Item 5 Appendix2 HRA SlugainBurnRestoration 20260160DET

This document contains a Habitats Regulations Appraisal for the Slugain Burn Restoration Project, which focuses on realigning the river channel, restoring habitats, and building a new river crossing within the Cairngorms National Park. The project is designed to improve the River Spey Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and aims to benefit species like Atlantic salmon and otters by creating better habitats and a more natural river system. While there may be some short-term construction impacts on salmon and otters in the River Spey SAC, and on capercaillie and Scottish crossbill in the Kinveachy Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) and SAC, the appraisal concludes that these won't cause lasting harm to these protected sites. This is because strict measures will be implemented, including carefully timing construction to avoid sensitive breeding seasons, preventing pollution, surveying for protected animals, using only native plants for landscaping, and monitoring the river for five years to ensure fish can move freely. With these safeguards, the project is expected to deliver important environmental improvements without harming our natural areas.