Issuu

Number 94 | March 2018

OUR SHIFTING CLIMATE How is climate change affecting Scotland’s species?

GEODIVERSITY: The intrinsic link between geology and nature

Welcome from the Chief Executive

FIRST WORD From Chief Executive, Jonny Hughes

I ended up falling in love with Coul and making it my home for four years as a summer warden for the Trust...

have a vivid memory of the first time I walked the dunes, heaths and wetlands of Coul Links. I remember a cacophony of bird song and insects whirring and buzzing loud enough to drown out the sound of the sea. It was early evening in springtime on a wild stretch of the East Sutherland coast and I couldn’t recall ever hearing such an uproarious natural clamour. I ended up falling in love with Coul and making it my home for four years as a summer warden for the Trust, staying on for two winters as an unpaid volunteer in the elegantly dilapidated Coul Farm Cottage. I spent many a night being kept awake by curlews, oystercatchers, common sandpipers and redshanks. I spent many days recording birds, mammals, insects and the unique plant communities growing in the dune-slack wetlands which flood during the winter months then explode into flower in the spring and summer. It was at Coul, whilst heading out one day to see how the breeding little terns were getting on, that I encountered my first Scottish wildcat. The cat and I eyeballed each other from only a few metres before she walked away sedately

into some nearby juniper bushes. Coul Links is the kind of place where such once in a lifetime wildlife encounters could happen to anyone. It is a very special place. It is also a strictly protected place, or so we imagined. Despite having three levels of protection at Scottish, European and international levels we are now facing the prospect of a golf course being developed, which would destroy many of the irreplaceable features that make this site so important. It seems that decisionmakers have been lured by the promises of almost too-good-to-be-true economic benefits. The Scottish Government’s statutory nature conservation adviser – Scottish Natural Heritage – has objected, but their choice of words suggests a fear of upsetting factions within Government

who are pro-development at any cost. Meanwhile, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has, quite rightly, remained at ‘arm’s length’ and set out a more robust objection. Scotland is world-renowned for the quality of its natural environment and famous as the home of golf. Indeed, they often go hand in hand. But did we learn nothing from the Trump golf course development at Menie Links? Coul Links is a protected area. Scotland will be nationally and internationally condemned and its reputation irrevocably damaged if it allows this proposal to go ahead. The Trust will fight this one with all the intensity we fought the Trump proposal. We lost then, but we cannot afford to lose again. The future of every ‘protected’ area in Scotland depends on it. MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 3

Contents

Inside this issue

06 SAND DUNES

Find out more about these fragile and increasingly rare habitats, home to a wide range of specialist species.

08 NEWS

News round-up from the Trust

and the world of conservation.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Discover how Scotland’s wildlife and habitats are being affected by our changing climate.

24 GEODIVERSITY

Scotland’s geological diversity and history have shaped the landscapes and ecosystems we see today.

30 WETLAND TREASURES

Martha Rojas Urrego explains the importance of protecting our wetland habitats.

THE BIG PICTURE

Nicholas Watts MBE has a passion for birds, and shares a beautiful shot of one of his favourites.

34 VIEWPOINT

Theresa Fong from People’s Postcode Lottery shares her story of voluteering at Jupiter.

W ROM IN A BREAANTIC K TWO FOR IN PERT HSHI RE SEE P A GE 3

Scottish Wildlife magazine is published by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. © Scottish Wildlife Trust. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. All photography © Scottish Wildlife Trust unless otherwise stated. The Scottish Wildlife Trust accepts no liability for omissions or incorrect data in advertisements and letters. Views expressed in Scottish Wildlife are not necessarily those of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. ISSN: 0143 1234. Registered office: Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF. Tel: 0131 312 7765. Fax: 0131 312 8705. Email: enquiries@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Website: scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (no. SC040247). It is also a Scottish registered charity (no. SC005792). Scottish Wildlife is published three times a year: March, July and November.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is affiliated to The Wildlife Trusts, a UK-wide network of 47 Trusts with more than 2,000 wildlife reserves. 4 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Deadlines for news: 1 January, 1 May, 1 September. No unsolicited articles please. Scottish Wildlife is free to members. Membership rates from 1 April (excluding discounts for paying by Direct Debit): Individual (concession) £40 (£18); Joint (concession) £47 (£24); Family £57; Watch £18; Life (joint) £900 (£1,300); World/Overseas £45. Patron: HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay. Chair: Linda Rosborough. Vice-Chairs: Jon Barnes, Amanda Forsyth, Karen Chambers. Chief Executive: Jonny Hughes. Editor: Jo Pike editor@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Production Editor: Pete Haskell. Design: Connect connectcommunications.co.uk Advertising: Elliot Whitehead 0131 561 00212, Clare Stebbing 0131 561 0024. Printing: InkMark. Cover photo: © KOO, Shutterstock

Spotlight

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT:

COMMON LIZARD (Zootoca vivipara)

Widespread across the UK, common lizards can grow up to 15cm long and are the most northerly-living terrestrial reptile in the world.

Also known as viviparous lizards, they are unusual in that they give birth to live young, producing up to 11 hatchlings measuring just 5cm long.

If threatened, a common lizard can shed its tail in order to distract a predator and make a quick getaway. The tail can regrow but is usually shorter than the original.

Feeding predominantly on insects and spiders, common lizards are regularly seen in peatland, grassland and sand dune habitats.

Common lizards hibernate between November and March, often in communal groups, but may emerge during warm spells between these times in order to feed. MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 5

Spotlight: Sand dunes

SAND SEEKERS THERE are a number of distinct stages in the formation of sand dune habitats. Starting out as loose wind-blown sand, they are then colonoised by hardy salt-tolerant grasses and finally become diverse wildlife-rich grasslands. This is a process known as ecological succession. In some places, you can walk just 500 metres from the strandline of the sea and pass through each stage as it graduates into the next.

Where you are in the dune system will determine the animal and plant life around you. A general rule of thumb is that the more advanced the stage of sand dune, the more diverse the supporting habitat. Trampling is a significant threat to sand dune ecosystems, so when you’re next on a sand dune, stick to the paths and look out for the species listed below.

SIX-SPOT BURNET MOTH

LINNET

A black moth with six red (occasionally yellow) spots on each forewing, this is the most common and widespread burnet moth in the UK. Its caterpillars feed on common and greater bird’s-foot trefoil.

Found throughout the central belt and along Scotland’s coastline, the males of this small finch species have crimson-coloured foreheads and breasts, while the females are much browner.

COMMON BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL

COMMON LIZARD

A member of the pea family, this species’ yellow slipper-like flowers appear between May and September. The ‘bird’s foot’ in the name, refers to the shape of its seed pods.

Seen between March and October, the males of this species have bright orange or yellow bellies with black spots. Look out for them basking in the morning sunshine in order to raise their body temperature.

