i

To the Right Honourable Donald Dewar MPHer Majesty’s Secretary of State for Scotland

Sir,

I have the honour to present the report of Scottish Natural Heritage, covering the period

1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

Magnus Magnusson KBEChairman

December 1997

Laid before Parliament

under Section 10 of the

Natural Heritage

(Scotland) Act 1991

Scottish Natural Heritage12 Hope TerraceEdinburghEH9 2AS

ii

SNH BOARDChairmanMagnus Magnusson KBE

Deputy ChairmanProfessor Chris Smout CBE

Professor Seaton Baxter

Alan Blackshaw OBE VRD

Nan Burnett OBE

Roy Dennis MBE

Barbara Kelly CBE

David Laird

Professor Fred Last

Peter Peacock

Bill Ritchie

Professor Roger Wheater OBE

SOUTH EAST REGIONAL BOARDChairman Nan Burnett OBE

Deputy ChairmanJohn Goodfellow

Quintin Brown

Dr Carol Duffus

Robert Kay

Dr Peter Maitland

Professor John McManus

Professor Paul Racey

Capt Tony Wilks

NORTH EAST REGIONAL BOARDChairman Professor Seaton Baxter

Deputy ChairmanElizabeth Hay

Andrew Bradford

Nigel Graham

Hugh Halcro-Johnston

Eric Langmuir MBE

Professor Sandy Mather

John Scott

Professor Brian Staines

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEEChairman until 3 July 1996Professor Chris Smout CBE

Chairman from 3 July 1996Professor Paul Racey

Professor Charles Gimingham OBE

Dr Ralph Kirkwood

Professor Fred Last

Professor Jeff Maxwell

Dr Derek Mills

Professor Roger Wheater OBE

(Regional Board Members):Dr Carol Duffus

Dr Peter Maitland

Professor Sandy Mather

Professor Jack Matthews

Professor John McManus

Dr Malcolm Ogilvie

Professor Brian Staines

Dr Paul Thompson

Professor Roger Willey

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL BOARDChairman Barbara Kelly CBE

Deputy Chairman Professor Jack Matthews

Lady Isobel Glasgow

Robin Malcolm

Archie McCunn OBE

Findlay McQuarrie OBE

Dr Malcolm Ogilvie

Alastair Rowan

Professor Roger Willey

NORTH WEST REGIONAL BOARDChairman Bill Ritchie

Deputy Chairman Simon Fraser

Dr Michael Foxley

Dr Jim Hunter

Andrew Matheson

Janet Price

Lord Strathnaver

Dr Kenneth Swanson

Dr Paul Thompson

Board Members at 31 March 1997

Register of Board Members’ InterestsSNH maintains a public register of Board members’ interests. Any enquiries concerning this should be addressed

to the Board Secretary, Scottish Natural Heritage, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, EH9 2AS.

iii

Annual Report

1996 - 1997

iv

Scottish Natural Heritage was established by Parliament in 1992 to secure the conservation and

enhancement of Scotland’s unique natural heritage. We are also charged with promoting its

enjoyment and understanding and encouraging its sustainable management. Our role is to influence

both practice and policy, through the designations for which we are responsible, on the land we own

or lease, by the various projects and initiatives we operate, through our grant-aid and the advice

which we offer to others, and through the counsel we provide to Government and other

organisations. We support this work with sound science, and set ourselves high standards both in

the work we do and in our efficiency and economy.

Our central ethos is one of partnership, because by working with others we achieve far more than if

we act in isolation. Through partnership we maximise the effectiveness of our own resources, we

understand better the problems, difficulties and perspectives of others, and we build the trust which

is so essential in working with local communities and groups throughout Scotland.

As a public body SNH is accountable to Ministers, to Parliament and to the public and we are

committed to an open and transparent style of working. It is my pleasure to present our Fifth Annual

Report, in which we set out our work in the year 1996/97.

A word about the format of this report; we organise our work according to 11 themes or

Programmes, and this structure is reflected in the shape of the report. Although each Programme is

well defined, the nature of our work is such that some cross-over between Programmes is inevitable.

Details of the 11 Programmes are followed by a short section on our financial performance and a

formal Summary Statement of Account. A companion volume, SNH: Facts and Figures, contains

tables and statistics on various aspects of our work, and provides a detailed record of 1996/97.

I hope readers will find this report informative, interesting and useful. More than this, I hope they

will agree that, on the evidence of 1996/97, SNH has become established as an organisation which

plays a valuable and innovative role in the countryside, fulfilling our mission ‘to work with Scotland’speople to care for our natural heritage’.

Magnus Magnusson KBE

Chairman

Scottish Natural Heritage

Chairman’s Preface

1

Annual Report

1996 - 1997

ContentsChairman’s Preface iv

Table of Contents 1

Chief Executive’s Summary 2

1: Maintaining and Enhancing Diversity 6

2: Protecting and Managing Special Natural Heritage Sites 10

3: Securing the Management of the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs 14

4: Improving Environmental Education 18

5: Improving Land Management and Access 22

6: Encouraging Sustainable Use of Maritime Areas 26

7: Working in Partnership with Local Authorities 30

8: Supporting the Central Scotland Forest Initiative 34

9: Delivering our Special Nature Conservation Functions 38

10: Developing Policy and Providing Advice 42

11: Improving the Management of SNH 46

Financial results 50

Summary statement of account 52

Section 29 Orders 55

2

The year has been significant for SNH in two

respects. We have developed two major strategic

programmes and 1996/97 has been marked by

signal achievements across the full breadth of

our work. Firstly, our Natural Heritage Zonal

Programme and our Organisational

Development Programme are both focused on

improving our effectiveness; the former in

delivering natural heritage benefits and the latter

in managing SNH. Secondly, our achievements

form a long list. They include our work on

promoting biodiversity, on consultation on the

designation of European sites, on delivering

projects for the special areas of the Cairngorms

and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, on footpath

development and maintenance, on new

environmental education projects, on the Focus

on Firths projects and on our partnerships with

local authorities.

Our work on biodiversity is fundamental to the

conservation of the natural heritage and

encompasses much of our work. Specific

achievements were the extension of our Species

Action Programme with the drafting of 30 plans

and implementing a further 24. A major

conference on biodiversity helped to focus

attention on this work and to stimulate

discussion on how further efforts by both SNH

and others can best be directed.

Designated sites take up approximately 20% of

our financial resources and involve staff in many

parts of the organisation. Our efforts have

concentrated on enabling the Government to

meet its obligations under the European

Directives relating to Habitats and to Wild Birds.

We are particularly proud of our record here.

For example, we consulted on 20 SPA/Ramsar

sites and 33 proposed Special Areas of

Conservation (SACs) and carried out 35

notifications of Sites of Special Scientific Interest

(SSSIs) in support of our Natura 2000 work.

Another milestone was the completion of a

major policy review for our National Nature

Reserves (NNRs).

Progress in the Cairngorms has been very

encouraging with a range of practical projects in

place and with the Partnership publishing a

Draft Management Strategy. In Loch Lomond &

the Trossachs we have been able to support a

number of substantial projects to aid visitor

management, and considerable progress was

achieved towards establishing a joint

management structure.

We launched ‘Plant for Wildlife,’ which is our

campaign to encourage everyone to consider

wildlife in their gardens. This is the latest

element in our Positive Action for the

Environment project which aims to promote

individual awareness and responsibility. As part

of our environmental education work we also

supported eleven environmental awards and

produced a practical guide to the use of school

grounds in environmental education.

Countryside access and recreation are other

areas where we have shown innovation and met

with success. ‘Paths for All’ is a major SNH

initiative addressing a very real issue for

hundreds of thousands of people in towns, cities

and other settlements throughout Scotland - that

of easy access to the countryside near where

they live and work. In 1996/97 we launched the

Paths for All Trust and supported local

authorities in their appointment of full-time

access officers. We produced a forward-looking

policy paper on Long Distance Routes which

concludes that these footpaths are well used and

offer excellent value for money; it also proposes

alternative sources of funding. We are now

ready to submit proposals for two new routes,

the Great Glen Way and the Speyside Way

extension, to the Secretary of State following

public consultations. The Access Forum, which

brings together representatives from

recreational and traditional land-use

organisations, now includes 18 members, and

during the year tackled the issues surrounding

access on to Scotland’s inland waters.

Encouraging agricultural policies and practices

to be more sympathetic to the natural heritage is

one of our prime objectives. It is an area where

our development projects and targeted financial

support demonstrate new approaches to

environmentally-friendly farming. We developed

the TIBRE project which focuses on how

technology can be harnessed to favour the

environment on intensive lowland arable farms.

We supported FWAG Scotland in its advisory

role with farmers. We worked closely with The

Chief Executive’s Summary

Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and

Fisheries Department in its development of the

Countryside Premium Scheme. We also

responded to the Department’s paper on geese

and agriculture, with our objective being long-

term measures, funded through the agri-

environment programme.

Working with farmers, estates and local

communities is fundamental to many

demonstration projects located across Scotland.

Notable were the development of proposals for

the Area Sustainability Strategies – developed by

a consortium of eight partners in the Highlands

and Islands – and the preparation of a

demonstration of integrated estate management

on land surrounding our Battleby Centre. This

Annual Report documents a range of ways of

joint working which we have established with

Government bodies and statutory agencies, local

authorities, voluntary bodies, local groups and

individuals. It is impossible to mention every

one of them in this summary but I want to

acknowledge our large debt to all our partners.

The Focus on Firths projects, which encompass

some of our most valuable maritime areas, are

further examples of a highly collaborative

approach. A major achievement is that draft

management strategies have now been

produced for the majority of the Firths. A strong

strand is our work with local communities. The

Sea Chests (environmental education resource

packs produced for the Focus on Firths projects)

are one demonstration of this, and merit special

mention along with the Environmental

Community Chests and Tree Trunks for the

positive reception they were given.

Local authorities are key partners; our Area staff

liaise with local authority officers over

recreation, planning and access issues on a day-

to-day basis. Our Landscape Character

Assessment Programme, which concluded its

third and final year of intensive fieldwork, is

one example of how we can take forward

projects of common interest to our mutual

benefit. I am also delighted that another two

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) were declared in

1996/97.

There were two key achievements on policy

development: the publication of a Policy

Statement on Rangers in Scotland, and our

development of the Zonal Programme. The new

approach to Ranger support sets out clearly the

role, criteria and new funding levels for

countryside rangers and establishes a

mechanism for monitoring the quality of the

services which we support. As a result our

investment of £2m in Ranger Services will

achieve more and our grant-aid procedures will

be streamlined. The development of Natural

Heritage Zones is a first step in our Zonal

Programme. By identifying the specific qualities

and needs of the natural heritage in each zone, it

will help us to focus our work and our resources

accordingly and for our partners to identify

which are the most valuable contributions they

can make. The Programme will become an

increasingly important part of our work.

Over the year a major achievement was the

development of detailed plans to allow the

implementation of our Organisational

Development Programme from 1 April 1997. We

developed revised internal working practices

based on greater collaboration, team working

and client/provider principles. We improved

decision-making and increased delegation and

developed a new management structure. The

changes will bring considerable benefits to our

customers, increasing local delegation and

shortening lines of authority. Our Programme

will also lead to improved efficiency and

economy within SNH.

How does one measure the value of our work?

This can be difficult to do because we have a

wide remit and because the benefits resulting

from our work are not always easily quantified

and are often long term. However, we believe

we can demonstrate that we have spent our

£36.85 million in grant-in-aid wisely, and that it

offers excellent value for money. This is

especially important in rural Scotland where we

contribute indirectly to the maintenance of the

viable communities which are so important to

our work. We have protected more than 900,000

hectares of land through the SSSI network

(about 11% of Scotland). Threatened bird

species such as the corncrake, the sea eagle and

the red kite are now showing positive signs of

re-establishment. Last year around 94,000 walks

were taken along Long Distance Routes in

Scotland. Twenty three million walks were

taken in the countryside, many on paths we have

helped fund or repair. In 1996/97 we reached a

wide audience through the televising of our

Plant for Wildlife campaign. Our ‘Jobs in the

Environment’ study identified that there are

7,850 Scottish jobs directly linked to the natural

heritage. Open air recreation generates £730m

for the Scottish economy, supporting 29,000 full-

time-equivalent jobs. Our role is critical in pump-

priming new initiatives, in mounting

demonstration projects, in grant-aiding key

projects, and in providing quality advice to

ensure that the economically valuable resource

of Scotland’s natural heritage is managed wisely.

3

4

Another achievement is that of the 229 key tasks

identified in our Operational Plan for 1996/97,

84% were completely discharged, with almost all

the rest being nearly or substantially completed.

The Scottish Office identified 21 measures of our

performance, which are listed below. We

exceeded the target on 8 measures and failed to

meet only one. Our performance on these was

especially creditable bearing in mind the 10%

reduction in our grant from Government.

Finally I should like to pay special credit to all

those who have contributed to the successes of

the year: our partners, our Board members and

especially our staff. As I have said, our work

would be much the poorer without the

contribution of our partners. Organisational

change is always unsettling for those involved,

but SNH’s staff have once again risen to the

challenge, taking this in their stride while

maintaining their energy for the work at hand, as

this Report amply demonstrates. Our

Organisational Development Programme will

see structural changes to the Board and

Management Team in 1997/98. I should like to

give special thanks, therefore, to the departing

Regional Board members (too many to mention

here), to the two retiring main Board members:

Roy Dennis and Alan Blackshaw, and to the

three members of staff: Jane Dalgleish, Gerard

Henry and Michael Usher who left the

Management Team as a result of its re-

organisation.

