Last-ditch plan to save the UK’s struggling capercaillie
With a massive decline in numbers, a plan has been put together to address the issues facing the rare woodland grouse at ‘pace and scale’.
An urgent bid has been launched to save a population of capercaillie in the Highlands. The rare species of woodland grouse has been in decline for decades and is predicted to become extinct in the next 20 to 30 years.
NatureScot commissioned its scientific advisory committee to investigate the “critical” situation, and a five-year Emergency Plan was drawn up with the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), having been initiated by the Scottish government. The park is home to 85% of the UK’s capercaillie population, with only 532 remaining in Britain.
The report addressed factors such as human disturbance, predation of young, and fence removal. All of these, if tackled together, could improve capercaillie survival and breeding success.
Studies have shown that the species may miss out on 40% of suitable habitats due to human disturbance. As a consequence, efforts have been made in the past five years to educate mountain bikers and dog walkers to help avoid such disturbance.
The Emergency Plan identifies clear priorities across a range of areas, underpinned by the continued commitment to woodland creation in the national park — with at least 35,000 hectares of new woodland cover to be created by 2045.
Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s deputy director of nature and climate change, said: “With such low numbers, the species is predicted to become extinct in the next 20 to 30 years unless more action is taken at scale and on all fronts.
“The Emergency Plan will do just that and is the result of intensive work with over 100 stakeholders, who are all committed to safeguarding the future of capercaillie. Requested by the Scottish government, the plan will tackle the multiple issues facing capercaillie at a pace and scale to help the species recover.”
Katrina Candy, director of the Heather Trust, told Shooting Times: “It is encouraging and hopeful to see so many stakeholders come together and agree the Capercaillie Emergency Plan. There are many strands to a successful conservation plan, and we hope all appropriate and effective management techniques are deployed to ensure a thriving population of capercaillie.
“This is a chance to make a positive impact by implementing properly considered, holistic measures at pace which are regularly reviewed and adjusted as required. It would be a sad day if we were to lose this iconic species from our wild areas.”
