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Black grouse - update

The following are brief summaries of some of the action that we and our partners have done since the Species Action Framework was launched. They're in chronological order, with the most recent updates at the top of the page.

7 December 2009

Three exciting new Scottish projects got underway for black grouse in 2009:

1. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, part-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and Cairngorms National Park, began a three-year research project looking at black grouse utilisation of forest environments. Lek size and persistence will be related to woodland variables such as forest size, age, species composition, proportion of unplanted ground and distance from open habitats. Radio-tracking of grouse will then show how black grouse actually make use of these habitats. This research will help us to understand the main opportunities and constraints for black grouse conservation in Scotland's afforested landscapes.

2. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds led a new three-year partnership which also includes GDF Suez/Scottish Power, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland. Covering Argyll and Stirling, where black grouse have suffered some of their most serious declines, a project officer will help to implement management plans by encouraging funding applications through the Scottish Rural Development Plan. She will also carry out black grouse surveys, raise awareness and deliver training, and develop a team of volunteer fieldworkers.

3. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, will adapt a model for landowner-led conservation groups that has already been a success for grey partridge conservation in England. Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust will help groups to deliver advice on practical land management, information on funding packages, and monitoring of black grouse populations.

2008

The Scottish black grouse biodiversity action plan steering group met on 22 February 2008 as a newly invigorated partnership. The wide-ranging discussion included new project proposals and discussion of the draft Species Action Framework Implementation Plan.

The black grouse Species Action Framework program for 2008/09 saw the removal or marking of approximately 10,000m of stock and deer fencing to reduce black grouse mortality caused by collisions with fences. The year also saw an increase in the program of advocacy and training for the species, with workshops for landowners and their advisors taking place in Borders, Argyll, Dumfries & Galloway and Highland.

In August, Forestry Commission Scotland launched a species action note external site   for black grouse, reaffirming their commitment to the conservation of the species in Scotland.

2007

Start of a three-year project to trial different kinds of management for black grouse on the national forest estate. This partnership project is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Research. Different forest management techniques will be trialled, and monitoring carried out (lek counts, brood locations, presence and abundance of predators, and vegetation changes). Information on the key aspects of forestry management that impact on black grouse will be fed back to forest managers on the national estate and on private land, and are expected to influence management recommendations for Rural Development Contracts.