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Spotlight: Sand dunes

E A

C D

RESERVES A LOCH FLEET

OS Landranger 21, NH794965 An excellent example of a large tidal basin with sand dunes, mudflats, coastal heath and pinewoods. A huge diversity of bird life can be seen on the reserve, from Scottish crossbills and crested tits, to ospreys and Arctic terns. SHELDUCK One of our largest ducks and resident all year round, shelducks can be seen in coastal areas feeding on small invertebrates in estuarine mud or on sandy beaches. They nest in burrows, sometimes using old rabbit holes.

B DUMBARNIE LINKS

OS Landranger 59, NO441022 An increasingly rare habitat in Scotland, this dune grassland is lime-rich due to fragments of shells in the sand. These create the special conditions for a wide range of rare plants and invertebrates.

C GAILES MARSH

OS Landranger 70, NS324358 A good example of the successive habitats that are associated with sand dunes, this reserve features dry coastal grassland that is abuzz with insects in summer, and marshes that attract a range of wading birds. A particularly good place to spot mining bees.

D SHEWALTON SANDPITS

OS Landranger 70, NS327371 This reserve was the site of a sand and gravel pit until the 1980s. The diversity of habitats include sand banks, ponds, woodlands and riverbanks, making it a great site for invertebrates, plants and birds.

E HANDA ISLAND

SAND-PIT MINING BEE This medium-sized mining bee is found on light, sandy soil throughout the UK and can be seen flying between March and June. As with all mining bees, it nests in burrows in the ground, often covered by loose sand.

OS Landranger 9, NC138480 If you can tear your eyes away from the dramatic Torridonian sandstone cliffs and seabird colonies that Handa is famed for, you will find small patches of sand dune habitat. Look out for meadow pipits and eider ducks. For full reserve information, visit scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk/reserves

MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 7

Sand dune (North Harris) © Pete Cairns, 2020VISION, Linnet © Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography, Bird’s-foot trefoil © Lee Schofield, Six-spot burnet moth © Bob Coyle, Shelduck © Gillian Day, Sand-pit mining bee © Steven Falk

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Latest news

News from the Trust, our projects and the wider world of conservation

KEEP UP TO DATE

Visit our website for regular updates at scottishwildlifetrus t. org.uk © Scottish Wildlife Trust

Beaver watch IF you’ve always wanted to see a native beaver up close, why not join one of our People’s Postcode Lottery Beaver Watches? These popular evening events take place at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld from April to August. As a guest, you can listen to a short presentation about beavers, followed by the opportunity to view them from our Crannog Hide as the sun sets over the loch. This is a great way to learn about these special creatures and discover how they can transform the environment around them. Beavers were first spotted at Loch of the Lowes in 2012 and quickly set up a lodge on the reserve. Several kits have been seen since then which demonstrates that the beavers are settling in well. For yo chance ur two tick to win ets, sim ply tell us:

What ar e ba beavers by called? Send your answer by email (editor@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk) or post (Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF) by 2 April 2018.

8 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Decade of support from players PLAYERS of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised a staggering £4,884,473 to help the Trust protect Scotland’s wildlife for the future over the last ten years. Our Chair, Linda Rosborough, said: “By taking part in People’s Postcode Lottery, players are investing in the future of Scottish wildlife. We’re delighted to be celebrating ten years of this fantastic support in 2018. “Crucially, this funding isn’t restricted to a particular project, meaning we can focus it where there is greatest need. Ongoing help from players will help us to pursue our vision of a connected network of healthy, resilient ecosystems

supporting Scotland’s wildlife and people.” Support from players helps the Trust to maintain a network of 120 wildlife reserves throughout Scotland and has supported groundbreaking initiatives like the Scottish Beaver Trial. Funding from players also helps to educate and inspire tens of thousands of adults and children at our four visitor centres. The Trust was among the first charities to receive funding from People’s Postcode Lottery when it launched in Scotland. The Postcode Lotteries are now the world’s third largest private donor, and in 2016 an incredible £543 million was given to good causes across the globe.

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Rise in red squirrel sightings

A total of 7,109 squirrel sightings were recorded by members of the public on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website in 2017, 25% more sightings than in 2016. Records from the public are vital for building a clear picture of the distribution of red and grey squirrels in Scotland. This helps focus efforts to protect Scotland’s native reds. Thanks to support from funders including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is developing community action in key areas of Scotland. Find out more at scottishsquirrels.org.uk

TEN European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers from Spain, France and Hungary are joining the Trust’s Conservation Teams this year thanks to Erasmus+ funding. The volunteers will complete year-long placements, gaining valuable skills and experience while helping to maintain and improve some of our wildlife reserves. Many previous volunteers have gone on to full-time employment in conservation in their home countries. Since 2014, EVS volunteers have given the Trust around 32,000 hours of their time and contributed to the management of one third of our reserves. Due to uncertainty over future funding after Brexit, the Trust is supporting a campaign led by YouthLink Scotland asking the UK Government to commit to continued participation in the Erasmus+ Programme.

Norman and Colin during their wild swim

Wild swimmers go the distance for Living Seas

NORMAN Todd from Ullapool and Colin MacLeod from Stornoway braved chilly conditions and stinging jellyfish to raise nearly £4,000 in support of the Trust’s Living Seas project. The pair achieved a UK first by swimming the 14 miles from Achlochan to Ullapool in temperatures of around 12 degrees centigrade. “There were a few lion’s mane jellyfish, but they weren’t too much of a

European volunteers on placements

problem. The biggest obstacle (apart from the cold) was the tide,” said Norman. “It was hard mentally and it was physically draining. Once the tide had turned it then pushed us along the loch a bit.” The money raised through their efforts will help buy equipment including wetsuits to help local children explore the sea around them through activities such as snorkelling.

Support the campaign to save Erasmus+ by signing the petition at bit.ly/KeepErasmusPlus

Pupil power leads to straw ban in Ullapool © Noel Hawkins

PERSUASIVE pupils from a Glasgow Primary School have helped Ullapool to become the first village in the UK to ban plastic straws in all of its bars, cafes and restaurants. Sunnyside Primary School took their #NaeStrawAtAw campaign to the Highland village with support from the Trust’s Living Seas project. They teamed up with pupils from Ullapool Primary School to visit local businesses and convince them to stop using these single-use plastics. Due to their shape and size, plastic straws floating in the sea are easily mistaken for food and have been found

Pupils lobbying business in Ullapool

inside a number of species of seabird and other marine animals. Sunnyside Primary pupil Callum said: “We hope that by taking #NaeStrawAtAw on tour we can inspire other towns to stop sooking the life

out of our blue planet.” Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the initiative saying: “This is an example to communities across the country of the bold steps they can take to protect our

marine environment.” Growing concern over the impact of plastics on marine life has led to a number of recent positive announcements, including the Scottish Government’s decision to ban the manufacture and sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Alasdair Neilson from The Cotton Bud Project, which is run by environmental charity Fidra and supported by the Trust, said: “A ban would support the responsible businesses that have already removed this singleuse plastic item from their shelves. Let’s hope it also marks a bigger shift in the way we use and value plastics.”  MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 9

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

New hide at Montrose Basin FUNDING has been received from Angus Environmental Trust for a new hide at Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve. The hide will replace the current Shelduck Hide, which is in danger of slipping into the South Esk due to erosion. As well as being positioned further from the riverbank, the new hide will offer a more varied outlook over fields where a wide diversity of birds such as greenshank and snipe can be seen. The footpath leading to the hide is also being upgraded.

