Putting networks into practice: for managers of conservation land and greenspace

Core potential - The land that you manage for conservation or recreation purposes has the potential to form a core area within a wider habitat network, even though your primary focus may be the management of the site itself.

Legislation: constraints and opportunities - For Natura 2000 sites, the Habitats Directive highlights that sites need to be 'ecologically coherent' in the wider landscape to ensure the species they are designed to protect are secure in the long term.  For parks and areas of green space, the new Scottish planning policy   states that open space areas should be protected and enhanced.  It therefore makes sense to consider how the site you manage could be part of a wider habitat or green network.  The type of network is likely to depend on the particular species or habitats of concern within the site and the other benefits which you might seek from a network (e.g. opportunities to encourage people to walk or cycle to the site, rather than driving).

Mapping and implementing - Some networks have already been modelled and you may have information about those that are relevant to your site.  (If not, please look at the organisations in 'further information' who may be able to help.)  To implement those networks, changes in land management may be required, possibly on your site, but more likely, on the land managed by your immediate neighbours. Promoting those changes and explaining the concepts of networks to other local land-managers can help to ensure that networks are implemented on the ground. For example, you may be able to assist local land managers in obtaining grants for habitat creation or land management changes, which will help to implement the habitat network around your site. Under the Rural Priorities section of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), applications which demonstrate collaboration between land managers to join up areas of habitat score more highly and have a better chance of being funded. 

Starting from scratch - For some sites there will have been no consideration of potential networks and you may have to start the process from scratch.  You'll need to consider the species / habitats (plus other elements if you're looking at green networks) which you are trying to protect so you can make sure the network is tailored to their needs.  Many site managers will have information and data which will be useful in modelling a network, for example, species records for the surrounding area or a map of local paths that connect to an area of green space.  Some organisations who may be able to help in the modelling are listed in 'further information'.

Once a network has been modelled and maps produced, you can work with local land-managers to try and implement the network on the ground, working outwards from your core site.