| Action Plan Reference | Action | Target Date | Personnel | Fund Source | Progress at August 2000 | Year/s incorporated into operational plan |
| Bogs 1 | Construct dams and/or bunds in appropriate drains on the main peat domes at appropriate sites. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | SWT carried out work with landowners at three raised bogs during 2000. With funding from SNH this project carried out management work to secure and enhance habitat at these sites. This work included installing dams to block drains, removal of invasive species, setting up of photographic monitoring and encouraging owners to manage sympathetically. | |
| Dam appropriate drains/outflows on the periphery of appropriate sites. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | |||
| Bogs 2 | Control any undesirable species, particularly birch scrub and, where possible, improve quality of bogs through removal of plantations. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | ||
| Bogs 3 | Seal off severely eroding areas through bund construction | 1999 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | ||
| Avoid over use of eroded areas by grazing mammals, and any educational groups/visitors | 1999-02 | LO | SNH | |||
| Block off badly eroded informal paths with brash from scrub removal operations. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT | SNH | |||
| Bogs 4 | On those bogs where butterflies are known to occur, maintain habitat appropriate to their needs. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | ||
| Bogs 5 | Where possible re-flood the lagg fen area through blocking of key peripheral drainage channels. | 1998-00 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | ||
| Construct dams in appropriate drains/outflows on the periphery. | 1998-00 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | |||
| Bogs 6 | Carry out at least 3 research projects to investigate the hydrology and ecology of NE raised bogs | 1999-01 | UA, SWT | UA, SNH | ||
| Liaise with other Universities and research institutes with a view to attracting students and specialists to sites in the north-east | 1998-02 | UA, SWT, MRG | UA, SNH | |||
| Bogs 7 | Install WALRAGS and/or dipwells on those sites where hydrological management is effected and measure at least twice yearly. | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | UA, SNH | ||
| Set up permanent quadrats near hydrological apparatus and record at least twice yearly | 1998-02 | LO, SWT, SNH | SNH | |||
| Set up schemes for monitoring Lepidoptera. | 1998-02 | All | SNH | |||
| Bogs 8 | Encourage SWT ‘SWAP’ project to survey those sites not surveyed during the Land Cover Survey of Scotland. | 1999-00 | SWT | SWT, SNH | SNH, SWT surveys during 1996 covered the majority of NE lowland raised bog sites. These surveys were used to assess sites to target for management work in 1 and 2 above. | |
| Encourage LA to survey, or commission survey of, any remaining unsurveyed sites. | 1999-00 | LA, SWT, SNH | LA | As above | ||
| Liaise closely with landowners before and during survey and provide information on LBAPs. | 1999-00 | All | LA | |||
| Bogs 9 | Produce guidance notes on best management practice on raised bogs and circulate. | 1998-99 | SWT, RSPB, LO, NFUS, SAC | SNH, SAC, RSPB | SWT have produced a manual and notes on bog management. | |
| Bogs 10 | Produce Site Management Plans for at least 8 selected sites. Revise every 5 years | 1998-02 | SWT, SNH, LA, FWAG, SAC, LO | SNH | Management plans prepared for 3 sites as detailed in 1,2 above. | |
| Bogs 11 | Incorporate information on rare bog species in the guidance notes (above), including how to identify large heath and small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies. | 1998 | UA, SWT, RSPB | above | ||
| Bogs 12 | Incorporate information on techniques for buffer zone management in the guidance notes. | 1998 | SWT, RSPB, FWAG, SAC | above | ||
| Bogs 13 | Incorporate information on techniques for bog restoration in the guidance notes. | 1998 | SWT | above | ||
| Hold workshop/seminar on bog restoration management techniques. | 1999 | SWT | above | |||