Roger Crofts

Chief Executive

Scottish Natural Heritage

Our achievements against key targets agreed with The Scottish Office

Species Action Plans

Species Action Plans

Species Action Plans

Notify sites as new SSSIs inpreparation for Natura 2000designation

Undertake furtherconsultations on marine pSACsites

Submit scientific cases for SPAsites to The Scottish Office

Undertake local consultationson pSPA sites

Complete baseline surveys forall existing Natura 2000 sites

20 Plans inimplementation phase

Draft 30 Plans

Publish 12 Fact Sheets

30 Sites

According to agreedNatura 2000 programme

25 SPAs

Submit 20 toGovernment fordesignation

According to agreedNatura 2000 programme

Target exceeded24 plans implemented

Target achieved28 Species and 2 Habitat Plans drafted

Target reduced in line with implementationprogramme. 7 sheets published

Target exceeded35 SSSIs notified to underpin Natura 2000 sites

Target achievedSNH worked with The Scottish Office to enable 14marine pSACs to be forwarded to Europe.Continuing dialogue with local interests on manysites

Target exceeded27 Departmental briefs, 11 draft and 16 final,produced

Target achieved20 pSPA/Ramsar sites submitted to The ScottishOffice for designation

Target substantially achieved1996/97 Research & Survey Programme completedapart from one project which will be finished earlyin 1997/98

MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING DIVERSITY

Target Progress

PROTECTING AND MANAGING SPECIAL NATURAL HERITAGE SITES

Task

5

Develop monitoringframeworks for key aspects ofthe Cairngorms

Complete pathwork projectsin the Loch Lomond & theTrossachs area

Produce curriculum supportmaterials

Countryside In and AroundTowns

Implement Red Deer ActionPlan

Produce managementstrategies for the Firths

Distribute EnvironmentalCommunity Chests

Agree forward work plans forSNH funded ranger services

Complete priority tasks inpolicy developmentprogramme

Respond to nationalconsultations

Customer contacts to meet Natural Standards

Implement recommendationsof Interim Review

Produce Efficiency Plan

7 monitoringframeworks agreed

6 pathworks 90%complete

Complete 5 themedproducts

Develop 15 proactiveprojects

6 Red Deer Management Plans and ademonstration study

Publish draft strategy forCromarty Firth

50 Sea Chests

Plans agreed for allservices by quarter 1

45 tasks

Respond to 50anticipatedconsultations withingiven timescales

Meet standards for 90%of contacts

Recommendationsimplemented inaccordance withimplementation plan

Agree Plan withSOAEFD in quarter 2

Target substantially achieved7 projects completeCompletion of aerial photography postponed to1997/98

Target exceeded6 pathworks nearly complete and a further 3 underway

Target exceeded7 products completed

Target achieved15 projects under way

Target exceededProgress continues with 7 Deer ManagementGroups’ Management Plans. Deer Commission forScotland has agreed to trial the 7 plans beforetaking forward further plans. Demonstrationstudies continue on 13 sites

Target achievedCromarty Firth draft strategy published

Target achieved50 Sea Chests distributed throughout Scotland withmonitoring system in place

Target substantially achievedTotal of 81 plans agreed from a total of 90 services

Target not achievedOf the 45 priority items which were scheduled forcompletion: 23 are complete, 18 have been delayedfor operational or external reasons and 4 arecontinuing.

Target substantially exceededTotal of 82 consultations responded to within time-scales

Target substantially exceededStandards met for more than 95% of all contacts inthe year.

Target achievedAll 51 Interim Review recommendations have beenaddressed by SNH's Management Team.Implementation has either occurred or will takeplace as SNH moves to its new structure

Target achievedPlan submitted to The Scottish Office andapproved in quarter 2

SECURING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAIRNGORMS AND LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS

IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

IMPROVING LAND MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS

ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE USE OF MARITIME AREAS

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES

DEVELOPING POLICY AND PROVIDING ADVICE

IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF SNH

Target ProgressTask

One species to benefit fromwork carried out as part ofour Species ActionProgramme is the corn-crake. Partly as a result ofmodern farming methods,the bird is threatenedworld-wide; once commonthroughout Scotland, it isnow confined to the northand west.

To increase the bird’s breed-ing success we operate ascheme, jointly with theRoyal Society for theProtection of Birds and theScottish Crofters’ Union,which supports corncrake-friendly farming in thefields containing callingmales.

Support from local farmersfor the scheme has beenexcellent. The good news in1996 was that the numberof breeding birds was esti-mated to exceed 600 callingmales (a target in the UKBiodiversity Action Plan).

7

Inventory and SurveyTo obtain a clear understanding of Scotland’s naturalheritage and its management needs, we undertake a widerange of inventory and survey work. This work informsour actions, and helps us to set priorities for the naturalheritage and to plan how we can better promote publicenjoyment and understanding.

In 1996/97 we tackled freshwater lochs, sand dunes,

blanket bogs and countryside recreation. As part of the

year’s inventory work two reports covering south west

Scotland were completed – part of a series reviewing the

state of Scotland’s freshwater lochs. The first-ever national

study of sand dunes surveyed Orkney, Shetland and north

west Scotland, and reported on earlier work in the Western

Isles. With the digitalisation of 94 ten-kilometre squares, we

concluded the development of a GIS (Geographic

Information System) of the Inventories of Ancient, Long-

established and Semi-natural Woodlands. We also

completed an inventory of active blanket bogs for Lewis

and Skye, producing maps, reports and Information andAdvice Notes. In support of our countryside recreation

remit we developed a methodology, devised

questionnaires and let a contract to gather information on

recreational cycling and horse-riding.

Landscape Character Assessment Scotland’s rich and varied landscape is one of our mostprized assets. The countryside of today has been mouldedby countless generations of Scots working the land. It is adynamic and ever-changing landscape and a key tourismattraction. Our aim is to ensure that change is carried outsympathetically and wisely for the benefit of generations tocome.

Our aim is to conserve and enhance the richness and diversity ofScotland’s natural heritage. Much of this work is contributing to the

UK Biodiversity Action Plan, one of the Government’s responses to the1992 Earth Summit in Rio.

Under this banner we carry out surveys and inventories (includingour Landscape Character Assessment Programme) and species

protection (including our Species Action Programme).

Maintaining and enhancing Scotland’s biodiversity is so central to ourwork that it encompasses many of our areas of activity. This

programme expresses some of our key initiatives, and in 1996/97 ourprogramme expenditure on this work was £2.5m.

1: Maintaining and EnhancingDiversity

Key Achievements

• We completed a GIS system forScottish woodlands.

• We completed 14 LandscapeCharacter Assessments; a third andfinal year of intensive survey wasconcluded.

• We drafted a total of 28 SpeciesAction Plans and were engaged inthe implementation of 24 plans.

• We jointly delivered the corncrakescheme with the RSPB and the SCU.

• We issued 722 licences in the year.

• We successfully operated 5 goosemanagement schemes.

8

We can only hope to achieve our aim by having

an objective and complete understanding of the

character of Scotland. The Landscape CharacterAssessment of Scotland is a unique inventory of

the character and composition of the Scottish

countryside. This work has been developed in

partnership with local authorities and other

interested parties. The third and final year of

intensive survey covered a further 14 areas,

with only three areas remaining for completion

in 1997/98 when a national picture will be

drawn together from the various assessments.

This will contribute to the development of our

Zonal Approach (see Developing Policy andProviding Advice ). The Landscape Character

Assessments now form a practical tool to aid

SNH and our partners in planning policy and

financial casework.

Species ProtectionCertain of our native plants and animalsrequire special care to ensure their successfullong-term survival. As part of our contributionto the UK Biodiversity Action Plan we havedeveloped our Species Action Programme, inclose liaison with the other statutoryconservation agencies and voluntary bodies.For those species identified in the Plan we havebeen compiling individual action plans, andimplementing them as resources allow.

In 1996/97 the SNH Species Action Programmeincreased: 28 plans have now been drafted,

comprising new species such as the pearl-

bordered fritillary butterfly, the capercaillie and

a rare pine-wood plant, the single-flowered

wintergreen. We were engaged in the

implementation of 24 species plans, covering

species such as the great crested newt and the

sticky catchfly. In addition, on behalf of the

Scottish Biodiversity Group and in

collaboration with The Scottish Office, we

commissioned 2 habitat action plans, for

machair and for a floating seaweed,

Ascophyllum nodosum mackii.

Red KitesIn a joint project with the Royal Society for the

Protection of Birds, red kites were first re-

introduced into the Highlands in 1989, to start

the process of re-establishing a population

which had been extinct in Scotland for more

than a century. In 1996, as part of our Species

Action Programme, red kites were re-

introduced into Central Scotland for the first

time. Nineteen kites were released at suitably

prepared sites, having been brought from

Germany where there is a strong red kite

population. In 1996 18 pairs of Scottish birds

successfully raised 38 young. A total of 112

individuals have now been released in Scotland.

We hope that these. supported by further

releases, will form the basis of a viable and

growing population in years to come.

LicensingTo protect Scotland’s natural flora and fauna we

also exercised our own licensing functions,

covering species such as bats, wild birds and

certain amphibians, for activities such as

inspecting birds’ nests and for photography.

We issued 722 licences in the year. We also

gave advice to The Scottish Office Agriculture,

Environment and Fisheries Department

(SOAEFD) about their licensing functions.

We gave advice to SOAEFD and also to the

public, farmers, foresters and other land

managers on many aspects of species

conservation. For example, our staff gave

advice on how badger setts would be affected

by developments such as new forestry planting

and housing.

BatsBats, too, generate a large number of enquiries

from the public, and we gave advice on how

activities such as remedial timber treatment

and roof repairs could be carried out without

destroying bat roosts. Much of this work is only

possible because of the considerable efforts of

volunteers undertaking surveys and site visits

and giving general conservation advice; it is a

good example of how working with others can

make us more effective, in this case with raptor,

bat and badger groups and individual local

naturalists.

GeeseFor many, the sight and sound of Scotland’s

geese returning each autumn is an exhilarating

experience; but because these birds feed on

pasture and graze in large flocks there are

potential conflicts with agriculture. In 1996/97

we continued to operate a series of

experimental schemes enabling internationally

important populations of wild geese to co-exist

in harmony with farmers and crofters. The

schemes – in Islay, Orkney, the Uists, on the

Solway and around the Loch of Strathbeg – all

had a high number of participants. European

Objective 5b funds contributed to the Solway

scheme.

We also responded to The Scottish Office

consultation paper on wild geese, in which we

welcomed the examination of this issue, but

strongly advocated a switch to mechanisms

fully integrated into current agricultural support

measures and funded as part of the agri-

environment programme.

9

The EC Habitats Directive provided the impetus for those concerned withEuropean marine sites to gather fresh information, bring all the various intereststogether to discuss management, and to agree common action. The UK statutoryconservation agencies and the Scottish Association of Marine Sciences put a suc-cessful bid to the European Commission for LIFE-Nature funding for a £4mdemonstration project in 12 candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).The four Scottish Sites are the Solway Firth, Papa Stour, Loch nam Madadh andthe Sound of Arisaig. Over four and a half years the project will seek to workwith the relevant authorities to establish management schemes, share experi-ences of best practice, gather knowledge and improve our understanding of theimpacts of human activities on marine features and explore practical monitor-ing techniques.

The first year of the project centred on putting in place management structures,involving relevant authorities, completing broadscale habitat mapping and iden-tifying other sources of information.

11

Sites of Special Scientific InterestThe Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the keynature conservation designation in the United Kingdom;the identification of SSSIs ensures that important sites ofscientific interest and natural heritage interest, particularlyon privately owned land, are safeguarded. There are1,433 SSSIs in Scotland, covering more than 914,000 ha –about 11% of the country.

SNH is responsible for identifying and notifying SSSIs, and

for liaison with owners and land managers to ensure the

sympathetic management of sites. In most cases this is

already occurring as the natural outcome of careful

stewardship. Sometimes there can be a conflict between

the wish to change the use of the land and a site’s scientific

importance, but in most cases this can be resolved through

constructive dialogue. By law SNH must be advised of any

proposed changes of land-use on SSSIs, to ensure that we

have the opportunity to consider the implications of such

proposals. The formal mechanism for this is a Notice ofIntent; we responded to 458 Notices of Intent within the

year. On some occasions a Management Agreement is an

effective means of maintaining the SSSI’s interest and we

agreed a further 28 such Management Agreements in1996/97.

We also formally responded to 220 consultations withlocal planning authorities about proposed planning

developments on SSSIs. For the majority, we were able to

advise on improvements, including suggested planning

conditions which ensured that the proposed

developments did not damage the natural heritage interest.

For 12 proposals we considered that the potential impact

on the natural heritage was likely to be significant and we

made a formal objection.

SNH is placing increasing emphasis on the positive

management of SSSIs. In the Flow Country of Caithness

and Sutherland we run a special Peatland ManagementScheme to promote positive management: during the year

we secured 18 new agreements, covering an additional

10,360 ha.

The continued production of Site Management Statements(a target in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan) will reinforce

for owners and managers the links between an SSSI’s

Our aim is to maintain a network of designated natural heritage sitesand to secure their conservation in partnership with those who own

and manage them. To that end we spent a total of £10.6m

2: Protecting and Managing SpecialNatural Heritage Sites

Key Achievements

• We maintained a network 1,433SSSIs.

• We wrote 55 Site ManagementStatements for Earth Science SSSIsand 103 Statements for BiologicalSSSIs.

• We responded to 458 Notices ofIntent.

• We instituted a system of SiteCondition Monitoring for SSSIs.

• We held 20 consultations onpSPA/Ramsar sites and reported toThe Scottish Office.

• We completed and approved apolicy review on NNRs.

scientific importance and its management needs,

and will contribute to dialogue about positive

management for the future. We produced 188management statements during the year: 85 for

earth science sites (30 more than originally

planned) and 103 for biological sites.

During the year we introduced a system of SiteCondition Monitoring for SSSIs, based on

common standards agreed between the three

statutory nature conservation agencies in

England, Scotland and Wales and the Joint

Nature Conservation Committee. This

monitoring programme will ensure that all

features of scientific interest notified in each SSSI

will be regularly monitored.

We also carried out checks on existing

Management Agreements, to ensure that

landowners and managers were complying with

the terms specified in each agreement; areas

covered by larger agreements are checked

annually, and others are checked at least once

every three years.

Natura 2000Natura 2000 is the name given to theprogramme of work linked to the EuropeanDirectives on Habitats and on Wild Birds, tosecure the protection of a network of naturalheritage sites of European importance (SpecialAreas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats andspecies, and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) forbirds). This programme is given the highestpriority by Government, and SNH works closelywith The Scottish Office on all aspects ofestablishing the Natura 2000 network.

The Government has decided that sites which are

to become part of the Natura 2000 network have

to be notified as SSSIs. During the year we

notified 35 new SSSIs in preparation for Natura

2000 designation. (This figure includes both new

sites and existing SSSIs which were extended to

take in additional areas).

We continued to advise The Scottish Office on

scientific cases for proposed Special ProtectionAreas (pSPAs) under the Birds Directive. After

discussions with local interested parties we

submitted to The Scottish Office consultationreports on 20 new SPAs/Ramsar sites. Ramsar

sites are wetlands of world-wide importance,

particularly, although not exclusively, those

important for wildfowl. They are designated

under an international convention, the Ramsar

Convention on Wetlands of International

Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,

ratified by the UK Government in 1976 and

named after the town in Iran where the

convention was signed.) A further 33 candidateSpecial Areas of Conservation (cSACs) under the

Habitats Directive, including 14 marine sites,

were forwarded to the European Commission by

the UK Government following recommendation

by SNH.