TWO new Wildlife Watch groups have been set up in Inverness and Glasgow. There are now more than 30 Wildlife Watch groups in Scotland, organising fun events and activities for children of all ages. To find out where your closest group is, visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/kids

IN BRIEF New Wildlife Watch groups

Snipe on a post

Long-eared owl at Falls of Clyde A LONG-EARED owl was spotted at Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve for the first time in November. As well as having characteristic tufts, this species can be distinguished from the more common tawny owls by its deep ‘hoo’ calls.

30 days wild

Volunteer honoured KAREN Morrison received an MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to the community in North Lanarkshire, including volunteering for the Trust at local events and working with Friends of Cumbernauld Glen. 10 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

THE Trust continues its campaign to save the spectacular Coul Links on the east coast of Sutherland. The site, which used to be managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, includes an internationally important dune system, home to many rare and endangered species. It forms part of the Loch Fleet Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area, as well as being internationally recognised as an important wetland. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, alongside many other organisations including the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB, Marine Conservation Society, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas, has voiced its concerns about the serious impacts of a proposed 18-hole golf course on the site. To find out more, visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ coullinks

MORE than 250 people have now signed up to support our work through flexible volunteering. The Trust’s Flexi-Team was set up in 2014 and is designed to allow people to fit volunteering around a busy schedule. Tasks range from carrying out practical conservation work such as tree planting, to helping at fundraising events and lending a hand with educational activities. Some tasks will take as little as an hour to complete, and many can even be done from home. Find out more about flexible volunteering on our website.

Award winners AT the end of 2017, Cumbernauld Living Landscape, in which the Trust is a lead partner, won the Youth and Education category of the Nature of Scotland Awards for its Building Natural Connections project. The project twinned four of the town’s high schools with local wildlife reserves to allow young people to gain skills and increase their confidence, while helping to make the sites better for wildlife. Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s Tracy Lambert said: “This project represents a huge amount

of hard work from a small army of volunteers, interns and staff. I’m incredibly proud of our town, young people and volunteers.” Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, which runs the awards, said: “It’s inspiring to see so many people dedicating their time to protecting our country’s precious natural heritage, especially the number of young people who are making a real difference by engaging in conservation.” The Trust also won the Nature Tourism Award for the North West Highlands Snorkel Trail. © Simon Williams Photography

RETURNING this summer, 30 Days Wild challenges you to get closer to nature throughout June. New for this year is the Big Wild Weekend - a series of events taking place across the country on 16-17 June. For more information, visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ 30DaysWild. Registration opens in April.

Campaigning for Coul Links

250 flexible volunteers and counting

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

AN entrepreneurial young wildlife lover from Glasgow has raised almost £1,000 to support conservation work through his 100 Nest Box Challenge. With just his pocket money and some help from his dad, 13-year-old Michael Sinclair has made nest boxes to sell in his local area. Money raised from selling the boxes is being split equally between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the RSPB. Michael explained: “During 2017 I visited many fantastic wildlife reserves across the UK as well as taking part in the BTO Bird

Camp. I decided I wanted to give something back to some of the charities that do such great conservation work. So, the 100 Nest Box Challenge was born!” Find out more at Michael’s website, mikesnature.com

Annual General Meeting THE Trust’s 54th Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 22 September at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Further details will be included in the next issue of Scottish Wildlife in July.

100 Nest Box Challenge

Restoring juniper at Balnaguard Glen THE Trust’s Balnaguard Glen Wildlife Reserve is host to one of Perthshire’s largest remaining areas of juniper woodland, which is now being restored. Overgrazing by deer is stopping juniper trees from naturally regenerating, but thanks to funding from Viridor Credits, the Trust is fencing off 18 hectares of the reserve to create a healthier heathland habitat. The new fencing, along with bracken control and the

introduction of cattle for part of the year, will help to keep unwanted foliage down, forming ideal conditions for new juniper trees to take root. In addition to juniper, this work will benefit a wide range of wildlife, from insects that thrive on healthy heather and blueberry, to black grouse and pine marten. This grant was made possible thanks to member donations to our recently established seed fund.

LEADING conservation charities, including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, are asking for greater investment in the health of our seas during Scotland’s Year of Young People. The groups are calling for the urgent completion of a well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas, as well as integrated Regional Marine Plans to ensure sustainable management of activities such as fishing within our waters. Scotland’s seas are in a poor state, with increasing pressures from human activities and climate change further threatening their health. Without investing in our seas now we risk undermining the wealth of benefits that they can provide for future generations.

The Trust’s Marine Policy Officer Dr Sam Collin said: “As a result of high-profile programmes including Blue Planet 2, there is growing interest from Scotland’s young people in protecting marine life and allowing it to thrive. “Sustainable marine planning has a key role to play. Strong support now will secure the benefits of Scotland’s seas for future generations and ensure that 2020, the Year of Scotland’s Coast and Waters, is a milestone year for marine conservation.” In addition to hosting a vibrant range of wildlife, Scotland’s seas support 79,000 jobs and have a vital role to play in tackling climate change.

Securing a future for Scotland’s seas

A Manx shearwater at sea

MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 11

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

A NEW method of monitoring native woodland is being piloted at Shewalton Wood Wildlife Reserve in Ayrshire. Aerial images taken by a drone will be used to measure areas where planting has to be

Game of drones

carried out to supplement natural regeneration, making it easier to estimate how many trees need to be bought for planting. Shewalton Wood is one of nine reserves managed by the Trust in Irvine.

New board members wanted DO you have a passion for wildlife conservation? The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a diverse and inclusive charity and we are looking for new board members. This year we would particularly welcome applications from individuals with either pensions or legal experience. To discuss the appointment or to get a nomination form,

please contact Susan McKenzie, Company Secretary, on 0131 312 7765 or email smckenzie@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Completed nomination forms must be returned by 31 May 2018. Elected Trustees will take office from this year’s AGM (Saturday 22 September) for an initial term of three years. The appointment is not remunerated.

12 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

MORE than 700 people from 60 countries around the world attended the World Forum on Natural Capital in Edinburgh in November, which was organised for the third time by the Scottish Wildlife Trust with a range of international partners. The conference was opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and explored the theme of ‘Better Decisions for a Better World’. Other speakers included Inger Andersen, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Dr Mary Kitutu, the Environment Minister of Uganda.

International leadership from Scotland

Otter-friendly road crossing FOLLOWING the deaths of two otters at the same spot on the A827 in 2017, the Callander Local Group were invited to get involved in a project to prevent further fatalities of this much loved species. As a result, an early warning system for otters and other wildlife has been installed at the site near Killin, consisting of 20 roadside reflectors. These reflect the light from car headlights sideways into the surrounding

area, alerting wildlife and stopping animals from crossing the road in front of a vehicle. The project was supported by a number of groups including Environmental Action Killin, Robertson Civil Engineering and Stirling Council. According to the International Otter Survival Fund, road deaths are the key reason that the UK’s otters have a shorter lifespan than those in other countries.

