Capercaillie Emergency Plan 2025 - 2030 - Flipbook - Page 20
Forest bog restoration
In a changing climate, forest bogs stand to be an increasingly crucial habitat
during extended dry spells and are critical in the capercaillie brood rearing season
when access to cotton grass in early spring improves the breeding condition of
hens and access to invertebrates is essential for chicks. Through the Cairngorms
Capercaillie Project a programme of drain blocking carried out on Balmoral Estate
has restored at least 90 hectares of forest bog to benefit capercaillie. The work
was undertaken by volunteers working with Estate staff. Similarly, within the
Cairngorms Connect partnership area, over 70 hectares of bog woodland has
been restored. In addition to the benefits to capercaillie, forest bogs are a natural
carbon sink, support unique ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce flood risk,
improve water quality in streams and rivers and reduce wildfire risk.
Objective
Enable forest bog restoration where all opportunities exist to benefit capercaillie.
Actions by 2030
1. Investigate the feasibility, risks and benefits of using LIDAR to map drains in
capercaillie areas in the National Park.
2. Identify priority locations in capercaillie areas to block drains before the 2025
breeding season.
3. Target Peatland ACTION funding to block drains in priority locations to enable
landscape-scale restoration of forest bogs.
4. Seek private investment to match-fund forest bog restoration in priority areas.
Measure of success
§
Forest bog restoration undertaken where all opportunities exist that favour
capercaillie.
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Increased capercaillie usage of forest where bogs have been restored.
§
Higher capercaillie productivity in forests where bogs have been restored.
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