Citation
Overview
Breeding wader populations have declined significantly in recent decades in the UK. During this time, areas of moorland managed for grouse shooting and adjacent areas of rough pasture have been identified as persisting strongholds. A contributory cause to wader population declines is afforestation, and in the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) there is likely to be significant woodland expansion (with associated conservation gains for woodland biodiversity) in areas currently holding breeding waders. Land management planning in the CNP requires a balance between these and other competing objectives.
In more detail
This project was carried out collaboratively with The East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership, which comprises six estates (Mar Lodge, Mar, Invercauld, Balmoral, Glenavon and Glenlivet) and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The primary aim of the project was to investigate factors, including effects of woodland cover, affecting breeding productivity of wader species within the area covered by the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership.
