Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Among the plans that have been suggested are feeding the animals that prey on capercaillie eggs, and creating more places for the birds to breed.
It is also possible that capercaillie could be introduced from Europe, where there are still larger populations, to the Highlands.
Capercaillie, one of Scotland’s largest birds and the largest species of grouse, is under threat due to the loss of their forest habitat and breeding grounds, human encroachment on nature and predation by woodpeckers and badgers.
Almost all of the native birds live within the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park, and its leaders have teamed up with Scottish Government agency NatureScot to launch the five-year Emergency Plan.
The plan sets out a road map of actions in an attempt to ensure a brighter future for the species, whose numbers have fallen to around 530 in the wild.
Alongside land management to improve habitat – such as woodland grazing and restoring forest bogs – the scheme includes actions to reduce the impact of predators through diversionary feeding, which has been proven by the Cairngorms Predator Link Project to increase the chance of artificial nest survival of 83. per cent.
Early analysis has found a greater chance of finding capercaillie with young when diversionary feeding is in place.
NatureScot will lead work on establishing better information about woodpecker populations where they co-exist with capercaillie, so that conservationists can monitor changes in their numbers over time.
A study will also be conducted to evaluate the feasibility of reinforcing the Scottish capercaillie population with birds from outside the UK.
Andy Ford, Director of Nature and Climate Change at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The Cairngorms National Park is home to 85% of the UK’s capercaillie population, so action in the National Park is vital.
“Capercaillie protection has always been a collective effort. Thanks to the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project more people than ever before are actively helping the species alongside the long standing efforts of land managers and organisations.
“Given the scale of the task ahead of us to boost capercaillie numbers in Scotland we remain realistic but hopeful that a massive collective effort will make a positive difference.”
The plan is based on an investigation by NatureScot’s Scientific Advisory Committee, which found ways to improve the bird’s survival and breeding success.
Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change, said: “This is the most comprehensive plan of its kind ever produced for this iconic bird, bringing together stakeholders from all aspects of capercaillie conservation.
“With such low numbers, it is predicted that the species will disappear in the next 20 to 30 years unless more action is taken on a scale and in all areas. The Emergency Plan will do just that and is the result of intensive work with over 100 stakeholders who are all committed to safeguarding the future of capercaillie.
“At the request of the Scottish Government, the plan will tackle the multiple issues facing the capercaillie at speed and scale to help the species recover.”
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This is not the first time the Scottish capercaillie has faced prophecies of doom. In the early 1990s, conservation science projected that the pyre would be extinct by around 2010.
Over the past five years, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project – led by the Cairngorms National Park Authority – has reduced levels of disturbance over hundreds of hectares of core capercaillie habitat by developing participatory and community-led solutions, including with the mountain biking community, bird watchers. and dog walkers.
The Badenoch and Strathspey Trail Association has been working with the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project as part of the project’s work with the mountain biking community.
Emma Holgate, Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Trail Association, said: “Thanks to the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, we have achieved much more for the local trail network while protecting the environment we love.
“By working together, we have made smarter decisions about routes in capercaillie areas, cutting the mountain bike disturbance over 450 hectares without losing any routes.
“This success is all down to the strong partnerships we’ve built through the project and the wider mountain bike community, and we’re excited to keep that momentum and the a joint effort to get through the Capercaillie Emergency Plan as we all have a part to play. .”
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24620035.five-year-plan-launched-save-capercaillie-extinction/?ref=rss