To maintain and, where appropriate, enhance

the nature conservation interests we continued

to explore options for supporting positivemanagement on Natura 2000 sites.

National Nature Reserves

Under current legislation, SNH is responsible forthe establishment, maintenance andmanagement of National Nature Reserves. Thereare 70 NNRs in Scotland at present, representingsome of the finest examples of our naturalheritage.

During the year we completed a review of our

National Nature Reserves (NNRs). We affirmed

that the NNR is especially important in the

Scottish context: it is the only national

designation whose statutory intention is the

long-term management of land specifically for

nature conservation, while also providing

assured opportunities for the public to

appreciate and learn about Scotland’s natural

heritage.

SNH believes that a fundamental basis for NNRs

in the future is that they must be primarilymanaged as nature reserves of which the nation

can be proud, and that they should be selected

with great care. Our policy is to ensure that they

are selected – and managed – because they

represent one of three main types:

•specialised management reserves, where the

character of a site requires special and pro-

active management. This will apply to fragile

and vulnerable sites, scarce habitats and

those with species in decline, or when there

are important opportunities for enhancing a

nationally valued habitat or species;

•national awareness reserves, where the site

can encourage people to take pride in their

natural heritage, and learn to appreciate and

understand it better. This will apply to larger

‘key accolade’ sites (like the Isle of Rum) and

to those which can accommodate visitors

with ease;

•research-related reserves, which offer

unique opportunities for specific research

into the natural heritage. This will

encompass both the aquisition of special

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management skills (which can then be

demonstrated and taught to others) and

precisely focused forms of research.

Subject to the response of The Scottish Office in

the light of the Review of Natural HeritageDesignations, we intend to put this policy into

place, starting with consideration of the

appropriate criteria for NNRs to fulfil each of

these functions.

National Scenic AreasThe National Scenic Area (NSA) is the nationalstatutory designation for landscapes. Scotlandhas 40 NSAs at present, covering about 13% ofthe country, which play a crucial role inidentifying and protecting valued areas ofnatural beauty.

Throughout the year, and with the help of our

nearly completed Landscape Character

Assessments, SNH continued to advise local

authorities and other bodies about the way in

which they can protect and enhance the

landscape of NSAs. Through the Town and

Country Planning system we commented on 207development proposals which might adversely

affect the landscape in NSAs. Our intention is

not to prevent new development but to try to

ensure that it is sited, designed and managed in

a way which complements and enhances the

valued character of the landscape. Thus in only a

few cases (5) did SNH maintain an outright

objection, while in the majority we were able to

suggest improvements or conditions which

would allow the proposed development to

proceed in a more sympathetic manner.

Imagine looking at Planet Earth from space and seeing the pine forests whichsweep across North Europe from Scotland eastwards. Then imagine swoopinghigh over the Cairngorm Mountains before being plunged into the detail of ournative pine woods – the wood ants, the clans of crossbills and tits, the squirrelsand other inhabitants of the forest welcoming you with a chorus of sound fromthe rutting of deer to the rattle of the woodpecker. This is the experience whichthe new Glenmore Visitor Centre offers.

The Centre represents a partnership between Forest Enterprise, SNH and others.Its innovative approach is not confined to the varied audio-visual presentations,nor to the way in which information is presented as articles in an imaginarynewspaper - “The Glenmore Times”. Innovative forest management hasremoved previously planted exotic conifers to favour the native Scottish pinespresent. People are welcome to enjoy forest trails, fishing, sailing, skiing and ori-enteering, as responsible recreation is married to sound environmental manage-ment.

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Key points

Cairngorms

• We supported and grant-aided theCairngorms Partnership.

• We provided detailed comments onthe Partnership’s draftManagement Strategy.

• We completed 7 monitoringframeworks and discharged theyear’s work on 9 research projects.

• We completed 7 footpath projectswith SNH grant-aid.

• We contributed to the completionof the Glenmore InterpretiveCentre (a FE venture with grant-aidand advice from SNH).

• We completed visitor managementplans for Ballater and Glen Muick.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

• We undertook 6 survey/monitoringprojects.

• We grant-aided 6 footpath repairprojects.

• We supported 41.5 full-timeequivalent countryside ranger &associated posts.

• We assisted in 4 interpretiveprojects.

• We supported the SteeringCommittee in its work which led tothe production of formalrecommendations for a newmanagement arrangement for thearea.

• We grant-aided a water-borneranger service.

CairngormsThe Cairngorm Mountains are unique in Britain andinternationally important for the scale of the montaneplateau, for the extent of the remnant Caledonian pineforest, for their upland and woodland plant and animalcommunities and for the dramatic landform featureswhich record the Earth’s recent history. In 1995 theCairngorms Partnership was established to enable thedevelopment of an integrated approach to themanagement of the wider Cairngorms area. ThePartnership is grant-aided by SNH. In 1996/97 we spent atotal of £2.1m on the Cairngorms Project.

A key element of our work was our approved core fundingof the Cairngorms Partnership, to the tune of £450,000. The

year saw the Partnership’s publication of a major inventory

of the area: Cairngorm Assets. A second report, The PolicyCascade, documented how legislation and the policies of

Government and other agencies related to the Cairngorms.

Consultation documents were also produced outlining a

vision for the Cairngorms, and setting out a draftManagement Strategy (a key achievement in meeting the

Ministerial objectives for the Partnership). SNH has

commented in detail on the last of these.

ResearchWe ourselves carried out a range of inventory, research

and survey work in the Cairngorms. We undertook ten

projects ranging from the effects of native woodland

expansion on water quality and soils, to the impact of deer

fences on woodland grouse. SNH also implemented seven

monitoring frameworks; these focus on features which

have been chosen as indicators of the health of key aspects

of the natural heritage which will indicate to us the success

or otherwise of the Management Strategy. The seven

frameworks covered were: an inventory of

geomorphology and zonation of sensitivities; a visitor

survey of Lochnagar; woodland plants; wood ants;

montane birds; montane moorland and sub-alpine scrub

plants and habitats; and landscape monitoring.

Our aim is to contribute to the integrated management of two KeyAreas of special national importance for the natural heritage and itsenjoyment: the Cairngorms, and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs. These

are areas where the Secretary of State established special managementframeworks so that conservation, recreation and other land uses can

be better balanced through partnership working. This workrepresented expenditure of £4.7m.

3: Securing the Management of theCairngorms and Loch Lomond

& the Trossachs

We also implemented a GIS (computerised

mapping system) and an integrated database for

the Cairngorms to assist in casework in the area.

Our continued support for projects on theground was a key aspect of SNH’s work. For

example, we helped to improve recreational

access to the area by grant-aiding a circular

footpath network around Aviemore; by

completing the first stage of improvements to

the footpaths on Craigellachie NNR; by funding

hill path repairs in five locations; by funding

footpath and carparking improvements at the

Muir of Dinnet NNR; and by grant-aiding the

new Glenmore Visitor Centre.

The Cairngorms NNR is Britain’s largest, partly

owned by SNH and partly in private ownership

(including a number of voluntary conservation

bodies). In the first part of the year we

completed an Interpretive Plan which is now

being put to practical use as a means of

evaluating new interpretive projects and

environmental education initiatives. We

concluded a new Visitor Service Agreement with

Rothiemurchus Estate, which brings increased

benefits and a more focused approach to

management of this part of the NNR. Another

continued success was the partnership with the

National Trust for Scotland which covers the

Mar Lodge Estate under a Nature Reserve

Agreement (NRA). Here, progress on the deer

cull and forest management was good, although

work on track restoration and other capital

projects was slower than hoped. A Landscape

Character Assessment covering the estate was

completed and a draft management plan was

prepared in the first part of the year, as were two

pieces of inventory work and the writing of the

vital natural heritage monitoring strategy.

Managing visitorsA major piece of work has concerned the

controversial proposal to build a funicular

railway on Cairngorm. In the previous year we

had objected to the planning application for

this, in view of the potential impact of large

numbers of summer visitors having relatively

easy access to the internationally important

Cairngorms plateau - an area lying within both a

proposed SAC and an SPA. After negotiations

with the developers (the Cairngorm Chairlift

Company), the landowners, (Highlands and

Islands Enterprise) and the Highland Council,

we were able to reach an agreement over the

principles of a visitor management plan which

would effectively safeguard the plateau’s

scientific interest within the SAC and SPA by

restricting access from the funicular. As a result

we became signatory to a legally binding Section

50 agreement which ensured that the funicular

would only operate as outlined in the plan, and

accordingly withdrew our objection to the

development.

Loch Lomond & the TrossachsFollowing a Working Party report, in 1995 theSecretary of State decided that local authoritiesand other key agencies should co-operate indeveloping the integrated management of theLoch Lomond & the Trossachs (LL&T) Area. Wehave subsequently worked closely with the LocalAuthority Steering Committee, the Loch LomondPark Authority and its equivalents in theTrossachs to achieve both practical projects andthe goal of a partnership body to co-ordinateintegrated management of this popular area. Tothis end we spent £2.1m.

By the early summer of 1996 the structure of a

Joint Committee was agreed between the

partners, to which SNH gave its strong support,

and later in the year a consultation document

was issued outlining preferred structures and

costings. Following a public consultation

involving local communities, the steering

committee drafted its recommendations for its

parent councils. The next stage is the

establishment of a Joint Committee and

development of an integrated management

strategy leading to the Committee taking on the

management of projects. While we welcome the

progress towards integrated management of the

area, it was our view that a more formal Joint

Board with powers delegated from the local

authorities to determine strategic planning and

development control issues and to integrate

management is essential.

We actively supported 4 interpretive projects inthe LL&T area which were designed to

accommodate the heavy recreational demands

made on the area, to enhance public enjoyment

and understanding of the natural heritage, and

to reduce pressure on sensitive features. For

example, we funded the provision of

interpretive boards overlooking Flanders Moss,

allowing the public to appreciate this important

bog SSSI without venturing on to its fragile

surface. At Balmaha a new visitor centre explains

the Highland Boundary Fault which has been so

central to the formation of the area; the role

people have played over the millennia in

shaping the present landscape is also

emphasised.

Our funding of six pathwork projectsrepresented a further way in which we were able

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to aid public enjoyment. The Loch Lomond Park

Authority established a controlled boat-

launching site, and other improvements at

Millarochy Bay, with the aid of Forth Valley

Enterprise, EU funds, contributions from the

parent councils, and SNH grant-aid.

1996/97 was the second year of the water-borneranger service, funded by SNH, and operating

for the first time with the authority of local

bylaws. As with traditional land-based ranger

services, these benefited public enjoyment while

helping to protect sensitive areas.

Plant for Wildlife is a majorcampaign launched inApril 1996 by SNH, whichcan benefit wildlife wellbeyond the garden gate.Scotland’s gardens, no mat-ter how small, combine toform a natural networkwith the potential to wel-come wildlife literally to ourown doorstep; seeing ourgardens as part of the envi-ronment, full of mini-habi-tats, brings new possibili-ties. Plants rich in nectarare good for butterflies andbees, seed heads and berry-bearing bushes will bring inbirds; and even quite smallponds can harbour richaquatic life. Native plantscan also be a way of main-taining some of our declin-ing wildflowers.

Over the past year weactively promoted the Plantfor Wildlife theme, forexample by running a gar-den design competition fora Beazer show home.

At the Scotgrow 96 TradeFair our display received amajor award for best pointof sale product. AdrianFenn, who is the SNH Plantfor Wildlife manager,declared, “ This is a majorboost to the project, provid-ing valuable publicity andgiving us increased credibil-ity with gardeners and thetrade alike.”

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Key Achievements

• We produced 133 SNH publicationsin the year.

• We promoted particular aspects ofour work through 130 proactivepress contacts.

• We supported 58 projects in schoolgrounds through grant-aid.

• We distributed a total of 192Environmental Community Chests,Tree Trunks and Sea Chests.

• We supported 11 environmentalaward schemes.

• We launched our Plant for Wildlifeproject, placing displays andproducts in 16 garden centresthroughout Scotland as part of theinitiative.

Information Advice and PromotionSatisfying public interest in our work provides anopportunity to explain our aims and to encourage agreater understanding of the natural heritage. Because somuch of our work depends on working with others, andgaining the trust and support of local communities,everything we do and seek to achieve has to betransparent.

Enquiries come in many forms: from students, school

children, teachers looking for assistance with their course

work, interested members of the public seeking advice on

wildlife and on opportunities for countryside recreation,

and from the media wanting information on the natural

heritage and on SNH policies.

SNH produces a range of high quality publications. Some

are aimed at the general public, some at the specialist land

manager or environmental practitioner and some at

students or researchers. We produced 133 publications inthe year: examples included two issues of SNH’s magazine

Scotland’s Natural Heritage and three booklets featuring

otters, seals, and badgers. Landscape and geology were

both explored in guides to Sea Lochs and the earth heritage

of East Lothian and the Borders. Policy statements were

produced on rangers and Long Distance Routes, and

management issues were addressed in an information

booklet on European Marine Sites. Various regional and

local information leaflets and newsheets were produced,

including a set of four marine leaflets for visitors to

Shetland. We secured £4,500 in sponsorship from the

Chevron oil company for the forthcoming Scottish

Geology week (to be held in August 1997), and 90 events

were organised in preparation for the week. We also

linked up with the BBC to contribute to the Postcards fromThe Past TV programme and its accompanying book.

We continued to respond to media enquiries as stories

arose, and encouraged coverage of other aspects of our

work. Much work went into briefing journalists

individually and collectively. We promoted particular

aspects of our work through 130 proactive press contacts,exceeding our original targets.

Our aim is to improve understanding of Scotland’s natural heritageand to inform and influence others to take positive action to benefit it.

In 1996/97 SNH spent £2.9m to achieve this goal.

4: Improving EnvironmentalEducation

Formal EducationSupporting environmental education in schools,colleges and other formal education settings isan important way in which we can encouragethe young (and not so young!) to appreciate andlearn concern for Scotland’s natural heritage.Teaching the teachers, by contact with teachertraining colleges and by producing teachingmaterials, is an effective way of using ourresources.

We continued our support of environmental

education projects for school children. We gave

58 grants to schools to support projects within

school grounds and other environmental work.