Wider news

Busy year ahead for Royal Scottish Forestry Society THE Royal Scottish Forestry Society’s 2018 AGM is being held in Inverness from 7-9 May. The event will be opened by Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing and includes visits to Glen Affric, Tornagrain and Rothiemurchus Estate. The Society also holds regular regional events around Scotland. Details of the 2018 programme can be found at rsfs.org.uk

Wildcat trapping

14 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Travel grants for young people YOUNG globetrotters are being invited to apply for funding to visit anywhere in the world to learn more about inspiring green infrastructure projects. The Central Scotland Green Network’s Young Persons Travel Grant has been created to mark the Year of Young People. It is open to people under the age of 26 who are resident in the Central Belt. Up to three successful applicants will be awarded up to £1,000 for a trip during 2018.

Keep an eye out for stonefly

The High Line in New York, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and the Bosco Verticale in Milan are just some of the world-renowned examples of green infrastructure which are already being used to inspire the development of similar projects in Scotland. For more details, visit centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/ travelgrant. Applications close on 1 April 2018.

Kittiwakes join UK’s threatened birds list

BUGLIFE is carrying out the first Scotlandwide survey of the Northern February red stonefly (Brachyptera putata) since 2010. The insects can often be seen basking on fence posts by rivers between February and April. The Northern February red stonefly was first spotted on the River Clyde at New Lanark in 1838, but now occurs mainly in the north of Scotland. The survey is designed to map which rivers it can be found in to help target conservation work. For more information visit buglife.org.uk © Gus Jones

THIS winter saw the start of what could be the most informative phase of the Scottish Wildcat Action project to date. Over the past few months, the project team have been attempting to trap wildcats in order to collect DNA samples, test the cats for disease and fit temporary GPS radio tracking collars. The primary threat to our native wildcat is hybridisation with feral and domestic cats, so gaining a clearer understanding of the genetic makeup of wildcats will help to guide current and future conservation efforts. Similarly, the GPS collars fitted to some cats will provide useful insights into their movements and the potential locations of den sites. It is also hoped that tracking will allow researchers to better understand how wildcats use the landscape and how and where they might interact with feral and domestic cats.

MELVIN Redeker’s stunning portrait of a northern gannet taken on Noss National Nature Reserve in Shetland has won best portrait in the British Wildlife Photography Awards. He said: “I had an intimate view of a group of gannets from the top of the cliffs. I talked to them and one looked up, revealing its rounded head, symmetry and beautiful blue eyes.”

Natural beauty

The High Line

THE kittiwake has been added to the list of birds considered to be facing the risk of global extinction due to threats including climate change, plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing. Kittiwakes are thought to have declined globally by around 40% since the 1970s, which has led to their status on the IUCN Red List rising from Least Concern to Vulnerable. Even more alarming declines have been recorded in Scotland, including on St Kilda where as much as 96% of the breeding population has been lost. Nine UK bird species are now considered to be at risk of extinction. Other species include the Atlantic puffin and long-tailed duck.

Be prepared

One of the first Knapdale beavers

Be prepared M

aking a will isn’t something I thought about until quite recently. On the one hand, I know the odds are that I won’t die for a few decades yet. On the other, I have friends and colleagues who have seen partners, brothers and sisters pass away in their 30s and 40s. I’m a fairly organised person and a believer in the motto “be prepared” so I took the decision and wrote my will. I’m now rather hoping it will quietly gather dust for many years. Once I had made the decision to write a will, I wanted to make sure it reflected who I am. On and off I find myself thinking about what’s important to me in my life. It comes down to two things: people and the planet we live on. I try to reflect this in all aspects of my life, which is why I wanted to do so in my will.

If I had one wish for Scotland’s wildlife, I would return some of the animals we humans have killed off. I’m a big fan of the Scottish Beaver Trial and would love to see a wild lynx here one day.

Paul Ritchie © Lefteriskatsouromallis

Paul Ritchie was the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Director of Finance and Resources for seven years and saw at first-hand how important gifts in wills are to the Trust’s work. Here he talks about his personal decision to make a will and include gifts to charity.

Lynx

Gifts to family members feature prominently as do gifts to charity, including the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Like many people, I have more than one charity which is close to my heart. My gift to each is a proportion of my estate – which may turn out to be a lot of money or a little. Either way I know it will make a difference to causes I care about.

There is no ‘typical’ person who leaves a gift in their will to the Scottish Wildlife Trust. What each shares is a deeply held wish to help protect Scotland’s wildlife for the future. If you want to talk to us about leaving a gift in your will, call Zoë on 0131 312 4772.

Climate change

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SCOTLAND’S WILDLIFE O

ur warming planet has been the focus of much discussion and debate by governments the world over for the past two decades. While humankind has been altering the environment for millennia, it was the 18th Century Industrial Revolution that kick-started climate change as we know it today. Since then, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere has increased at an

unprecedented rate and reached record highs, causing the average global temperature to rise by more than 1oC. The effects of this changing climate on the natural world are profound. Whilst some animals and plants might be able to live in areas previously too cold for them, many others are likely to become under threat. Here, we look at some of the ways that climate change is affecting wildlife and habitats in Scotland.

Latitudinal range shift

Warmer temperatures have led to some species moving further north. For species adapted to warmer climes, such as tree bumblebees and nuthatches, this has been beneficial, leading to a range expansion. However, species that prefer colder climates such as Scottish crossbills and the dwarf shrub blue heath, are being squeezed into ever smaller areas of land. The same is happening in our seas. Cold-water species, such as Arctic charr and sandeels, are moving further north and are being replaced by warm-water tolerant species such as sardines. This is having a significant impact on seabirds such as puffins and kittiwakes, as sandeels are their primary food source.

Ocean acidification

Over the past decade, the Earth’s oceans have absorbed more than a quarter of the carbon released through human activity, resulting in seawater becoming more acidic. For some of Scotland’s marine species such as coldwater corals, mussels and oysters, this can have profound impacts because the calcium carbonate used to build their shells or skeletons may start to dissolve.

How is climate change affecting these species? Common oak Quercus robur

Warmer winters in recent years have meant that leaves are appearing on oak trees up to two weeks earlier than they did 30 years ago.

Razorbill Alca torda

Razorbills, which nest on rocky cliffs, are suffering nest damage and higher losses of chicks due to the increasing severity of summer storms.

Simple ways each of us can reduce our impact Turn down heating Turn the thermostat at home down by 1 or 2 degrees and put an extra jumper on. 16 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Save electricity Turn off lights and unplug televisions, computers and other electronic gadgets when not in use.

Use what you need Kettles require a lot of electricity to boil, so only fill it with the amount of water that you need.

Climate change

Altitudinal range shift

Warmer winters mean less snow in Scotland, and the retreating snowline is forcing habitats such as bryophyte-dominated snow beds and animals such as snow buntings, further up the mountains. Ptarmigans and mountain hares are also being affected as both species turn white in winter and without snow, this colouration makes them easier to spot by predators.

