Selecting joint working sites

As part of the approach agreed by public bodies in March 2004, sites for Joint Agency Working are being identified through an objective and transparent process, focussing primarily on those sites most in need of attention. The main steps of identifying sites with management concerns, assessing sites and prioritising for action are explained below and through the links provided.

Natural heritage site 'Audit List'

Site Condition Monitoring of designated sites has provided a valuable check on the health of our nationally and internationally important sites, but has highlighted that grazing and trampling are frequently factors contributing to 'unfavourable' condition of the special features of the site. An unfavourable assessment is the first trigger that alerts us to the need to take a closer look at the management of the site. If grazing and trampling by wild deer either on their own, or in combination with other grazing animals, is considered to be having potentially negative impacts on the designated interests, the site is added to the Natural Heritage site audit.

Further site monitoring will often be carried out to confirm the nature and distribution of herbivore impacts and to establish a robust evidence baseline from which change can be measured objectively. The Audit List has been used as a basis for prioritising sites for inclusion onto the work programme using the best information available to bring forward those sites in most need of attention.

Work programme

The work programme details the list of sites where agencies are working jointly to address negative grazing & trampling impacts. This includes sites where: (a) action is underway on sites agreed as the highest priority; (b) sites undergoing additional monitoring and, (c) sites where there is an opportunity to improve habitat condition through voluntary approaches and incentives (eg Scottish Rural Development Programme- Rural Priorities).

Features may be considered to be 'recovering' where there is an agreed programme of management over the site which has been secured by a formal agreement. Progress on these sites will continue to be monitored and reviewed until habitat monitoring indicates that the condition of features is improving.

Other site work

There will be sites where other impacts are not linked to deer; where there are no deer present; or where features have been found to be unfavourable for reasons not connected with grazing and trampling. In such cases, SNH are working on feature condition with other public agencies, NGO's and landowner interests to address these issues.