This included the Grounds for Learningpartnership demonstration, which has

established wildlife gardens in the grounds of

four Scottish teacher training colleges, and we

produced a good practice guide to the use of

school grounds in environmental education, co-

funded with the Learning through Landscapes

Trust.

We worked with the Further Education

Environment Forum which promotes the

inclusion of a strong environmental component

in both the school curriculum and that used by

teacher training colleges. We were also able to

advise on the development of an Environment

and Heritage Studies degree course for the

Highlands and Islands University.

We completed several local information packs

for schools; these included a marine and

woodland pack in Argyll and resources linked to

two Local Nature Reserves in North East Region,

and we assisted in the publication of a booklet

celebrating the heritage of Unst created by the

school in Baltasound, Shetland. We also funded

the production of two national educational

packages: Bats in Scotland, produced by the Bat

Conservation Trust, and First Nature, produced

by the RSPB.

Community InitiativesEngaging the whole community in caring for thenatural heritage can be a tremendously effectiveway of making an impact. We can reach thosewho may become new guardians of Scotland’scountryside. Working with local communitiesand, where possible, developing the benefitswhich the natural heritage brings (whether toisolated rural settlements or large cityconurbations) are central to SNH’s approach.

We supported eleven environmental awardsincluding Nature’s Prize (a SNH–Shell–

Grampian TV joint venture) and Focus

Environment 96, a photography award for

young people, jointly sponsored by Texaco,

SNH and the Scottish Conservation Project’s

Trust. SNH grant-aid is used to support

environmental elements of the Grizzly Challenge(for 14-18 year olds) and Gruff Kids (for 10-14

year olds) awards, sponsored by BP and Youth

Clubs, Scotland. This involves youth clubs from

all over Scotland, encouraging them to

undertake community-based projects and

celebrating achievement through an award

scheme.

We were also glad to support a pilot scheme for

a new award: the John Muir Award. The award is

named after the Scots-born founder of the

conservation movement within the United States

who was so influential in the establishment of

the first US national parks such as Yellowstone

and Yosemite. Inspired by his philosophy,

achievement and adventures, the John Muir

Award aims to create the first national project to

promote the conservation of wild places. The

pilot scheme concentrated on engaging the

participation of young people, and proved so

successful that it has now been possible to

broaden its scope and for the John Muir Trust to

find alternative sources of sponsorship, thus

proving how valuable SNH’s pump-priming role

can be.

Other environmental awards were: The BTCountryside for All Scheme; the SNH and

Scottish Tourist Board Thistle Awards for good

environmental practice in tourism; two local

schools competitions, The Glasgow Rosebowland Moray Firth Schools Competition; TheCrofting Township of the Year; CommunityCorner, promoted through The BeechgroveGarden BBC TV programme; and the

Environmental Regeneration Award with

Scottish Enterprise as a partner.

Our Environmental Community Chests were a

tremendous success. One hundred and twentyEnvironmental Community Chests were

distributed to community education workers

throughout Scotland. These are boxes crammed

with a range of resource materials for those

wanting to explore environmental and natural

heritage themes. To ensure their good use we

held a series of 17 workshops for those who

would be using the Chests. In partnership with

the Forestry Authority and the Central Scotland

Countryside Trust, 22 pilot ‘Tree Trunks’ –

similar resources but on an exclusively

woodland theme – were distributed. We also

distributed 50 Sea Chests (see EncouragingSustainable Use of Maritime Areas).

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The essence of the message of our Positive

Action for the Environment project, Plant forWildlife, is that we can all make a difference, in

this case as gardeners. Plant for Wildlife was

launched in April 1996 on The BeechgroveGarden BBC TV programme. Garden displays

and products were placed in 16 garden centres

all over Scotland. We also attended a number of

shows and public events, notably Scotgrow 96, a

trade fair where our display received a major

award for best point–of–sale product.

The Battleby Centre continued to be an

important venue for staging interpretive

demonstrations, holding an Open Day and

welcoming more than 10, 000 conference

visitors during the year. We continued to

develop the Battleby Demonstration Project on

land surrounding Battleby, showing best

practice for rural development, including

agriculture, diversification, access and

conservation.

Our work on environmental education under

this programme supports wider community

initiatives such as those connected with our

Focus on Firths projects and our Areas

Sustainablity Projects. Ventures such as The

Crofting Township Award, already mentioned,

help us build enduring links with local

communities. It is our strong belief that

environmental education must be an integral

part of all our work.

Its good to talk! ... and animaginative scheme organ-ised jointly by SNH, theMountaineering Council ofScotland and participatingestates proves it.

The Hillphone, a recordedmessage answering service,was piloted in 1996 to giveinformation on where stalk-ing was occurring in threeareas of Scotland duringAugust to October. Thesewere the Mamore-GreyCorries on the British AlcanEstate, the estates lyingbetween Glen Dochart andGlen Lochay, and theestates in the north Arranhills. The informationavoided disappointment forhillwalkers in findingareas of hill closed, andreduced the chance of stalk-ing operations being dis-turbed.

Such was its success that theHillphone will again oper-ate in 1997. The scheme isan important illustration ofa practical way of promot-ing Scotland’s Hills andMountains: a Concordat onAccess, signed by 10 bodiesin 1995.

The Concordat is an agree-ment between recreationalinterests and other landusers to promote responsi-ble access and enjoyment ofScotland’s upland areas

23

Key Achievements

• We launched the Paths for Allinitiative and the Paths for AllPartnership was established.

• The Access Forum was extended toinclude 16 members and covernew topics.

• We grant-aided repairs to uplandand lowland footpaths.

• In total, we gave more than£280,000 (including £270,000 incore funding) in financial supportto FWAG in Scotland to fund 23local advisors and 3 HQ staff.

• We grant-aided 63 farmconservation plans.

• We provided financial support for15 Countryside Around Townsprojects.

• We participated in 68 Europeanfunded partnership projects,giving significant leverage to ourfunding contribution.

AccessPart of our statutory duty is to further the enjoyment of thenatural heritage. This involves promoting responsiblecountryside recreation and improving access provision.

Huge numbers of people take enormous pleasure from

Scotland’s countryside. It is estimated that £730m is spent

on open air recreation in Scotland, equivalent to 14% of

the total leisure-spend on daytrips and holidays, and this

has been estimated to generate around 29,000 FTE (Full

Time Equivalent) jobs. Its sheer popularity puts

considerable pressure on some sensitive or particularly

fragile areas and can create problems for those seeking a

livelihood from the land. Scotland as a whole is poorly

served by assured paths. Our duty is to help address these

needs and difficulties.

Residents and visitors alike are all too well aware of the

lack of path networks surrounding our cities, towns and

villages. This is doubly unfortunate: more lowland

footpaths would be close to where people live and work,

(which is where they want them), and could also absorb

high levels of recreational use without spoiling the

environment. To encourage the development of new

footpaths in such areas SNH launched its Paths for Allinitiative in September 1996. A Paths for All Partnershiphas been established to promote the concept of new

community footpaths, and we were delighted when

Scottish Television announced that Paths for All - theScottish Way was to be their Millennium Project. An early

aspect of the work is to encourage local authorities to

appoint full-time access officers.

In 1995 we completed a Concordat on Access to the Open

Hill; this was the first fruit of the Access Forum set up to

examine access issues on land and on water. The

Concordat was supported by hillwalkers, farmers, land

managers and public bodies with a role in promoting open

air recreation. In 1996/97 we built on this partnership

approach, and introduced a ‘hillphone’ experiment which

provides recorded information messages about stalking

plans. Those planning a walk in the hills can find out

where stalking is planned for the day, and thus obviate

problems on the hill. The Access Forum was extended to

16 members. One of its achievements was the publication

of Care for the Hills, a code of conduct for recreation in

Scotland’s hills and mountains with an accompanying

Our aims are to provide advice and practical assistance to thoseothers who manage aspects of the natural heritage and to promote

improved public access. We spent £5.2m to further this objective.

5: Improving Land Managementand Access

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booklet. An ancillary Access Forum on Inland

Water was established, serviced by the Scottish

Sports Council, under the chairmanship of SNH

board member Roger Wheater.

SNH continued to grant-aid the repair of upland

footpaths, with repairs on key paths on Skye for

example, and 25km of pathworks being

completed in Ross and Cromarty. We also

supported a number of lowland routes, such as

the Huntly footpath network, the St Cuthbert’s

Way in the Borders, and 10km of footpaths in

Lothian.

Support to Land ManagersSNH has a key role to play in supporting thoseinvolved in managing land in private, public orvoluntary ownership.

One particularly important area of work is

assisting farmers in caring for wildlife on their

land. We continued to support the Scottish

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG)

in Scotland, providing £270,000 core funding for

19 local farm conservation advisors and 3 HQ

staff. During the year, four additional advisors

were recruited within the Highlands and Islands,

financed by a partnership which attracted

European Regional Development Fund support.

Through grant-aid we also supported practical

projects on farms such as footpaths, tree

planting, creating wetlands and fencing-off

vulnerable areas. SNH staff were also involved in

giving advice to The Scottish Office Agriculture,

Environment and Fisheries Department

(SOAEFD) in its development of the new

Countryside Premium Scheme, and in assisting

with training for local SOAEFD staff. Area staff

also gave practical advice on a total of 340

applications for habitat creation and restoration

under the Agri-Environment measures and about

conservation measures under the Highlands and

Islands Agricultural Programme and within

Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA). Two ESA

guides for farmers were published jointly with

Historic Scotland, covering the Argyll Islands

and the Southern Uplands. We grant-aided 63farm conservation plans, where farmers received

an inventory of the wildlife interest on their farm

and recommendations on conservation

management. We published a further 43Information and Advice Notes providing those

involved in land management with practical

information and advice.

TIBREOne of our major initiatives is called TIBRE(Targeted Inputs for a Better Rural

Environment) which aims to encourage the

selected use of new technology to reduce

harmful effects of modern agriculture on the

countryside while maintaining farm profitability.

The project demonstrates how environmentally-

responsible farming can be compatible with

intensive methods and hard-headed business

objectives. Having completed much of the

research for this programme we spent 1996/97

preparing a TIBRE farm hand-book called NewOptions for Arable Farming. We are also actively

promoting TIBRE within the farming

community; we attended the Royal Highland

Show and several farm open days (including one

hosted by the agri-chemical company Rhone

Poulenc), and supported the organisation LEAF

(Linking Environment and Farming), which aims

to combine environmental awareness and

farming, at the launch of their first two Scottish

demonstration farms. We funded other research

into conservation and agriculture through

partnership projects looking at the Scottish

lowlands and the management of the margins of

fields of intensive grassland.

Other work included continuing support for the

four Agricultural Demonstration Projects across

the Highlands and Islands – designed to

highlight where support is required for

agricultural practices which maintain and

improve the environment. The projects aim to

show how improved environmental practice can

become an integral part of agricultural

operations. The four individual projects are the

Ross-shire Farms Project, the Glencassley Farm

Project, the Garros Crofting Project, and the

Skerray Crofting Project. Examples of the work

carried out under the various projects include:

the investigation of new cropping regimes,

bracken control, renovation of old buildings,

natural regeneration of woodland, muirburn,

changed stocking on hill ground, rotational

cropping of oats, potatoes and spring barley,

introduction of more suitable grass-seed

mixtures, widening of field margins, use of

green manures and improved farm waste

management.

Building on the Duthchas project work in earlier

years, we also did much of the development

work for a new project, the Areas SustainabilityStrategies, which looks at a strategic approach

for inter-agency working to promote sustainable

development in three chosen areas: Skye, North

Uist and North West Sutherland. An application

was made for European LIFE funding, led by the

Highland Council and with a consortium of

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eight Partners including the Western Isles

Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and

SNH.

We also gave advice to others working on the

natural heritage, notably to the Forestry

Authority on Woodland Grant Scheme

applications. We were able to influence the

deployment of European Structural Funds

through our participation in monitoring and

advisory groups for the various Objectives’

funding and through involvement in the local

advisory groups for LEADER II. We also advised

the Heritage Lottery Fund on all Scottish

applications involving the natural heritage – a

total of 24 applications.

Countryside In and Around TownsCountryside In and Around Towns (CATs) is the

name for a series of partnership projects, usually

with local authorities, with the object of

promoting conservation and enhancement of

the environment in and around settlements.

Encouraging people to appreciate and enjoy

nature on their doorsteps, and to use local

resources as a means of increasing awareness of

the natural heritage, are key aims of CAT

projects. We grant-aided 15 CAT projects; the

number has dropped slightly from the previous

year due to funding difficulties experienced by

our partners.

GrantsGrant-aid is an important mechanism wherebywe can enable projects to go ahead which wouldotherwise not occur, and which encourages goodenvironmental practice.

Many of our projects have considerable benefits

for local communities and their rural economies,

creating jobs both during construction and

subsequently. We increased our leverage, in

particular by supporting projects where there is

partnership funding. We dramatically increased

the number of projects involving European

funding, supporting 68 projects with a total

budget of £13.95m, at a cost to SNH of only

£3.28m. As many SNH grant-aided projects are

non-commercial, or lack revenue-raising

potential, our role as a grant-giving body was

vital. Grants to land managers amounted to more

than £1.5m. In total across all our work, we

spent £6.97m in grant-aid to support projects led

by others.

Community groups all overScotland are delving intoSea Chests, but the treasurethey are finding is not acache of gold doubloons buta huge selection of learningmaterials and informationon the natural heritage ofour coasts. In 1996/97 SNHdistributed 50 of these SeaChests to community educa-tion staff and resource cen-tres to use in their work.The Chest is particularlydesigned for those who liveand work aroundScotland’s firths.

Opening a Chest, the usermay be confronted by a lob-ster, an octopus or a dol-phin, because marine mod-els are among the imagina-tive range of contents. TheChests are packed withbooks, activity packs, factsheets and videos, alongwith a handbook about theChests’ use and where tofind more information forfurther exploration of thetopic.

The contents are tailored tothe needs of people of allages and are designed toraise awareness of marineissues; they look not only atsea life, but also at how weexploit the marine resource– and the problems this hascaused.

27

Key Achievements

• The Cromarty Firth Draft Strategywas published.

• The Moray Firth Partnership waslaunched, and established a rangeof topic groups.

• Leadership of the Firth of Forthproject was switched to EdinburghCity Council, financed by EuropeanCommission LIFE funding.

• On the Solway a database for aWho’s Who Directory wascompleted and draft managementguidelines were finalised, ready forconsultation in 1997/98.

