Putting networks into practice: land managers or land management advisors

What scale?

As a land manager or advisor, you are probably limited to making decisions within the area of land for which you are responsible. However, this area of land may be relatively small on a landscape scale.  For habitat networks to be effective, they usually need to be implemented across a whole landscape and so individual land managers may be only one piece of the 'jigsaw'.

However, increasing the connectivity of a landscape isn't just about creating new habitat. It's also about making the land surrounding specific habitat patches more permeable and making those core areas more robust.  So small changes to management of agricultural land may make a big difference and your area of land may well be significant, even if it isn't a designated nature reserve.

Financial support

Policy makers within the Scottish government and elsewhere have recognised the need to encourage you as land managers to assist in the implementation of habitat networks. Some financial incentives have been created through grant schemes like the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

Where habitat network models already exist (e.g. the Grampian Forest Habitat Network), they are highlighted as a priority under the Rural Priorities scheme. This means that actions that contribute to the delivery of the network should be a priority for funding.  So if you are considering submitting an application to the SRDP, it makes sense to try and include actions which will deliver your local habitat networks.

The SRDP web pages provide more information on this - priority 12 within the regional priorities refers to implementing networks. It's also worth remembering that applications to Rural Priorities where land managers have collaborated to link areas of habitat across farm boundaries have a better chance of being funded. The creation of larger areas of habitat will be particularly important for some slower moving species and those which need larger areas of high quality habitat.

Working at a larger scale

You may, however, be responsible for an entire landscape (for example if you are a factor on a large estate), and wish to establish a habitat network within that area.  You could create a network which is structurally connected just by observing the landscape around you.  Habitat patches can be joined by the physical link of an intervening area of similar habitat, for example, a hedge can be planted between two areas of woodland.  These physical linkages provide a structural connection within the landscape and you can 'plug the gaps' with additional areas of habitat on the land you manage. However, the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of networks based on such structural connections alone isn't clear cut. But, some species will almost certainly use these structural connections and the creation of additional habitat will be beneficial for the wider biodiversity of the area, especially if it's a larger area of habitat. So using maps, aerial photos and your own site knowledge to create a structural network is a potential option which is easy to implement on most sites and which will benefit some species.

More planning, more benefits...?

Creating a network with functional connectivity will take more planning but can provide a range of benefits.  As you'll have seen from the modelling pages, mapping a network requires a lot of data and is often done with a computer model.  If you have clear ideas about the type of network you'd like to create, the habitats and species you want to focus on and whether or not you're seeking to develop a network with other benefits as well (e.g. open space for recreation), creating a functional network may be something to consider. 

The further information page provides links to documents which give more detailed guidance on how to do this, and to organisations that may be able to help and give more information.