| Lobby peat extraction companies to leave bogs in states suitable for restoration | 1998-02 | All | SNH, RSPB | SWT bog campaign leading on lobbying peat extractors. | ||
| Bogs 14 | Circulate and promote interpretation leaflet (below) and guidance notes (above). | 1999 | LA, LO, NFUS, SAC | SNH | ||
| Bogs 15 | Produce an interpretation leaflet on the natural and cultural heritage of raised bogs in NE Scotland. | 1998 | All | SNH | SNH 'boglands' booklet provides good information on lowland raised bogs, this has been distributed to relevant landowners. | |
| Seek media coverage for any project or initiative related to raised bogs and biodiversity. | 1998-02 | All | SNH | Press article on SWT/SNH project in P+J | ||
| Liaise with Public Awareness sub-group on incorporating raised bogs into general display material on NE Biodiversity. | 1999 | Awareness sub-group | LA | |||
| Encourage the use of peat-free alternatives to reduce cutting pressure on raised bogs. | 2001 | Awareness sub-group | LA | Awareness sub-group have incorporated this action into the Gardens for life campaign which aims to work with gardeners and garden centres, promoting peat free alternatives to compost. | ||
| Bogs 16 | Initiate and maintain contact with local schools and other interested groups (below). | 1998-02 | LA, SWT | |||
| Liaise with local school teachers/schools on issues of safety and access on raised bogs | 1998-02 | LA | ||||
| Liaise with local school teachers/schools on conservation management initiatives. | 1998-02 | LA | ||||
| Provide safe public access at least to those sites where management is being carried out | 1998-02 | SAC, FWAG, LA, SWT | SNH | One site has been identified as suitable for public access and interpretation boards are being developed, installation of interpretation and a short section of boardwalk expected Sept 2001. | ||
| Bogs 17 | Ensure active and rehabilitation management of the Rora/St Fergus complex of raised bogs | 1999-00 | SNH, SWT, PE | SNH | ||
| Encourage co-operation between organisations, farmers and landowners who have units of larger raised bog complexes on their property | 1998-02 | FWAG, SAC, LA, SWT, RSPB | SERAD | Farmers are being encourage to include management of lowland raised bogs in RSS applications. Applications which involve joint management of bogs can secure extra points. | ||
| Bogs 18 | SWT to provide information on raised bog Wildlife Sites to Local Authorities | 1998-02 | SWT, LA | LA | Moray Council and the Moray Biodiversity Group have set up a wildlife site assessment panel. Surveyed sites are now being assessed and if appropriate designated as non-statutory wildlife sites. | |
| SNH to review the statutory status of recently and newly surveyed sites | SNH | SNH | ||||
| RSPB to provide any information on bird populations on bogs for inclusion in Wildlife Sites survey results | 1998 | RSPB, LA, SWT | RSPB | |||
| Bogs 19 | Incorporate all raised bog Wildlife Sites into local plans and structure plans. | 1998-02 | SWT, LA | LA | ||
| Incorporate a strategy for raised bogs into revisions of any ‘countryside resource strategy’, ‘nature conservation strategy’, indicative forestry strategy’ or ‘state of the environment report’. | 1998-02 | LA | LA | The Moray draft Indicative Forestry Strategy takes account of all priority LBAP habitats including lowland raised bogs with a presumption against planting in these areas. | ||
| Encourage Local Authorities to prevent tipping and other deleterious activities on bogs | 1998-02 | All | LA | |||
| Bogs 20 | In view of the deleterious affects of afforestation on raised bogs, support and encourage FC on its recent draft policy statement which includes a presumption against planting on active raised bogs. | 1999 | LBSG, FC | FC | ||
| Encourage/review the inclusion of ‘sensitive raised bog buffer zone management’ in agri-environment schemes such as CPS. | 1998 | LBSG, SAC, FWAG, SERAD | ||||
| Review CPS prescriptions for management of raised bogs | 1998 | LBSG | ||||
| Encourage SEPA to prevent pollution events and other deleterious activities on bogs. | 1998 | SEPA | ||||
| Review Local Biodiversity Action Plan annually | 1999-02 | All | ||||
| Carry out comprehensive 5 year review of LBAP | 2002 | All |