• Work progressed on a Firths’ GIS,and the Forth GIS was issued tousers on a CD ROM.

• 7 Firth News-sheets were produced.

• We responded to 37 aquacultureconsultations and 94 FEPAconsultations.

• We gave advice on 79 oil pollutionincidents.

• We published booklets on Whales,Dolphins and Porpoises; Seals; andSea Lochs.

• We surveyed 4 candidate/possiblemarine SACs.

Focus on FirthsThe Focus on Firths Projects covers the Cromarty, Moray,

Forth, Solway, Clyde, and Tay Firths. In each area work has

begun to develop a partnership in order to create an

integrated approach to management and environmental

awareness; through a Forum of relevant agencies a series

of topic papers addressing key management issues leads

to the production of a strategy, which is then published.

Apart from developing a consensus approach to future

management, specific environmental and educational

projects are initiated.

During the year the Cromarty Firth Draft Strategy was

published for public consultation. In the early summer the

Moray Firth Partnership was launched by our Chairman,

Magnus Magnusson. The launch was held on Splendour ofthe Seas, a magnificent new cruise liner which was berthed

at Invergordon during its inaugural trip around Britain.

The Partnership submitted a bid for European LIFE

funding. Topic groups were also established to consider

key management issues in the area.

We were delighted that the Firth of Forth project was

successful in its bid for European LIFE funding; in 1996/97

management of this project passed to our partner,

Edinburgh City Council, as recipient of these funds. The

Forth Partnership also developed its own Website on the

Internet. Four topic papers were produced, and another

four were drafted.

Work on the Solway continued in close collaboration with

English Nature, and an application for EC LIFE funds based

on the candidate SAC status of the area was successful.

Three community workshops were held and four topic

papers produced. A database for a Who’s Who Directorywas completed and draft management guidelines were

finalised, ready for consultation in 1997/98. Setting theScene: the Solway Firth – a colour booklet on the Solway –

was written, for production in the coming year.

The Scottish coastline is just under 12,000 km in length and representssome of Scotland’s richest and least-modified natural heritage. It is

our duty to raise awareness of this precious resource, and to promoteits careful husbandry. A major part of this work involves providing

specialist advice to Government, local authorities and agencies, andwe have established our Focus on Firths Project to develop a consensus

approach to managing these key areas. The Focus on Firths Project,and a similar project covering the Minch, both contribute to workunder the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In total we spent £0.7m in

achieving these aims.

6: Encouraging Sustainable Use ofMaritime Areas

Particularly good progress was also made on the

Clyde where four topic papers were produced

on coastal defence, recreation and access,

education, and waterfront access. By the end of

the year the Clyde Estuary Forum had reached

the stage of consulting on draft management

guidelines.

In the Minch a workshop for Wildlife Tourism

Operators was held to raise awareness and

prevent undue disturbance to wildlife, and work

was done on assessing the problems of litter on

beaches and the impacts of seaweed harvesting.

Preparations were completed for a Minch

Conference to be held in April 1997. Several

community workshops were held.

Work was also undertaken on developing aFirths and Minch GIS, with the Forth GIS, which

is the most advanced, being issued to users on a

CD ROM.

As part of the education and awareness aspect of

the Firths Initiative, seven Firth news-sheetswere produced, two each for the Solway and

Moray Firths and three for the Firth of Forth.

A key achievement was the production of 50Sea Chests, boxes crammed with educational

materials relating to the sea and coast, which

were then distributed throughout Scotland for

use by community education staff (see main

picture). A system of monitoring the use and

usefulness of the Chests has been put in place so

that we can assess the success of this particular

initiative.

Marine CaseworkSNH is regularly consulted by various agenciesover development proposals in the marineenvironment. This marine casework rangesfrom commenting on the siting of fish farms andsewage outfall pipes to contingency plans fordealing with oil spills.

Fish farming is an important industry, especially

in the economically fragile communities of the

Highlands and Islands; but ill-sited fish farms can

pollute the seabed, mar some of Scotland’s finest

seascapes and generate conflicts with marine

mammals and seabirds. We are consulted by the

Crown Estate Commissioners (CEC) on all

seabed leases, including those for fish farms. In

most cases we are able to offer positive

comment and advice on good environmental

practice, while in the remainder an objection is

often a prelude to discussing a more suitable

alternative such as the re-siting of proposed fish

cages. In the year we commented on 37

aquaculture consultations. We also responded

to to 94 consultations relating to dumping at sea

and sea-bed works from SOAEFD under the

Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA).

Oil pollution is a continual threat to the marine

and coastal communities around our shores.

Major spills are rare but the SNH Oil Pollution

Officer and local staff are regularly involved in

providing 24-hour advice to the Marine Pollution

Control Unit and other agencies over more

minor spills. Equally important is our role in

commenting on contingency plans to deal with

oil incidents, where our representations often

result in significant improvements to the

accuracy and focus of the plans. Several

members of staff participated in oil spill

exercises, which simulate a response to a major

oil spill. In 1996/97 we responded to 79 oilpollution incidents.

Raising AwarenessRaising public awareness of the need to care forour marine natural heritage, and alertingdecision-makers about the environmentalimplications of their policies, are important if weare to avoid the exploitative way in which ourcoasts and seas are too often viewed.

To this end we published two more booklets in

the Naturally Scottish series: Whales, Dolphinsand Porpoises, and Seals. In the Scotland’sLiving Landscapes series we produced a volume

on the spectacular undersea world of our SeaLochs and prepared a second on the rich

diversity of our Firths. The Battleby Centre

hosted a celebration of our seas on World

Oceans Day and we grant-aided an interpretive

display on Eigg with a maritime flavour. We also

attended the Scottish Fish Farming conference,

which was an important opportunity for SNH to

maintain links with the industry.

As part of our Species Action Programme, a

waterproof information sheet about marine

turtles was produced; aimed at mariners and

fishermen, it contains practical conservation

advice about what to do if they encounter one of

these threatened animals which are found

surprisingly regularly around our coasts.

Another unusual group of marine creatures are

the sharks and rays (Elasmobranchs), and in

1996/97 grant-aid from SNH helped

preparations for the establishment of an

European Elasmobranch Society dedicated to

the conservation and study of these creatures.

28

29

Information GatheringOur knowledge of the marine environment is farfrom complete and gathering information isboth expensive and difficult. Investigation ofconditions below the water relies onobservations and measurements taken byspecialist equipment or made by trained divers.Thanks to continuing work funded by SNH andour partners, we are finding out much moreabout the secrets of the oceans which surroundus – information which is vital for the futurecare and management of our precious marineresource.

In collaboration with English Nature, the

Countryside Council for Wales and the Crown

Estate Commissioners, Newcastle University was

commissioned to conduct a broad-scale

mapping survey of seabed habitat and its biota.

This will provide us with a better understanding

of the extent and distribution of the many and

varied marine habitats around Britain’s coasts.

The first stage involves development of the

techniques and technology, using side-scan

sonar, other accoustic survey techniques and

remote operated vehicles (ROVs).

We also conducted surveys of two candidate andtwo possible

1marine SACs; these were Papa

Stour, the Dornoch Firth and Morrich More, the

Sound of Arisaig, and Lochs Duich, Long and

Alsh. In support of advice given to the CEC, we

also carried out two surveys into the distribution

of maerl (a form of algal ‘coral’ of considerable

conservation importance as well as commercial

value). This work was conducted in the Sound of

Arisaig and in waters around Orkney, where

survey work also assessed the impact of a

proposed maerl extraction operation. These

projects utilised our own ROV, which allows

relatively extensive areas to be surveyed from a

surface ship. Our remotely operated

submersible was also employed in collaborative

work with the Scottish Association of Marine

Science, observing for the first time the natural

behaviour of a species of brittle star which lives

in deep water exclusively on a sea pen (a sea

creature which looks like a quill pen).

Staff seconded to the JNCC carried out surveys

by diving in waters surrounding the Outer

Hebrides and Orkney. These investigations

contributed to the Marine Nature Conservation

Review, a biological classification and inventory

of Britain’s inter-tidal and sub-tidal coastal areas,

which by March 1998 will have covered 60% of

the coasts of Britain.

1 A candidate SAC is one which has been forwarded for acceptance by the European Commission,whereas a possible SAC is one over which consultation and consideration over its candidature is stillcontinuing.

Regional Parks lie on the doorsteps of some of the largest cities in Scotland. Forexample, within a few minutes’ journey, those living in and around Edinburghcan enjoy the Pentland Hills Regional Park. This upland area combines tradi-tional land-uses with opportunities for access and recreation.

The Park is managed by a service of seven rangers. They respond to the variousneeds of the visitors to the Park and work closely with farmers and other landmanagers. The ranger service was previously operated by Lothian RegionalCouncil, but following local government re-organisation is now being managedjointly by all three new unitary authorities. The rangers are also able to help inmanagement of the three SSSIs which lie within the Park, and last year co-ordi-nated innovative footpath work undertaken on some very steep terrain. This anddrystane dyking, both grant-aided by SNH, are two examples of recent conserva-tion work which has been carried out in the Park.

31

Key Achievements

• We supported 90 ranger servicesthroughout Scotland.

• We published Rangers in Scotland:an SNH Policy Statement.

• We supported three Long DistanceRoutes and published a policyreview document on LDRs.

• We commented on 1,268development proposals.

• We supported the 4 Regional Parksand 36 Country Parks in Scotland.

• Two more Local Nature Reserveswere declared.

RangersRangers play an important role in managing visitors,

providing information and maintaining the quality of the

natural heritage. We supported 46 public sector ranger

services and 44 private and voluntary services, employing

the full-time equivalent of 299.5 rangers. To this end we

spent £2.38m.

In January 1997 we published Rangers in Scotland: anSNH Policy Statement, the culmination of a major three-

year study. It reviewed ranger provision in Scotland and

set out our future policy. We announced that from April

1998 we shall grant-aid rangers according to a banding

system; this will relate to whether the services meet certain

criteria. To be eligible for grant aid all ranger services must:

•demonstrate a need for ranger services

•ensure a welcome for visitors to the countryside

•act as mediators between public use and other rural

land uses

•promote awareness and understanding of the

countryside

•care for and enhance the natural heritage enjoyed by

visitors

•demonstrate a past high standard of service.

To receive enhanced rates of grant the service must meet

some or all of three additional criteria:

•operate over areas of national significance for the

natural heritage

•serve informal recreational needs in the wider

countryside

•service a catchment area beyond the immediate locale.

We shall also offer slightly higher (10%) rates of payment

for services which are non-public-sector operated, to

Local authorities have specific responsibilities for the natural heritage;they also are our key partners. We assist local authorities to look after

Long Distance Routes, Regional and Country Parks and rangerservices, and in the management of rights of way and permissive

footpaths. We also advise local authorities on policies withindevelopment plans and other policies relating to the natural heritage.

A key challenge of the year was establishing sound workingrelationships with the new unitary local authorities. In total we spent

£7.8m in support of this work.

7: Working in Partnership withLocal Authorities

reflect their genuine needs for additional

support. Ranger services will be required to

produce a management strategy, annual work

programmes and an annual report. Preparatory

to this, in 1996/97 we implemented the

requirement for the production of annual work

programmes in three of our four Regions.

Planning ConsultationsWe work closely with local authorities as theydevelop their strategic plans for development,and we give advice on specific planningapplications when they are in designated areasor have particular natural heritage implications.

Commenting on Structure, Local and other

statutory development plans can influence the

whole pattern of development in an area, and is

an important part of our work. We commented

on 288 of these. We also commented on 1,268specific development proposals. Our advice is

valued by planners and developers as giving an

honest and rigorous assessment of how

proposals might influence the natural heritage.

We have no wish to oppose development;

rather, we want to ensure that it is appropriate

and sympathetic. Only in a small proportion of

cases did SNH object to development (31 cases,less than 21/2% of the total); in our comments on

many others we were able to influence

proposals constructively or have conditions

attached when permission was granted.

Long Distance RoutesThere are three Long Distance Routes in

Scotland: the Speyside Way, the Southern

Upland Way, and the West Highland Way. The

last of these is the most well established, but all

three are extensively used not only by those on

long distance journeys but also by day walkers.

These three routes already bring considerable

economic benefits to the communities which lie

on their path. Early in 1997 we published a

policy paper on Long Distance Routes (LDRs)

which looked at the purpose, usage and future

options for LDRs in Scotland and set out a new

policy framework for their continued

development and management. LDRs are

currently well used (about 50,000 people

annually complete a long distance route in

Scotland); they are good value for money; and

have considerable potential for development.

Formal consultations on the extension of the

Speyside Way to Aviemore and the

establishment of a Great Glen Way were

completed and final proposals for both will soon

be submitted for approval to the Secretary of

State. The Great Glen Way route would link Fort

William to Inverness and has considerable

tourism potential. We do not propose to

develop further LDRs at present, but will

continue to support new and existing Regional

Routes where others take the lead and where we

can provide grant support and advice. In

addition, we have determined to seek

commercial sponsorship for Scotland’s LDRs.

Some Examples of Planning Casework:•We worked with the local authority

planning department on local plans for Skye

& Lochalsh, Lochaber, and Caithness &

Sutherland, drawing on the Landscape

Character Assessment work which we had

prepared.

•We were actively involved in discussions

with the Highland Council and a developer

concerning a wind farm at Novar, Easter

Ross, over how to mitigate the effects on the

local environment. We were able to agree

safeguards, to be put in place during

construction.

•We commented on Structure Plans for

Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway and on a

number of Local Plans.

•We assisted South Lanarkshire in

developing a local Biodiversity Action Plan.

•We attended a major public inquiry to

oppose proposals for peat extraction on

Rora Moss, an SSSI in North Aberdeenshire;

lowland raised mires such as Rora Moss are

extremely rare and would be completely

destroyed by peat extraction.

•We were involved in extensive discussions

with Aberdeenshire Council over ‘Choices

for Growth’, an examination of options for

housing expansion around Stonehaven,

Portlethen and Newtonhill.

•Engineering solutions to river management

can be not only insensitive to the natural

heritage but also ineffective in the long

term, and proposals for river-bed

management on the lower Spey resulted in

lengthy discussions between SNH, a local

estate and the planning authority.

•We commented on expansion proposals

involving a large hotel situated in the

sensitive Glenmore corridor near Aviemore.

•We responded to several consultations

about opencast coal mining proposals,

notably at Greenbank and Drumcooper

near Dunfermline, and at other locations in

West Fife – an area which faces considerable

pressure from this kind of development.

