Capercaillie Emergency Plan 2025 - 2030 - Flipbook - Page 17
Measures of success
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Cattle grazing in woodlands where all opportunities exist that favour capercaillie.
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No increase in fencing because of cattle grazing in woodlands.
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Higher capercaillie productivity in woodlands where cattle grazing is in place.
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Increased invertebrate biomass in woodlands where cattle grazing is in place.
Partners (alongside the Park Authority and NatureScot)
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Land managers in target areas and currently undertaking woodland grazing
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Scottish Forestry
Key points on current feasibility and delivery
1. FGS funding is available for woodland grazing at £100 per hectare for a
maximum of 100 hectares per 5-year period subject to a woodland grazing
management plan and monitoring.
2. Funding is also available through other schemes, e.g., Peatland ACTION and
Nature Restoration Fund, which can be more suitable in terms of methods and
deliverables, however those schemes can be restricted if the work is eligible
through FGS.
3. Sites will vary, but to continue achieving the anecdotal benefits to capercaillie
in Abernethy Forest it is expected that an increased area requires grazing for
around 6 months per year for 3 years with about 100 cattle.
4. The delivery cost is estimated to be ~£67 per hectare per year for Nofence
collars (assuming a 5-year lifespan for the collars), feed and staff time.
Additional funds may also be required to cover start-up costs which can be
significant, e.g. handling facilities.
5. SSSI consent and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) approval is required
for woodland grazing on designated sites.
6. Prophylactic vet medication cannot be used on designated sites.
7. Arrangements for managing cattle vary from a dedicated stockperson employed
by the landowner to the grazier taking full responsibility. Different approaches
can lead to different outcomes in terms of costs and ecological impact.
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