Changing seasons

Changes in temperature, rainfall and snow cover are disrupting some well-established natural cycles due to the timings of events. For example, the flowering of some wildflowers may be out of sync with when insects are in flight and pollinating. Similarly, the timing of chick hatching for some bird species no longer coincides with when their prey is most abundant.

Sea level rise

Sea level rise caused by the expansion of warmer water may lead to the loss of coastal habitats such as machair, mudflats, sand dunes and saltmarshes. This will have significant impacts on many bird species such as ringed plovers and oystercatchers, which use these habitats for feeding and breeding.

Increased rainfall

While summers in Scotland are becoming hotter and drier, winters are becoming milder and wetter, causing rivers to flood more often and more severely. Extreme flooding can damage breeding grounds for a number of species, from salmon that lay eggs on the riverbed, to sand martens and dippers that nest in riverbanks.

Sheep tick Ixodes ricinus

Peacock butterfly Aglais io

Great tit Parus major

Grey seal Halichoerus grypus

Tick numbers are likely to increase as temperatures warm, which could lead to more cases of Lyme’s Disease in Scotland.

Changes in caterpillar abundance have led to great tits laying their eggs on average two weeks earlier than they were 50 years ago.

Leave the car at home Walk, cycle or use public transport where possible.

As with some other species of butterfly and moth, peacock butterflies have become more widespread in Scotland as temperatures have risen.

Recent collapses in some of Scotland’s seal colonies are thought to be caused in part by changes in the distribution of prey species due to warming sea temperatures.

Eat local Choose locally produced food and reduce food waste.

Get noticed Talk or write to local businesses in your area to encourage them to become more sustainable. MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 17

Climate change

CLIMATE

CONTROL

Climate change is now a familiar term for many, but the implications of a changing climate for the natural world are perhaps less well understood, writes Rich Rowe. 18 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Climate change

n his work as Reserve Manager for North Scotland, Mark Foxwell gets asked a lot of questions, but there is one in particular that he hears over and over again. How do we distinguish between a one-off weather event and evidence of climate change? “It’s difficult,” he says. “Things happen, but are they a consequence of climate change, or just a one-in-ahundred-year event? Making that distinction is rarely straightforward.” But while determining an accurate distinction between weather and climate is fraught with difficulty, there are clues to be found. At the Trust’s Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve on the Morvern peninsula, Arctic-alpine plants cling to the high summits and cliffs. Common further north in Iceland and elsewhere, plants such as stonecrops and Norwegian sandwort are at the very edge of their range here. They grow on this reserve because of a precise combination of nutrientrich basalt soils and the cool climate found at higher altitudes. But all is not well. “There are not many places in the UK where the conditions are just right for these plants, but Rahoy is one of them,” explains Mark. “We’ve monitored these plants in detail for many years and noted that the general trend is one of decline.”

For the Trust, it’s an example of how a warming climate is causing what is known as altitudinal shift – in this case, specialist plants that are restricted to ever higher altitudes until there is nowhere left for them to go. It’s a similar story in the animal world, with upland species such as dotterel and mountain ringlet butterfly, again at their southern extent in Scotland, also feeling the squeeze. Climate change is perhaps even more apparent in terms of latitudinal shift, with some species moving north as the climate to the south becomes warmer and drier. More generally, changes in the timing of natural events, such as leaf growth and bird migration, have become apparent. At Rahoy, there have been more dramatic events that could potentially also be symptomatic of a changing climate. For decades, there has been a golden eagle eyrie (nest site) at the reserve that is monitored for activity every season. But last year it was washed out by repeated, almost monsoonal downpours that saw huge volumes of water pour off the mountain. “One of the predictions of climate change is that we will see more severe weather events,” comments Mark. “A warming sea means more evaporation and then MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 19

Climate change

down it comes as clouds hit the west coast.” For the golden eagle – and particularly if this is the new normal – torrential downpours are a problem it could do without. Eagles don’t breed every year, and certainly not successfully, so anything that reduces that success any further is extremely unwelcome.

OUT AT SEA

Further north in Sutherland, rangers have been monitoring the raucous assemblage of seabirds on Handa, an island owned by Scourie Estate and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, for decades. Once again, numbers of several species – particularly guillemots – are not what they once were. “It depends on the time-frame you look at, but it would be a fair generalisation to say that most seabirds are not doing brilliantly,” comments Sven Rasmussen, Reserves Manager for West Central Scotland. Climate change is recognised as an important factor, with rising sea temperatures disturbing the delicate balance of marine food webs. As key prey items such as sand eels head further north in search of colder waters, they become less accessible to seabirds that typically fish inshore during the breeding season. Of course, nature hates a vacuum, so as a door closes on some species, it opens for others. Back on land, birds such as little egret and nuthatch are now increasingly found further north, while some butterfly species are appearing in places for the first time. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence of changing conditions at Rahoy Hills is the presence of purple hairstreak butterflies. “They have never been found as far north as this in the past, but are now relatively abundant,” confirms Mark. “I can only assume that conditions are now suitable for them and they have migrated north.” Meanwhile, Rahoy’s ranger, Steve Hardy, has heard golden oriole singing on the reserve for the past three years. “Normally they would be much further south,” says Mark. “One year, I might think the bird has been blown off course, but three in a row ... is that now a pattern?”

MANAGING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

But how does the Trust approach something as vast and complex as climate change on the ground? “We put a lot of effort into specific habitat projects such 20 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Barnaluasgan Loch

as restoration of peatlands and maintaining semi-natural, species-rich grasslands, both of which serve as significant carbon stores,” explains Alan Anderson, the Trust’s Head of Reserves. “By protecting these habitats we are contributing towards climate change mitigation and giving the species within them the best possible chance of survival.” Elsewhere, the Trust has plans to

plant or regenerate more than 300 hectares of new woodland in Argyll over the next four or five years. In addition, it’s looking to encourage riparian woodland both as a habitat in its own right and to improve oxygen in watercourses, keep burns and rivers cooler during the summer, and soak up water during spells of heavy rainfall. This of course is also being achieved on a small scale by the return of beavers in Knapdale Forest in Argyll and in

Climate change

Eagles don’t breed every year, and certainly not successfully, so anything that reduces that success any further is extremely unwelcome.