32

33

•In the River Tay (Dunkeld) National Scenic

Area, we responded to consultations from

the planning authority regarding a range of

development proposals ranging from

housing and timeshare lodges to a golf

course extension.

Other ProjectsWe developed a range of other initiatives withlocal authorities some, such as Regional andCountry Parks, and Local Nature Reserves,Scotland-wide and of long standing, others morenovel or more local in emphasis.

In the spring of 1997 we published a document

called Countryside Recreation and AccessStrategies: Guidance for Local Authorities. Its aim

was to promote the concept of local authorities

developing such strategies linked to, or possibly

forming part of, their statutory Plans. This

complements work which many authorities are

already undertaking in developing strategies for

other leisure activities such as formal sports.

Such countryside strategies allow the setting of

clear priorities, enhance enjoyment of the

countryside through improved information and

interpretation, and identify needs and sources of

funding. The process of preparation is as

important as the strategy itself; it raises

awareness and encourages dialogue between

departments within authorities and with local

people and landowners.

Regional Parks are extensive areas of

countryside where public access and recreation

are encouraged by agreement with landowners

alongside traditional land-uses. Country Parksare relatively small areas of countryside near

towns, managed for public enjoyment. We

continued to support the 4 Regional and 36

Country Parks through grant aid of £212,000.

Our Review of Country Parks was initiated in

1996/97 and will be completed in the coming

year.

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are declared by

local authorities in conjuction with SNH; they

reflect areas which are locally important for

nature conservation and provide a countryside

amenity accessible to the public. The

significance of these areas for local biodiversity

is recognised in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan,

which aims for the establishment of further

LNRs. There are currently 24 LNRs in Scotland

covering a total of 7,984 ha. Two new LNRs were

declared in the year: Jenny’s Well in

Renfrewshire and Kincorth Hill in Aberdeen.

One LNR, Gladhouse Reservoir in Midlothian,

lapsed during 1996/97 as a result of local

government re-structuring, but while it has not

been formally re-declared an LNR, an informal

management group continues to be involved in

its management.

Jock’s Burn is the name of 6 hectares of woodland in Carluke which has beenrestored to its former glory thanks to a team of local people. CREATE (whichstands for Crawforddyke Residents’ Environmental Action Team) was advised bythe Hit Squad from BBC-TV’s The Beechgrove Garden programme, and ScottishWildlife Trust volunteers helped transform the site.

CREATE and its helpers built a 150m footpath, with steps and a timber foot-bridge. Two thousand native trees, shrubs and wildflowers were planted.Materials for a metal footbridge were paid for through raffles and sponsoredevents. This was all possible through funding and support from the Shell BetterBritain campaign, SNH and the Central Scotland Countryside Trust.

This is an excellent example of what small communities can do to improve theirown local environment. CREATE member Wilma Ross said, “We’ve not finishedyet! We’ve started fund-raising for new steps on another section of the path,which we hope to build next year.”

35

Key Achievements

• We delivered £0.85m in ring-fencedfunds to CSCT.

• A further 622 ha of woodland wascreated.

• CSCT completed a forestmonitoring and reporting system.

• CSCT concluded a charter withScottish Coal.

• CSCT launched the FalkirkGreenspace Initiative .

• CSCT, the Forestry Authority andSNH agreed Peatland Guidelinesfor the Central Scotland Forest.

Management Responsibilities

Although The Scottish Office is responsible forensuring that the Trust offers value for money in itsexpenditure of public money, we have a formal role(through the CSCT Framework Document) inensuring that the Trust meets its objectives, includingthose relating to the natural heritage. There wereseveral areas of CSCT’s work to which we made adirect contribution or which were agreed as keyperformance indicators. Our total grant–aid for theInitiative was £0.9m.

We were pleased that in 1996/97 it was possible toplant a further 622 ha of trees in the Forest area; this

was a significant increase over the previous year, and

meant that the CSCT met its previously agreed

planting target. Another key target, completion of aforest monitoring and reporting system which

monitors progress of the Forest against seven action

themes, was also met. As part of a drive to involve

local businesses and communities, a Friends of theForest initiative was launched, and by the end of the

year 100 members had been recruited. Following a

consultants’ report on the costs, benefits and

mechanisms for the Central Scotland Forest, SNH and

CSCT explored possible non-financial mechanisms,

while the Trust discussed with The Scottish Office

proposals for additional funding.

Other Successes

A number of other projects began to bear fruit,including several which involved partner bodies andlocal communities.

This imaginative regeneration project aims to plant 17,000 ha of newwoodland by the year 2015, thus doubling woodland cover in theForest area. This project links the establishment of multi-purposewoodland to other countryside initiatives such as footpaths, cycle

routes, Countryside In and Around Town projects and local naturesites. We are responsible for delivering £0.85m in ring-fenced funds to

the Central Scotland Countryside Trust (CSCT), which leads theinitiative, as well as for working closely with the Trust in its variousinitiatives and offering additional grant support on specific projects.The Trust is accountable for its own work and produces a separate

annual report. Our total expenditure on the Initiative was £0.9m.

8: Supporting the Central ScotlandForest Initiative

36

A particular achievement was the

concluding of a charter withScottish Coal, which commits

both parties to mutual support in

bringing about the objectives of

forest creation and land

restoration in Central Scotland.

The launch of the FalkirkGreenspace Initiative inNovember 1996 provided a local

focus which raises the profile of

the project and gives priority to

native woodland regeneration.

Community footpaths also link the

project to our own Paths for Allinitiative. This is an important

partnership venture combining

the efforts of Falkirk Council, Forth

Valley Local Enterprise Company,

SNH and the CSCT.

Woodland can bring about

dramatic and much-valued

environmental improvements, but

careful decisions have to be made

on its location. Inappropriately

located planting may damage

other natural habitats, and

peatland is particularly vulnerable.

However, where peatlands have

become fragmented and

irrevocably damaged, woodland

planting becomes an attractive

option. The Trust, working closely

with the Forestry Authority and

SNH, developed PeatlandGuidelines which will ensure that

new planting avoids intact

peatland while exploiting the

opportunities offered by

permanently degraded areas.

An innovative approach to

increasing the rate of new planting

adopted by the Trust involves re-

cycling land purchase. In 1993 the

Trust had bought Back of Moss

farm in West Lothian. After

negotiations with a neighbouring

farmer at Holehouseburn Farm,

the properties were amalgamated

under the ownership of the farmer

and in 1996/97 planting was

carried out, funded by the Forestry

Authority’s Woodland Grant

CE

NTR

AL S

CO

TLA

ND

FO

RE

ST T

AR

GE

T

34,OOOha

26,500ha

19,622ha

19,000ha

16,619ha

Target for the year 2015

Target for the year 2005

Achieved 1996

Total woodland coveragerecorded in 1988from MLURI data

Total coverage in 1995 atlaunch of strategy

Scheme. The planting will provide shelter

and an attractive setting for the nearby

village of Longridge. The funds generated

from the sale can be re-used to fund further

land purchase and planting.

37

The clear seas and fero-cious tides around Orkneyare famous, as are theislands’ rich fisheries, butother aspects of Orcadiansea-life are less well known.The waters and inter-tidalareas around Orkney havebeen surveyed in workwhich was completed in1996/97.

These surveys were under-taken by a team from theJoint Nature ConservationCommittee’s Support Unit,part of the Marine NatureConservation Review(MNCR). They revealed arich variety of sea life,including densely-packedmussels and barnacles, seacucumbers (actually primi-tive animals, not plants)and soft corals. The lowcliffs outside Deer Sound,off north east Mainland,have large sea caves carvedinto the rock (shown here)with interesting communi-ties of ascidians – common-ly known as sea squirts –and sponges attached to thecave walls.

This work emphasises theneed for sensitive manage-ment if we are to continueto reap the rich bounty ofthese northerly waters.

39

Key Achievements

• £1.25m in ring-fenced funds to theJNCC.

• The JNCC’s Support Unit wasrestructured and staff reassigned.

• The JNCC agreed advice to theDepartment of the Environment onthe Quinnquennial Review ofSchedules 5, 8 and 9 of the Wildlifeand Countryside Act 1981.

• On the basis of the JNCC’s advice,the Government submitted 44candidate Special Areas ofConservation to the EuropeanCommission for protection underthe Habitats Directive.

• The JNCC advised on more than15,000 licence applications underCITES regulations.

• The JNCC established theBiodiversity Information Service.

• The JNCC published a furthervolume of the GeologicalConservation Review, Karst andCaves of Great Britain.

The role of the JNCCThe JNCC was established by the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990. It enables the country agencies toadvise ministers jointly and to act in concert overnature conservation issues which affect Great Britainas a whole, or which have an international dimension.

It is the role of the Committee to establish common

standards for data gathering, monitoring and research

in nature conservation, and to support or commission

appropriate research to advance its work.

The JNCC produces its own corporate plan and annual

report. Its committee has thirteen members: a

Chairman and three independent members appointed

by Government, the Chairman and one other member

from each of the three country agencies, the Chairman

of the Countryside Commission and two members

from Northern Ireland.

The involvement of the Environment and Heritage

Service (an agency of the Department of the

Environment, Northern Ireland) enables the JNCC to

adopt a consistent approach across the United

Kingdom wherever this is appropriate.

Chairman’s reviewDuring the year the Chairman’s Review of the JNCC’s

medium-term role, which was carried out during

1995/96 under Lord Selborne, began to bear fruit. The

Support Unit was restructured and staff werereassigned; this was completed six months ahead of

schedule. The JNCC also instituted an annual review of

strategic issues and agreed to take forward work on

‘novel organisms’ and on the sustainable use of the

marine resource. An inter-agency group on marine

fisheries issues was also established, chaired by an

independent member of the Committee, Professor

Janet Sprent.

In June 1996 the Committee also agreed advice to the

Department of the Environment on the

Quinnquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act provides

Under this programme we deliver our statutory special natureconservation functions with English Nature and the Countryside

Council for Wales, through the Joint Nature ConservationCommittee. We spent £1.2m furthering this work.

9: Delivering our Special NatureConservation Functions

40

various levels of protection to threatened

species within the UK. Partly based on advice

from SNH, the JNCC recommended that the

protection given to 33 species of native

fauna and flora should be increased. Later in

1996, advice was also given on Schedule 9

which relates to the introduction of non-

native species into the wild. It was

recommended that seven animal species

should be removed from this Schedule

because they are no longer believed to occur

in the wild in Great Britain. It was also

recommended that 11 plant and animal

species should be given further protection, so

that future releases of these species into the

wild would require a licence.

SNH and the JNCCIn 1996/97 we supported the JNCC in a

number of ways, through:

• ring-fenced funds of £1.25m

•our representation on the JNCC itself by

our Chairman, Magnus Magnusson, and

Professor Fred Last

•our contribution to the Joint

Management Group, the formal inter-

agency management structure for the

Committee’s work

•our participation in the Chief Officers’

Group and Chief Scientists’ Group

•our support of various inter-agency

networks

•our role as lead agency for liaison with

the World Conservation Union (IUCN)

•our secondment of staff to the JNCC

Support Unit, which consists of staff from

the three country agencies assigned full-

time to the work of the JNCC for fixed

periods of time.

In particular, we acted as lead agency on the

JNCC’s work on freshwaters, peatlands and

upland habitats throughout Britain. We also

took the lead in drafting two UK Habitat

Action Plans: those for machair and for

Ascophyllum nodosum mackii (a floating

seaweed).

European and InternationalConventions Much of the work of the JNCC, in commonwith the country agencies, is related toEuropean and other internationalagreements.

In 1996/97, on the basis of the JNCC’s advice,

the Government submitted 44 candidateSpecial Areas of Conservation (33 in

Scotland) to the European Commission for

protection under the Habitats Directive,

making a total of 255 UK sites which have

gone forward to Europe to date. Under the

Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES), the JNCC

advised on more than 15,000 licenceapplications in the year, and briefed the

Department of the Environment in

preparation for the biennial CITES

conference to be held in June 1997.

At the 1996 Conference of Parties to the

Ramsar Convention, the JNCC presented a

paper on the timetable for updating the 1%

thresholds for international waterfowl

populations. These thresholds are used as a

basis for selecting sites for designation under

the Convention. The paper’s

recommendations were accepted,

establishing clear criteria for Ramsar site

selection and preventing their ad hoc change,

thus saving the UK (and all other states)

unnecessary work in altering site

designations and citations.

Biodiversity Information ServiceThe JNCC also established the BiodiversityInformation Service, which will streamline

the reporting of how the UK’s obligations

under the Biodiversity Convention and other

international conservation agreements are

being met. As part of this work it is proposed

to establish, with a consortium of partners, a

National Biodiversity Network which will

establish a framework for sharing and

accessing UK biological records. These are

currently held in a plethora of unconnected

databases.

Although an application to the Millennium

Commission was turned down during the

year, the JNCC, the country agencies and

other supporting partners remain committed

to the principle of the development of this

project.

PublicationsOther achievements included the publication

of five volumes of the Coastal Directory Series

(8 were produced in electronic format). A

further volume of the Geological

Conservation Review, Karst and Caves ofGreat Britain, was produced: this series

represents a world first, documenting

Britain’s internationally important geology

and landforms. Also published was the

companion volume Introduction to theGeological Conservation Review, a book

detailing how the GCR sites were selected and

how they can be protected in the future.

Finally, a Red Data book on British lichens

identified 177 lichens which are considered

threatened; this was produced in partnership

with the Irish National Parks and Wildlife

Service, Plantlife and the British Lichen

Society.

41

What links the following projects: diversification and tourism integrated into themanagement of a Highland estate, a Trust creating and restoring footpaths, ahereditary clan seat, lands and resource centre managed to the highest environ-mental standards, an organisation managing the River Tweed and surroundingland for the Atlantic salmon, and a project to manage better the marineresources of the Minch?

They are all examples of sustainable development, harnessing local skills andexpertise to sustain rural employment and communities, as well as wildlife andthe landscape. They were featured in a booklet published by SNH in 1996:Working Together: the Natural Heritage in Rural Development. SNH does notpresume to claim credit for these varied and inspired initiatives, but we areproud to have been involved in each one: through grant-aid, through advice wehave given, or by the active participation of our staff. The booklet proclaimsthese projects as an illustration of the value of putting the environment at theheart of decisions about local economic development. As SNH Chairman,Magnus Magnusson, commented: “The message is a simple one: the environmentis not an obstacle to rural development; on the contrary, it is a valuable resourcewhich offers very real opportunities and richly repays proper care and atten-tion.”

