240628FBPaper5CapercaillieEmergencyPlan

This document contains the Capercaillie Emergency Plan for the Cairngorms National Park, prepared by Andy Ford, Director of Nature and Climate Change. The plan aims to halt the decline of the capercaillie population by 2030, reflecting the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy's (SBS) vision. It outlines actions and objectives from the National Park Partnership Plan, direct commitments from the Park Authority's Corporate Plan, and builds upon previous board discussions and recommendations. The plan emphasizes habitat expansion and enhancement, minimizing disturbance to key species, and collaboration with stakeholders, all while aligning with national strategies and seeking diverse funding sources. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) and NatureScot are expected to take a leadership role in delivering the plan, which has garnered broad support and aims for landscape-scale restoration and long-term resilience. The Board is asked to agree to the scope of activity in the Emergency Plan meets the request from Scottish Government to continue investment in landscape scale restoration of pinewood habitat; develop a costed, spatially explicit plan and funding strategy; and undertake a pine marten population survey, and that the funding strategy is appropriate and sufficient to meet requirements.