Guillemots on Handa

Golden eagle © Alan Anderson

Looking west from Rahoy to Ardnamurchan

Tayside, where even a relatively small number of these natural habitat engineers are creating new areas of wetland and improving riparian woodland. Such work is a nod to the Trust’s argument that actions to tackle climate change and efforts to prevent biodiversity loss should go hand in hand – with restoring ecosystem health crucial in terms of combating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

SENDING A MESSAGE

It’s a message that has been taken to Holyrood following publication of a new Climate Change Bill proposed by the Scottish Government in June 2017, and which is now being debated following a period of public consultation. The new legislation proposes amendments to the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, with proposals that include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from baseline levels to 90% by 2050 – an improvement

on the initial target of 80%. While a step forward, the Trust believes that more ambition is required and is now calling for a target of halving emissions every 10 years, with the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Such a target, says the Trust, not only takes into account future advances in technology and efficiency, but would also contribute to limiting global temperature increase to 1.5oC – the level at which signatories to the Paris Agreement agree would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change within a meaningful timeframe. “It’s unfortunate that the proposed Bill only sets targets rather than actions,” comments Bruce Wilson, the Trust’s Senior Policy Officer. “But we’ll continue to lobby hard on what we see as a cross-policy issue that steps into areas such as agriculture and wider land stewardship.” In its response to the proposed legislation, the Trust also flagged the lack of reference to developing a National Ecological Network, which it argues would provide a practical, long-term way to invest in natural assets that capture and store carbon, while also helping wildlife to adapt to changing conditions. “This kind of ecological network provides a framework for applying the same levels of strategic decision-making to our green infrastructure as we would to any other network, such as our roads and railways, and it would also help us to implement nature-based solutions,” says Bruce. From the Trust’s point of view, another key omission is any mention of blue carbon – the term given to the carbon captured and stored in marine habitats. As Bruce explains, there is a need to improve our overall understanding of blue carbon habitats and how their ability to lock up carbon might feed into the current criteria for identifying Marine Protected Areas. “It’s simply a missed opportunity from the Scottish Government,” he says. “Blue carbon is one of the key points we are talking about in terms of future technological advances that could help meet a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.” As ever, it seems, as much will ride on the level of ambition and commitment shown in the corridors of power as it will on the ground.

Rich Rowe is a freelance outdoors writer based in Innerleithen, Scottish Borders. www.richardrowe.co.uk MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 21

Q&A

Roseanna Cunningham MSP

Raising awareness is key

How can we create more awareness of nature-based solutions to climate change? I am grateful to the Scottish Wildlife Trust for being one of the leading organisations working to ensure that Scotland has a healthy, natural environment, capable of capturing and storing carbon while delivering multiple social and economic benefits to the people of Scotland. Raising awareness of sustainable solutions to climate change is key to our success. The Scottish Government supports organisations that recognise the value of robust and resilient ecosystems and would encourage farmers, landowners and local authorities to make use of those solutions. What is the Scottish Government doing to harness the benefits of carbon capture and storage by our seas and coastal ecosystems? We are keen to explore the potential of so-called ‘blue carbon’ which is why we’re funding a new research programme in partnership with Scottish 22 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

You are the Scottish Government’s Minister responsible for climate change issues at a time when this topic is more important than ever. Why is leadership on climate change critical in 2018? The consensus among the science community and environmental policymakers is that time is not on our side when it comes to tackling climate change. While much has been achieved to date, both in Scotland – of which we are rightly proud – and across the world, the need to maintain momentum and build commitment on climate issues is greater now than ever before. The responsibility for this falls on all sectors with everyone having a role to play – at all levels of government, business and civil society.

Natural Heritage and a number of Scottish universities. The programme aims to increase our understanding of blue carbon and the impact of people’s activities. The knowledge and evidence we gain from this work will help us make good decisions on the sustainable management of our seas. What do you think is the biggest challenge in our fight against climate change? I feel that the biggest challenge – the need for action on a global scale – has become the greatest opportunity. There is now general agreement around the world that climate change is happening as a result of human activity, and we have to deal with it by transforming economies, supporting and enabling innovation and clean technologies, and helping people change their behaviours. While we are coming to accept the

challenge of climate change, raising awareness and building that momentum continue to be our greatest obstacles. What would you like your legacy as Cabinet Secretary to be? I have one of the longest job titles and most diverse ministerial portfolios in the Scottish Government, but there’s a good reason for that! My work on the environment, climate change and land reform is inextricably linked and interdependent. For example, we need a healthy environment if we’re going to protect and enhance biodiversity. We know our wildlife is already being seriously affected by climate change, and land reform offers opportunities to manage our land in a way that reduces emissions and protects nature. I’m not ready to talk about my political legacy just yet. But I can tell you that this is my goal: a greener and fairer Scotland.

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Dining in style © Kate MacRae

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Geodiversity

WHAT HAS SCOTLAND’S GEOLOGY EVER DONE FOR US?

Scotland’s geological history and diversity are intrinsically linked to the wildlife and landscapes we see today, as Angus Miller explains.

t’s easy to take Scotland’s rocks for granted. It feels like they have always been here and until “the rocks melt wi’ the sun”, not much will change. The Edinburgh philosopher James Hutton (1726-1797) had a different perspective, drawn from decades of farming and direct observation of the rocks and soils of Scotland. He is now recognised as the founder of modern geology, the first person to appreciate that the natural processes he observed changing the Earth’s surface were part of great cycles of activity that had operated over a vast timescale, creating and shaping the rocks and landscape around him. These were audacious ideas at a time when most thinking people readily accepted, as Shakespeare put it, that “the poor world is almost six thousand years old”. Hutton laid the foundations for our modern understanding of how the Earth works, developed in the last 50 years with the recognition of plate tectonics. Changes to the Earth’s surface are driven by large-scale interactions between the Earth’s interior, tectonic plates, water and the atmosphere. This has provided the stage for the evolution of life. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is one of 85 organisations that support Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter, published by the Scottish Geodiversity Forum to encourage greater awareness of Scotland’s geology and the contributions it makes to nature and people. Geodiversity encompasses rocks, landforms, sediments and soils, and the 24 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

processes that form and alter them. Geodiversity forms the basis for Scotland’s landscape and by creating mosaics of habitats it is the foundation of our rich biodiversity. In some cases, there is an intricate link between the ongoing processes of geodiversity and wildlife. Sand martins nesting in an eroding river bank, for example, only have a nest site because the river continues to erode its banks. If river erosion is restricted by human activity, the habitat disappears. The Trust’s reserve at Spey Bay is an excellent example of the interplay between river erosion, sediment transport, deposition and coastal processes that together have created a mosaic of river, estuarine, beach and marine habitats. Even with all the recent advances in our understanding, it is hard to grasp the timescales and complexities of the Earth’s natural processes. But this is now more important than ever, when we are living through

human-induced climate change that will have a catastrophic effect on Scotland’s wildlife and people. What can we do about it? Understanding and working with natural processes is key, so that we can help mitigate the effects of climate change.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

We know that Scotland’s coast is now changing in response to global sea-level increase and human activity. Research

The iconic Sgurr of Eigg

Geodiversity

and sharing of knowledge is essential to allow land managers to plan for the future, to maintain crucial habitats and protect vital infrastructure. What will Spey Bay look like in 50 years’ time? Will it still provide a mix of habitats suitable for a range of biodiversity? Scotland is witnessing a tourism boom, and our landscape is the key attraction that brings 15 million visitors and contributes £12 billion of economic activity. Landscape tourism is not new in Scotland; the Trust’s Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve became a major attraction for visitors from the late-18th Century, when natural features such as waterfalls became the epitome of sublime and picturesque scenery. Leading artists and literary figures, including William Wordsworth and J.M.W. Turner, helped to promote the Falls as an essential destination. Recent projects by the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership continue this promotion of the landscape and heritage, now with much more of a focus on connecting communities to their local heritage.