43

Key Achievements

• We continued to develop our ZonalProgramme.

• We responded to 82 governmentconsultations at a national level.

• We completed a major piece ofresearch on Jobs and theEnvironment.

• We prepared a position statementwhich describes our role andgeneral approach to fisheriespolicy.

• We developed internal guidance onroad design, building, finance andoperation under the PrivateFinance Initiative.

The Zonal ProgrammeThe Zonal Programme will guide our work into the nextmillennium. It will give our work a perspective which reflectsthe rich and varied pattern of the natural heritagethroughout Scotland and will enable us to be sensitive tolocal needs and priorities. This work contributes to the UKBiodiversity Action Plan.

At present, there is no clear strategy for different parts of

Scotland’s natural heritage and, perforce, there is

concentration of effort on designated areas without full

consideration of the surrounding countryside. The Zonal

Programme addresses this by seeking to provide a logical

framework, for SNH and others, within which to plan and

carry out work. In 1996/97 we published a work describing

the bio-geographic zones of Scotland. Informed by this, by

our work on Landscape Character Assessment and by other

natural heritage inventories and information, we have now

developed a provisional system of 20 Natural Heritage

Zones and produced an interim map showing these. Each is

geographically discrete and reflects the biology, geography,

and landscape associations of the natural heritage. This will

lay the foundation for developing a detailed natural heritage

prospectus describing each zone and, thereafter, a strategy

and action plan for SNH.

This initiative reflects an approach similar to that taken in

many other parts of the world, for instance in New Zealand,

Norway and Canada. It also parallels the situation in England

where the Countryside Commission and English Nature have

been working to produce a unified zonal description of the

countryside. We are committed to involving our key

partners as we develop the Zonal Approach and hope to

influence their activities through this work.

Advising GovernmentA key element of our policy development is advisingGovernment and others: this year on issues such as housing,skiing, the coast, and transport.

In 1996/97 we responded to 82 government consultations at

a national level. This included commenting on proposed

Developing a clear strategic framework is important in ensuring thatwe are consistent and focused in the advice we give to others, and in

developing a forward view of how new developments might affect thenatural heritage. Advising others, particularly government and publicbodies, is a statutory duty which provides the opportunity for SNH to

influence policies and strategic frameworks for the benefit of thenatural heritage. We spent £0.2m on this work.

10: Developing Policy andProviding Advice

revisions to the National Planning Policy

Guidelines (NPPGs) on Land for Housing and

drafts of new guidelines on Ski Development,

Coastal Planning and Transport. The Scottish

Office also undertook reviews of Development

Planning and Indicative Forest Strategies, to

which we made several contributions on natural

heritage issues.

We were pleased that the revised NPPG on Land

for Housing raised the profile of environmental

considerations, including the natural heritage,

when allocating land for new housing

development. Last year’s Annual Report related

how we had broadly welcomed the draft

guidelines on skiing, although retaining some

concerns over certain aspects of the guidelines

for existing ski areas. Our formal advice on this

was submitted to The Scottish Office in the first

part of 1996/97, and we continued to discuss the

issues involved up to the final publication of the

guidelines in June 1997.

In our advice on coastal planning we identified

the range of development pressures on the coast

which have an effect on the natural heritage and

suggested measures to lessen these and to ensure

the protection of Scotland’s coastal environment.

Transport policy has major consequences for the

natural heritage and our comments on this draft

NPPG reflected this. We suggested that

Government planning policy should promote rail

and other alternatives to road transport and

should recognise the potential for increased

walking and cycling, both recreationally and for

shorter functional journeys. We also emphasised

the need to take careful consideration of the

natural heritage in the siting, design and

construction of new roads.

In addition to NPPGs we commented on a

number of other Government consultations,

some of which are mentioned elsewhere in this

Annual Report. A particularly important

consultation was on a Review of Designations.

While agreeing with the Discussion Paper that

there was a considerable number of countryside

designations, we responded that this reflected the

wide range of functions and levels of protection

given to sites, and that it would be difficult to

simplify the system without impairing its

effectiveness. The issue of Natural Heritage Areas

(NHA) was raised, and we set out how we believe

this (as yet unused), designation could be

deployed. We highlighted the present lack of a

suitable statutory mechanism to enable us to

support any NHA which might be established. We

also stressed the value of the National Nature

Reserve designation, and we spelt out the need

for new approaches, including involvement by

local people and more effective means of

protection, to deal with extensive areas of high

natural heritage quality.

Local Authorities and Other PartnersPolicy development and guidance to localauthorities, and links with other key partners,such as SEPA and Historic Scotland, enable us toinfluence the natural heritage through the work ofothers. From time to time we are also invited tocomment on others’ work: for example, in1996/97, on papers produced by the ScottishConsumer Council.

With the establishment of Scottish Unitary

Authorities on 1 April 1996 we continued to build

on the contacts already made in 1995/96. We

produced a Natural Heritage Information Folderfor elected members and officials of the new

authorities, giving advice on natural heritage

issues and, specifically, on SNH’s role. As detailed

earlier we also published guidance on

Countryside and Access Strategies.

We also established closer working relations with

the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

(CoSLA) and we gave a presentation to the Rural

Affairs Forum, an influential working group of the

Convention. An exciting new initiative was the

joint funding by SNH, RSPB and The Scottish

Office of a project to prepare local biodiversity

action plans in Orkney, Argyll, East Grampian and

South Lanarkshire. We hope to develop this work

in the coming year.

We continued to build on our links with Historic

Scotland, meeting regularly and collaborating on

projects of mutual interest. We also signed a

Memorandum of Understanding with the Scottish

Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), from

which further work will stem. We developed

draft concordats with the Scottish Wildlife Trust,

the Deer Commission for Scotland and the Game

Conservancy Trust to cement our close working

relations with these bodies. During the year, SNH

continued to provide funding for the Scottish

Transport Forum which brings together road, rail,

air and shipping companies, environmental

organisations and local authorities to discuss

transport policy issues. The Scottish Consumer

Council produced documents on Cars and theEnvironment and Sustainable Transport forPeople Living in Rural Areas. We commented that

there were issues for the consumer which were

wider than simply mobility, such as the key issue

of environmental quality.

The deployment of European Structural Funds in

a way which is sustainable and takes into account

44

the needs of the natural heritage is an important

issue, since these funds are supporting

considerable development in both the

economically fragile and the environmentally

sensitive parts of Scotland. At the invitation of the

Highlands and Islands Partnership we undertook

a Strategic Environmental Assessment ofStructural Funds; as a result, guidance on the

Objective 1 Programme was issued to applicants

by the Partnership.

Jobs and the EnvironmentIt is easy to overlook the benefits of the naturalheritage in many areas in creating employment.In 1996/97 a major investigation conducted forSNH was completed. Through the gathering ofnew and a review of existing material acomprehensive assessment of jobs related to thenatural heritage has been achieved.

The Jobs and the Environment study suggested

that there are 7,850 FTE jobs in Scotland linked

directly to the natural heritage: 2,000 are in the

Highlands and Islands, and a higher percentage

(22%) of these are in parts of the area considered

economically fragile than across the area as a

whole (18%). This work was important in

indicating the considerable economic benefit our

work brings. In addition it is estimated that hiking

and walking, and field and nature study

undertaken as part of a tourist trip, are worth

£326m and £80m respectively; it calculated that

this supports the equivalent of more than 10,000

jobs in Scotland.

A study also completed in 1996/97 by the

Tourism and Environment Task Force (TETF), of

which SNH is a member, indicated that there are

600 jobs directly created by wildlife tourism inScotland, of which 70% are in the Highlands and

Islands. A further 1,500 jobs are created through

jobs of which wildlife tourism is an element, or

through jobs at locations directly linked to

wildlife tourism. These studies also indicated that

for 82% of visitors, the landscape and scenery was

one of the main reasons for holidays in Scotland

and that wildlife was similarly important for 37%

of visitors; hence a considerable proportion of

the £1,580m holiday tourism market is generated

by Scotland’s natural heritage assets.

Another contribution we made to the TETF was

the production of a draft national code ofpractice for wildlife operators (such as those who

organise dolphin, whale or bird watching trips).

This was presented at a seminar on wildlife

tourism held under the auspices of the Minch

Project (see Encouraging Sustainable Use ofMaritime Areas). We amended our draft in the

light of one subsequently devised by operators

for local use in the Minch who were assisted by

SNH funding. The resulting national code was

then adopted by the TETF.

The Task Force also assisted a key partner, the

National Trust for Scotland, by funding an

environmental audit of its visitor centres. Finally,

in an effort to encourage good practice, we once

again sponsored the Tourism Thistle Award for

the Environment supporting tourism ventures

which are particularly commendable from an

environmental perspective.

Internal Policy GuidanceWe developed internal policy guidance in severalareas: these include marine fisheries, roadbuilding and wildland.

As Scotland’s statutory natural heritage

conservation agency SNH has an important

interest in marine fisheries. To ensure that we

have clear objectives when advising others on

issues in this topical field, we prepared a positionstatement which describes both SNH’s role and

our general approach to fisheries policy. As

previously mentioned, road building can have a

major influence on the natural heritage; in an

initiative with The Scottish Office Roads

Directorate we developed staff guidance for SNH

on road design, building, finance and operation

under the Private Finance Initiative. A series of

training workshops was also held. Guidance was

issued to staff on the interpretation of the

“precautionary principle”. Wildland is a key issue

in Scottish environmental circles at present: we

produced and circulated an internal discussion

paper, with a view to refining our views on how

this land can best be managed in the future.

Additional internal discussion papers were

generated on integrated catchment management

and partnership working.

45

Portree

West Highland

Stornoway

Fort William

N. Isles(Orkney)

Aberdeen

Aviemore

Kirkwall

Inverness

Dingwall

GolspieWestern Isles

North Highland

East Highland

Forth and Borders

Airlie

Battleby

Cupar

Stirling

Edinburgh

Galashiels

Kinlochewe

Stilligarry

Rum

Elgin

ClydebankBowmore

Oban

Ayr

Lanark

Lochgilphead

Argyll and Stirling

Strathclydeand Ayrshire

Dumfries and Galloway

Knockan

NewtonStewart

Dunoon

N. Isles(Shetland)

Lerwick

Tayside

Grampian

Dalkieth

Dumfries

CreagMeagaidh

SNH offices

Our OrganisationalDevelopment Programme(ODP) will bring signifi-cant improvements to theway we operate.Throughout the year weplanned the implementa-tion of this programme,which will take effect from1 April 1997. The newstructure will bring benefitsin terms of SNH being morelocally responsive, withimproved national co-ordi-nation of policy andadvice, and bring financialsavings. The main differ-ences which our customerswill notice are the removalof the regional tier of theorganisation and the estab-lishment of a new Areastructure, with 11 AreaManagers as key decision-makers.

Staff at all levels throughoutSNH will have increasedresponsibility devolved tothem . The natural heritagefunctions of the Areas anda new National StrategyTeam will be supported byfour corporate AdvisoryServices teams, while othernational units such as per-sonnel, finance, informa-tion systems, procurementand public relations willprovide corporate services.

47

Key Achievements

• We completed planning under ourOrganisational DevelopmentProgramme, ready forimplementation on 1 April 1997.

• We provided staff with a total of1,407 days’ training, offering 88courses on various aspects of ourwork.

• We achieved a 5% reduction inrunning costs and maintained a 2%efficiency gain in procurement.

• We agreed an Efficiency Plan withThe Scottish Office, which will beimplemented and monitored in1997/98.

• We published an electronicGreening Handbook.

• Most of the 82,635 externalenquiries we received weresatisfied immediately and weresponded to 95% of thoserequiring follow-up action withinNatural Standards.

In seeking to achieve our natural heritage objectives, we aim for themost efficient, effective and economic use of all our resources, and thehighest standards of public accountability and employment practice.

Our expenditure is reflected in the costs of the previous tenoperational programmes which this work directly supports.

11: Improving the Management of SNH

Organisational developmentDuring the year we planned a programme oforganisational development which we started toimplement in the second part of the year, with a view toachieving the main structural changes from 1 April 1997.The changes brought about by this will make SNH morelocally accountable, promote more team-working, devolveour decision-making, shorten our lines of communicationand improve the focus of our advisory and policydevelopment work. We also expect that we shall be able tomake considerable savings and efficiency gains as aresult of our more streamlined approach.

During 1996/97 a review of our decison-making and

organisational structure was undertaken. The resulting

Organisational Development Programme (ODP) reflects

the recommendations of the Joint Study into SNH’s

operation which was undertaken by SNH and The

Scottish Office (November 1995), and the Government’s

policy document Natural Priorities, published the

following year, which set out SNH’s role into the next

century. The Management Team, supported by the Board,

set up ten working groups to plan the detailed aspects of

the ODP. These groups involved people at all levels of the

organisation and were supported by a small dedicated

team of staff . As a result of this work, staff assignments

were made to the new structure by Christmas 1996, and

SNH was set to adopt this new method of working from

1 April 1997 without undue disruption to other work.

The most visible change is our emphasis on Area

working, and our removal of the regional tier of

organisation. A key aim of the ODP is to empower

managers and other staff to use their own judgement and

abilities more effectively. An essential facet of this is to

ensure that everyone has immediate access to the

corporate policies, procedures and practices which will

assist and guide them in making decisions. In the latter

part of the year the first elements of this guidance were

put into place; this work will continue in 1997/98.

The ODP was supported by a voluntary earlyretirement/severance scheme. This offered to staff the

opportunity to leave SNH on favourable terms where this

assisted the ODP, and will provide financial savings for

48

the organisation in future years. Eleven

members of staff took advantage of the scheme.

Staff Training and DevelopmentWell-trained staff, properly equipped to tackle therange of issues facing SNH, contribute to theefficiency and effectiveness of SNH.

In 1996/97 our core training programme

included no fewer than 74 courses with aspects

designed for staff of all disciplines and at all

levels within SNH – a total of 1,228 days’ training

received by individuals. We supplemented this

core training with other developmental support,

such as enabling staff to attend conferences and

professional meetings. Our Training Plus

programme, which offers locally-funded training

opportunities, delivered an additional 14

courses and 179 person-days of training. We

evaluated staff views on the training we provide,

and in 1996/97 the responses showed a very

high level of satisfaction.

Staff development is one element in SNH’s

overall Strategy For People Management which

helps manage our human resources in a way

which best helps us achieve our objectives. The

Strategy For People Management includes

elements such as staff welfare, equal

opportunities, performance management,

recruitment, and pay and grading. During the

year SNH produced its policy on staff

development and delivered a series of

workshops for all managers on how to

implement the policy.

