place, especially from the European Union, but also the UK, to drive our efforts."
The backdrop to the report is that, in the second half of last century, forestry, farming and urban development altered many semi-natural habitats for wildlife and plants, leading to the UK biodiversity action plan of 1994.
That set targets to save or encourage species of birds, fish, mammals and habitats. The SNH survey found, six years on from publication of the plan, that at least 16 out of 20 bird species in Scotland are unlikely to meet their target and about a third of the 261 species of birds, fish and mammals in Scotland classified for priority action are in decline or lost.
Several of the 41 biodiversity action plan priority habitats are also at risk while heather moorland has been reduced by 23 per cent and rough grassland by 10 per cent. But broadleaved woodland has increased by 9 per cent and important wetland habitats - fen, marsh and swamp - have increased by almost 20 per cent and most species of seabird are thriving.