What will Spey Bay look like in 50 years’ time? Will it still provide a mix of habitats suitable for a range of biodiversity?

SENSE OF PLACE

Scotland’s natural wonders are not just for visitors from overseas, our diverse landscapes are places where people live and work, and they provide a strong “sense of place” to our cities, towns and rural areas. This fabric of our living spaces and the interplay between people and our environment goes back millennia, and has influenced the places that people have settled and farmed and the

materials we have used to construct our buildings. Scotland doesn’t have particularly high mountains or immense landscapes, but it is often the intricate, intimate scale of the landscapes that delights and inspires, seemingly wild landscapes where human communities are embedded, and have been for generations. The nature of Scotland’s landscapes and people has much to do with geology, with the small-scale diversity created by an amazing mix of rock types, spectacularly eroded by ice.

A HIDDEN STORY

The Isle of Eigg is a Trust reserve that exemplifies the influence of geology on the landscape, biodiversity and human story. Eigg’s volcanic rocks formed 60 million years ago, part of a vast outpouring of lava associated with the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. The final volcanic activity created a layer of pitchstone, a hard glassy rock that now forms the high ridge of An Sgùrr. The rocks, and the ways in which they erode, create a variety of habitats including ridges suitable for eagles, eroding sea cliffs that sea birds nest on, areas of bog, scree slopes and shallow sandy bays. Underlying the tough layers of basalt there is another amazing Scottish wildlife story, where soft sedimentary rocks from the Jurassic Period preserve a record of the shells, fish and reptiles that lived in this habitat. The great Scottish geologist Hugh Miller (1802-1856) visited Eigg and explored its fascinating © Pete Haskell

Spey Bay Wildlife Reserve

MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 25

Geodiversity

Geodiversity is not just about the past. The different ways that human activity impacts on the natural world are becoming increasingly clear.

geological story. On his discovery of Scotland’s first plesiosaur fossils in 1844 he mused that “here, on this very spot, must these monstrous dragons have disported and fed ... warred and wedded, and pursued all the various instincts of their unknown natures”. Scotland’s geology has much to tell us about past environments, and the natural processes that have formed an amazing array of different rocks and provided a platform for life. But geodiversity is not just about the past. The different ways that human activity impacts on the natural world are increasingly clear. If we are to maintain and enhance natural environments for the future, we will need to be more aware of the geological processes that operate on different timescales, and the intimate, complex connections between these processes, the natural world, and ourselves. Angus Miller is Chair of the Scottish Geodiversity Forum.

Geodiversity on reserves A Spey Bay The River Spey brings pebbles to the coast, where there is superb visible evidence of uplift of the land after the ice melted.

Isle of Eigg A lovely geological gem within Lochaber Geopark, where Palaeogene basaltic lavas cap fossil-rich Jurassic sedimentary rocks, and the iconic Sgurr of Eigg pitchstone ridge dominates the skyline. B

F C G E D

26 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

Seaton cliffs, Arbroath Skirt the tops of dramatic red sandstone cliffs and find beautiful coastal landforms including the Needle E’e, Mermaid’s Kirk and The Sphinx. C

Falls of Clyde The Falls of Clyde and Carstairs Kames are excellent examples of the effects of glaciation and the role of meltwater rivers in shaping the landscape. D

E Petershill, West Lothian Walk across limestone slabs full of fossils that formed in warm shallow seas on the Equator 330 million years ago.

Montrose Basin The sediments along this coast preserve a record of sea level change since the end of the last glacial period, including deposits from a tsunami that occurred 8,000 years ago. F

G Kilminning coast A wild section of the Fife Coastal Path that includes a range of geology, including thick layers of sandstone and other fossil-rich sedimentary rocks.

Hoselaw Loch and Din Moss Explore an area of raised bog near Kelso which contains an excellent record of the history of afforestation and environmental change over the last 10,000 years. H

The Scottish Geodiversity Forum has compiled a Scotland-wide list of places where the geology can be explored and appreciated. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of Scotland’s year of History Heritage and Archaeology 2017. Several of the sites are Trust Reserves, presenting a great mix of landscapes at different scales where you can observe a range of geology and natural processes. To see the list, visit scottishgeology.com/best-places

Protecting wetlands

WETLANDS: SCOTLAND’S TREASURE Scotland is a landscape rich in wetlands – a country of rushing rivers, deep clear lochs, coastal marshes, wet woodlands and the characteristic Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland. Martha Rojas Urrego explains why these wetlands are of such importance.

ugged and beautiful, Scotland’s wetlands contain significant biodiversity value as well as open space for walking and wildlife watching. Yet under the surface of these wetlands, there lies a treasure trove of other less obvious benefits to Scotland and its people. The sustainable management of wetlands is critical for ensuring safe and clean drinking water. Most Scottish drinking water passes through wetlands where it is filtered and detoxified before entering public water supply systems. Wetlands are a natural filter and can even absorb some of the pollutants from agricultural and industrial sources, reducing the need for expensive water treatment systems. Along Scotland’s spectacular coastline, wetlands such as saltmarshes and dune-slacks are important for shoreline stabilisation, acting as buffers that protect against storm surges. These natural buffers are particularly important given that the frequency of natural hazards worldwide has more than doubled in 28 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

just 35 years and more extreme weather is predicted as a result of climate change. Similarly, inland wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing rainfall, slowing overland flow of water and reducing the frequency and severity of flooding. Wetlands are also highly effective carbon stores. Peatlands are particularly important in this regard. They cover only 3% of the world’s total surface area, but they store twice as much carbon as all forests combined. Peatland soils are composed of large amounts of carbon – in the form of decomposed plant material – that has accumulated for thousands of years; and when peatlands are drained or

Wetlands can help countries to build a clean, prosperous and sustainable future.

burned, that carbon is released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Scotland’s peatlands – its bogs and fens – cover about 1.7 million hectares and account for 22% of its land area. Scotland is known for holding some of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Europe, covering about 4,000 square kilometres. It is estimated that about 1,600 million tonnes of carbon are stored in peat soils in Scotland, the equivalent of about 140 years of Scottish CO2 emissions. However, the condition of peatlands is declining each year due to drainage, cutting, burning and afforestation. These ecosystems and their valuable soil carbon store are finally being recognised, and it has been heartening in recent years to see bodies such as the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage successfully working with the Scottish Government to help restore this damaged peatland resource. In doing so, Scotland will turn a liability into an important national asset.