Finance and Information SystemsIt is essential that we are fully accountable forthe efficient use and expenditure of all resources.

In 1996/97 we achieved a 5% reduction in

running costs, and also maintained a 2%

efficiency gain in procurement. We were able to

complete the delivery of our new finance

system, using our Information Systems to make

it available to Regional and Area staff. We also

agreed an Efficiency Plan with The Scottish

Office, which will be implemented and

monitored in the coming year.

The operation of our computer network enables

us to achieve significant savings in travel and

communications costs. We used it extensively to

distribute documentation and guidance and

enable discussions between staff. By the end of

the year we had introduced a Work Recording

System which will give essential information on

how we utilise our human resources. We also

increased the number of offices which can

access our local Geographical Information

System. Development work on a new grants

database, which we completed in 1996/97, will

enable this to become operational in the first

part of 1997/98. The networking of most of our

offices enabled us to develop a sophisticated

operational planning and reporting system to

chart our work for the coming year. The

development of internal data standards enabled

us to exchange computer-based information

within SNH more easily, reducing the

development costs of future applications. The

success of the network has been such that we

now need additional capacity and in 1996/97 we

completed planning for the necessary upgrade.

Greening the WorkplaceSNH must lead by example. The ‘Greening theWorkplace’ Policy Statement marked ourcommitment to improve our own environmentalperformance in the work-place.

The Policy provides the broad framework for

the greening programme, and is fully supported

by the Board and Management Team. Making

staff aware of the importance of greening issues,

and generating enthusiasm for the project, were

high priorities. To achieve this, an electronic

Greening Handbook was published, giving staff

guidance on good practice.

Finding out about our current environmental

performance was another priority for the year.

Figures on key issues such as energy and waste

were collected, and procedures were put in

place to ensure that this process will continue.

This will form a core part of the environmental

report, due to be published in a year’s time.

Electrical fixtures were made more energy-

efficient; recycling was introduced in some

offices and improved in others; the bicycle

mileage rate was increased; car sharing was

encouraged; and stationery re-use was

promoted. In short, improvements took place in

all the key areas covered by the project,

including energy use, waste management,

purchasing and transport.

Customer CareNatural Standards is SNH’s response to theGovernment’s Citizen’s Charter. In our owncharter we promise to deliver good-qualityservices and to foster customer care ineverything we do.

49

One of our principal commitments under

Natural Standards is to respond to enquiries as

quickly as possible. Most of the enquiries we

receive fall into eight broad categories:

information and advice; publications; grants;

SSSI consultations; management agreements;

consultations by others; licences; and permits.

Each category has its own standards for making

responses; these are set out in a free leaflet,

available from all our offices. In 1996/97 we

received a total of 82,635 contacts; nearly all

enquiries were answered on the same day, and

where further action was required we met the

required standards more than 95% of the time.

The majority of enquiries sought information or

advice and here our standards were even higher;

again most enquiries were satisfied immediately

and for the 11,316 which were not, a final

response was supplied within the standards’

targets on 97% of occasions. The relevant

statistics on our 1996/97 performance against all

the performance measures as set out in NaturalStandards are given in SNH Facts and Figures

1996/97.

50

Financial Results

Cash Accounting and Financial TargetSNH is mostly funded by government grant from The Scottish Office. In addition it is allowed to

raise income from other sources and, within certain limits, carry forward funds from the previous

year.

In 1996/97 we received £36.85m from Government. This was a reduction of 10% compared to the

previous year when we received £41.15m, plus an additional £1m to assist us fund an early

retirement scheme.

SNH’s key financial target, agreed with The Scottish Office, is to ensure that our expenditure is at

least 98% (and not more than 100%) of the grant in aid taking into account other sources of income

and any funds carried forward. To achieve this target we must manage our finances on a cash basis.

This means that we log income and expenditure when monies are received or expended

respectively.

The outcome for the year was:

£m

Net grant in aid for 1996/97 36.85

Carried in from 1995/96 0.167

Total net grant in aid 37.017

Net expenditure 36.708

Difference 0.309

Our expenditure was therefore 99.2% of the grant in aid and we achieved our financial target. The

balance of £309,000 largely represents the value of transactions being processed at the end of the

financial year; it is carried into 1997/98 .

Running Costs

Capital

Operational

Activity

51

The table below compares actual expenditure against that planned for our three main types of

expenditure: running costs (salaries, pensions and office and other administrative expenditure),

expenditure on capital projects (National Nature Reserves, buildings and Information Systems) and

expenditure on our operational activities (mainly grants and management agreements).

Spend by expenditure type in 1996/97 1996/97

Planned Actual

(£m) (£m)

Salaries of staff and Board Members including

pensions 12.2 12.056

General administrative expenditure 5.5 5.311

Capital projects 0.95 0.877

Maintenance of National Nature Reserves 0.5 0.582

Publicity, information and training 1.0 1.090

Research, inventory and development 3.5 3.633

Capital and revenue grants 6.0 6.978

Management agreements 4.8 4.033

International subscriptions De min 0.051

Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2.6 2.493

Central Scotland Countryside Trust and the

Cairngorms Partnership

Receipts -0.200 -0.396

Funds brought forward from 1995/96 0.167 -

Total expenditure 37.017 36.708

Note all figures are net.

A detailed break down of the amounts paid and the recipients of grants and management

agreements is given in SNH Facts and Figures, the companion publication to this report.

Our expenditure can also be described by our ten Natural Heritage Programmes.

The cost of our eleventh Programme, “Managing SNH” has been apportioned on a pro-rata basis to

the Natural Heritage Programmes in order to represent the full expenditure on each programme.

Maintaining and EnhancingDiversity

Protecting and ManagingSpecial Natural Heritage Sites

Securing Management of the Cairngormsand Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

Improving EnvironmentalEducation

Encouraging Sustainable Use ofMaritime Areas

Working in Partnership withLocal Authorities

Central Scotland Forest Initiative

Delivering our Special NatureConservation Functions

Developing Policy and Providing Advice

Improving Land Managementand Access

Spend by Natural Heritage Programme in 1996/97

6.9%

28.8%

12.6%

7.9%

14.2%

1.8%

2.5%

0.6%

3.3%

21.4%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

£mNote - percentages indicate percentage of total expenditure.

52

Financial ManagementSNH’s finances require careful management

throughout the year to optimise what we can

achieve and to respond to changing priorities.

In addition, budget managers are involved in the

delivery of a range of efficiency measures to

reduce our running costs.

We continue to introduce initiatives to reduce

our running costs. These efficiency “savings” are

achieved in a number of ways, such as best

practice in procurement and through the

implementation of our Information Systems

network. We were able to use the £330,000

reduction in running costs against the level

planned, plus higher than anticipated income, to

increase expenditure on our Natural Heritage

Programmes, especially grants.

During the year we increased income from non-

Exchequer sources by 44% over the previous

year. In addition, bequest funds which had been

inherited from the Nature Conservancy Council,

were used to support an SNH led initiative -

Paths For All.

Annual AccountsAs a Non-Departmental Public Body, SNH is

required to prepare annual accounts which

present its financial performance on an

“accruals” basis as if it were a commercial

concern. These are presented to Parliament and

are publicly available.

The accounts are audited by the National Audit

Office and signed by the Comptroller & Auditor

General.

The accounts comply, as far as is appropriate,

with commercial accounting standards and

conventions. However, because we are not in

business to make a profit, a number of

adjustments are necessary to produce the

accounts. For example, notional figures totalling

£2.2m for items such as insurance and interest

on capital are included. These adjustments, as

well as the need to include accruals, pre-

payments and depreciation mean that the figures

presented in the annual accounts are different to

those shown on a cash basis.

Overall the accounts show a retained surplus. It

includes, for the first time, a provision for future

expenditure obligations following decisions to

release staff under voluntary early retirement

terms. In general, a surplus or deficit is not an

indication of financial performance.

The accounts have been signed by the

Comptroller & Auditor General without

qualification.

An extract from the full financial statements is

given in the next section.

Scottish Natural Heritage Account 1996-97

Summary Financial StatementsThe financial statements contained on pages 53 -

54 are a summary of the SNH accounts. These

summary accounts do not contain sufficient

information to allow a full understanding of the

financial position of SNH. A copy of the audited

accounts which contain the detailed information

required by law and under best practice

guidelines can be obtained from SNH, 12 Hope

Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2AS. The SNH accounts

were signed by the Accounting Officer on 7

November 1997. SNH’s auditor, the Comptroller

and Auditor General, has given an unqualified

audit opinion on these accounts.

53

Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 1997

1997 1996

£000 £000

IncomeHM Government grant in aid 34,856 38,615

Transferred from deferred

government grant account 1,558 1,701

Ring-fenced grant in aid to JNCC 1,164 1,343

Income from activities 840 584

Other operating income 17 43

38,435 42,286

ExpenditureBoard members and staff costs 13,170 14,095

Grants 7,796 7,894

Other operating charges 6,349 6,963

Management agreements 4,007 5,873

Research and advisory services 3,109 3,751

Notional charges 2,176 2,353

Depreciation 1,518 1,691

Annual JNCC contribution 1,164 1,343

Early retirement provision 485 0

Maintenance of National Nature Reserves 485 1,049

Grants to Local Authorities for loan charges 471 821

40,730 45,833

(Deficit) on operating activities before superannuation (2,295) (3,547)

Superannuation receipts 264 385

(Deficit) on operating activities (2,031) (3,162)

Interest income 124 222

(Deficit) on ordinary activities (1,907) (2,940)

Notional charges 2,131 2,303

Appropriations:

Amounts surrendered to The Scottish Office 0 (197)

Retained surplus / (deficit) for the year 224 (834)

54

Balance Sheet as at 31 March 1997

1997 1997 1996

£000 £000 £000

Fixed assetsTangible fixed assets 8,887 9,506

Investment in JNCC 144 164

9,031 9,670

Current assetsStocks 246 267

Debtors 1,018 808

Short term investment 0 127

Cash at bank and in hand 314 191

1,578 1,393

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (171) (641)

Net current assets 1,407 752

Total assets less current liabilities 10,438 10,422

Financed by:

Insurance provision 289 244

Early retirement provision 485 0

Accruals and deferred incomeDeferred government grant 8,486 9,278

Capital and reservesCapital reserve 1,878 1,878

Bequest reserve 0 98

Revaluation reserve 306 134

Share of JNCC provisions and reserves 144 164

Income and expenditure account (1,150) (1,374)

10,438 10,422

55

Section 29 OrdersA Section 29 Order is also called a Nature Conservation Order, which under certain circumstances

the Secretary of State may make after consultation with SNH in order to protect areas of land of

special scientific interest which are either likely to be or are being damaged. This type of order is

used only as a means of last resort, and is primarily a means of safeguarding a site whilst negotiations

continue to secure appropriate management in the future. Under Section 29 (11) of the Wildlife and

Countryside Act 1981 SNH is obliged to publish in its Annual Report a list of orders which have

come into operation during the year.

Only two new orders were made in 1996/97 although a full list of those in force during the period is

given.

Orders made by the Secretary of State under Section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981and in force during the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997

Name of Order Date Made Area (Ha)

The Carstairs KamesNature Conservation Order 1984 31 May 1984 73.0

The River Spey and Insh Marshes Nature Conservation Order 1987 23 March 1987 121.0

The Loch of StrathbegNature Conservation Order 1987 31 August 1987 2.2

The North Fetlar Nature Conservation Order 1987 22 October 1987 86.0

Culbin Foreshore Nature Conservation Order 1989 9 June 1989 2.0

Kinneil Lagoon Nature Conservation Order 1989 16 August 1989 27.8

Drimnin to Killundine WoodsNature Conservation Order 1990 7 November 1990 8.5

Black Loch (Abdie) Nature Conservation Order 1990 7 November 1990 5.5

The Rivers Spey- Feshie ConfluenceNature Conservation Order 1992 3 August 1992 20.3

The Rivers Spey- Feshie ConfluenceNature Conservation Order 1992Amendment Order 1993 28 April 1993 *

North Fetlar (Virda Water Apportionment) Nature Conservation Order 1993 19 May 1993 39.0

Shielton PeatlandsNature Conservation Order 1993 18 August 1993 1,365.0

Cobbinshaw MossNature Conservation Order 1994 18 February 1994 197.1

Loch Fleet and Dornoch and Cuthill SandsNature Conservation Order 1995 4 April 1995 1467

Culbin Sands and Findhorn Bay Nature Conservation Order 1995 22 June 1995 910

Culbin Sands and Findhorn BayNature Conservation Order 1995 (Amendment Order 1996) 19 March 1996 *

Nigg and Udale BaysNature Conservation Order 1995 22 June 1995 2130

Nigg and Udale BaysNature Conservation Order 1995 (Amendment Order 1996) 19 March 1996 *

Morrich More and Dornoch FirthNature Conservation Order 1995 22 June 1995 2155

Morrich More and Dornoch FirthNature Conservation Order 1995 (Amendment Order 1996) 19 March 1996 *

56

Photo credit pageForest Life Picture Library 14, 15Pentland Hills Ranger Service 30, 31CSCT with CREATE & SWT 34, 35Keith Ringland 6Sue Scott 10, 11, 38Dougie Barnett 2SNH- L Gill 7, 18, 22, 26, 27, 47SNH- J Charity 42, 43SNH- D Bell 19

Ardersier Glacial Deposits (Hillhead Farm)Nature Conservation Order 1996 26th May 1996 23.5

Rossie Moor Nature Conservation Order 1996 23rd August 1996 34.5

* this is an Amendment Order which is concurrent with the proceeding Order, and relates to the

same area as that previously stated

Further Information

The tables and annexes contained in the companion volume to this Annual Report: SNH: Facts andFigures1996/97 provide the interested reader with many useful additional facts and figures. SNH

welcomes enquiries from those interested in aspects of our work. In the first instance, these may be

addressed to Scottish Natural Heritage, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, EH9 2AS, tel 0131 447 4784, fax

0131 446 2277. SNH has a network of local offices covering the whole of Scotland, details of these

are in the local telephone directory, or in our free publication “Who we are, Where we are and Whatwe do”. Details of all our publications can be found in our publications catalogue, available free of

charge from SNH Design and Publications, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW, tel 01738 627921,

fax 01738 441897. In particular, a report summarising the details of all research, survey and

monitoring projects undertaken by SNH is produced annually.

57