Protecting wetlands

Under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, a total of 51 wetlands in Scotland are designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). Together, they cover an area of more than 3,300 square kilometres. Given the extent of the different wetland types in Scotland, other Ramsar Sites could be designated but of paramount importance is to protect the existing 51 from development and damaging activities. All parties to the Convention also commit to conserving and wisely using all their wetlands, not just the protected Ramsar sites. Restoring peatlands and other wetlands and recognising their value is particularly important for Scotland, given its ambitious goal to reduce emissions by 66% by 2032. A significant increase in peatland restoration forms part of Scotland’s draft Climate Plan: it aims to increase annual restoration targets to 20,000 hectares, with 250,000 expected to be restored by 2032. In 2017, I was delighted to see the Scottish Government allocating an additional

£8m fund to help achieve these targets on top of investments already made. In Scotland, there is a unique opportunity to step up conservation of wetlands through the implementation of the Ramsar Convention and by integrating this too often undervalued ecosystem into sustainable development plans and actions, as well as into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Convention. This is particularly relevant as countries will take stock of their NDCs and review progress on Sustainable Development Goals on biodiversity and water later this year. Wetlands can help countries to build a clean, prosperous and sustainable future. Scotland is fortunate to have a treasure of wetlands that, if protected, restored and wisely managed, will provide economic, social and environmental benefits for generations to come. Martha Rojas Urrego is Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 29

Within the context of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, wetlands are considered one of the most cost-effective investments in combating climate change. Their conservation, sustainable use and restoration can significantly reduce CO2 emissions, thus making them a vital tool for countries pursuing their Paris Agreement mitigation targets. And, by maintaining the water cycle, acting as natural buffers against natural disasters, and providing fresh water, food and other services, they are also essential for climate adaptation. Countries including the UK have a ready-made platform that they can use for their wetland conservation efforts. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty under which 169 countries have committed to conserve and use their wetlands wisely, is one way for signatory countries to reach their CO2 reduction targets, as well as meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

The big picture

THE BIG PICTURE Nicholas Watts

wildlife photography collection, royaltyfree, to the public. Nicholas explains: “The main reason I wanted my collection of photographs to be freely available to anyone, is that it’s a further practical way I can raise awareness of the importance of farming with wildlife and the environment in mind, plus more specifically the need for action to reverse the trend of declining songbird numbers.” The majority of his collection is of birds, including this stunning shot of a

hawfinch, the UK’s largest finch species. Nicholas explains the story behind the shot: “I have a friend, also a farmer and photographer, who lives in Breckland [in Norfolk] where there are still a few hawfinches. He had a hide near a puddle during a dry spell and birds that eat seeds need to drink quite regularly. He invited me over and I was in luck, hawfinches came to drink.” For more information and to buy bird food directly from Vine House Farm, visit vinehousefarm.co.uk or phone 01775 630208. MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 31

NICHOLAS Watts MBE is owner and founder of the award-winning Vine House Farm Bird Foods which, more than ten years ago, began donating up to 5% of all bird food sales to Wildlife Trusts across the UK. To date, more than £1,250,000 has been donated in this way, including £37,329 to the Scottish Wildlife Trust. As well as being an award-winning conservation farmer in Lincolnshire, Nicholas is an avid and very capable wildlife photographer. At the end of last year, he decided to release his entire

Watch out for

Watch out for... Some wildlife highlights to enjoy over the coming months Reading

Mobile

Rowan the Red Squirrel by Lynne Richards and Jon Mitchell Published by Kelpies ISBN 978-1782504771 Paperback RRP £6.99

Deep in the woods, in a crooked old tree, lived two little squirrels, with Mum, who made three.

This delightful and enchanting tale follows the adventures of two young red squirrels as they explore the environment after leaving their drey for the first time. The story beautifully captures the magic of the wild Scottish countryside and its native species, gently introducing educational elements such as foraging behaviour, print tracking and the relationship between predators and prey. It is an adventure story which will undoubtedly inspire young minds to look at the bounty of Scottish wilderness and wildlife with wonder and fascination. A charming read for children and parents alike.

Must-have wildlife apps Mammal Tracker Available on the App Store and Google Play. Free A quick and easy way to identify mammals and submit sighting records when out and about. With mammals significantly under-recorded in the UK, using this app will help to inform work to conserve some our most iconic species, from bats to beavers and wildcats to weasels. Bird Song ID Available on the App Store and Google Play. £3.99 One of several apps that help to identify birds from their calls. This app may not have the nicest design of the apps available, but in a test carried out by Ian Hunter of the Fife and Kinross Group, it gave the most accurate results and it doesn’t require a 3G/4G connection to work.

Reading

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben Published by William Collins ISBN 978-0008218430 Paperback RRP £9.99

Recently released in paperback, this international bestseller by German Forester Peter Wohlleben will transform the way you look at trees. Drawing on detailed research as well as his own incredible knowledge, Wohlleben takes the reader on a journey into the subterranean social network, or “wood wide web”, of trees and forests. Relating the lives of trees to that of humans, he describes their ability to recognise relatives, alert neighbours when they are under attack and share nutrients with those that are sick. He talks about the competition between different species, how beech trees bully oaks and how city trees are like street kids struggling against the odds. While it is a book rooted in science, Wohlleben writes in a very accessible

32 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

style, allowing the reader to be engrossed in this truly eye-opening life story. As it says on the book – a walk in the woods will never be the same again!

30 Days Wild Available on the App Store and Google Play. Free A fun and easy-to-use app that offers inspiration and ideas of things to do during our 30 Days Wild challenge in June. The app enables you to select and share wildlife activity ideas from a list of beautifully photographed wildlife cards.

Watch out for

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MARCH 2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 33

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Viewpoint Your stories from around Scotland

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THE VIEW FROM...

THERESA FONG, PEOPLE’S POSTCODE LOTTERY I work for People’s Postcode Lottery as a customer experience agent and spend my time speaking to our players over the phone, through email and on social media. It’s an office-based job so it was great to have the chance to get outdoors by volunteering at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre a while ago. It was a sunny September day and an ideal time to be out of the office and amongst nature. I really didn’t know what to expect so was amazed when, after driving through the busy streets and industrial estates of Grangemouth,

we pulled up at the wildlife centre. It’s truly an urban oasis, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the town. Our volunteering task took a few hours and the Ranger really got the most out of our time, putting us to work straight away! We spent most of the time clearing unwanted vegetation from around a hedge and putting down mulch, all the time being careful not to damage plants like rowan, hawthorn and hazel. I’m not normally a huge fan of physical labour, but after many trips with the wheelbarrow, I felt a great sense of achievement. And after a few hours of working in the September sunshine, it was lovely to take a break and explore the reserve. It was wonderful to walk through the woodlands and meadows, learning about the different trees and plants as we went,

I’m not normally a huge fan of physical labour, but after many trips with the wheelbarrow, I felt a great sense of achievement. 34 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2018

and hearing about the work that others have done over the past 25 years to create such a beautiful place. We also saw a seating area that some of my colleagues helped to restore earlier that summer. It’s a great place to chill out and I was really proud to see the space they had created where people can relax and just enjoy being surrounded by nature. As an employer, People’s Postcode Lottery is really committed to volunteering. We enjoy two days volunteering a year as well as an annual team day, and these are a brilliant way to connect with the good causes that are supported by our players. Volunteering for a charity can be hugely satisfying. It allows you to make a difference directly, but it also means you can experience first-hand the positive impact places like Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre have on their local area. This helps me a great deal in my work when I’m talking to our players about the good causes that benefit from their support. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised an incredible £4,884,473 to support the Trust’s work since 2008.