Capercaillie Emergency Plan programme board

The five-year Capercaillie Emergency Plan, launched by the Park Authority and NatureScot in 2024, aims to improve capercaillie breeding success and survival across the core capercaillie range in the Cairngorms National Park through the delivery of immediate and targeted measures. 

This group, chaired by the Park Authority, is responsible for enabling and assessing delivery of the plan. 

The programme board’s main functions are: 

• Enabling and assessing the delivery of the Capercaillie Emergency Plan.
• Managing associated risks and issues.
• Working with the scientific advisory group to review the plan’s impact based on evidence.
• Prioritising activities outlined in the plan when necessary, e.g., based on evidence and opportunities for quick wins.
• Aligning public funding and policy to support delivery.
• Providing strategic oversight and ensuring a coordinated approach to communications about the plan.
• Ensuring the plan maintains a national focus, with policy, guidance, and learning applied consistently across all capercaillie areas, within and beyond the National Park.
• Advocacy and reporting to the Scottish Government, Park Authority, and NatureScot boards. 

Membership of the programme board consists of a representative from the following organisations: 

• Forestry and Land Scotland
• NatureScot  
• Park Authority
• Scottish Forestry

Capercaillie Emergency Plan programme board meeting notes

Programme Board meeting notes - Capercaillie Emergency Plan 161225

HTML version

Download PDF

This document contains the minutes from a Capercaillie Emergency Plan Programme Board meeting held on 16 December. The meeting discussed ongoing actions, noting that work supported by the Nature Restoration Fund is progressing and land managers are being contacted about removing fences near capercaillie breeding sites. As no contractor was appointed to help deliver the plan, the Park Authority is reorganising its internal work to manage this, preferring an in-house approach for better stakeholder relationships, and will review funding contributions. Board members generally supported the draft Research and Monitoring Plan, which will use capercaillie productivity data as a main indicator, while acknowledging that significant ecological changes might not be evident until after 2030. Finally, the meeting confirmed that the Capercaillie Reinforcement Feasibility Study is moving forward, with Deeside identified as the priority area for detailed assessment in its second phase.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.

Programme Board meeting notes - Capercaillie Emergency Plan 021025

HTML version

Download PDF

This document contains the minutes from the Capercaillie Emergency Plan Programme Board meeting on Thursday 2 October. Attendees included representatives from Forestry and Land Scotland, the Park Authority, NatureScot, and Scottish Forestry. Key discussion points included updating actions from the last meeting, delivering priority actions through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), and stakeholder engagement. The Scientific Advisory Group is on track to share a draft Research and Monitoring Plan, and work is ongoing to identify datasets for monitoring the Emergency Plan. The board approved a draft work programme supported by the Scottish Government's NRF and agreed to contact land managers within capercaillie Special Protection Areas who haven't responded. Stakeholders will receive a progress update in January, and the Park Authority and Scottish Forestry will visit land managers to discuss fencing. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 16 December.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.

Programme Board meeting notes - Capercaillie Emergency Plan 220425

HTML version

Download PDF

This document contains the minutes from the Capercaillie Emergency Plan Programme Board meeting on 22 April. Attendees included representatives from the Park Authority, NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, and Forestry and Land Scotland. A Scientific Advisory Group will be formed and chaired by NatureScot's Deputy Director for Nature and Climate Change. Funding has been identified to recruit a Capercaillie Emergency Plan Project Manager for an initial one-year period, with a possible extension. Priorities for 2025 include reducing disturbance, lessening the impacts of predation, expanding and improving habitat, woodland restructuring, woodland grazing and robocutting, and removing and marking fences. There are action items assigned to Carolyn and Kenny regarding the Scientific Advisory Group, project manager role, and funding confirmation.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.

Programme Board meeting notes - Capercaillie Emergency Plan 250325

HTML version

Download PDF

This document contains the minutes from the Capercaillie Emergency Plan Programme Board meeting, which took place on Tuesday 25 March at the Park Authority office in Grantown-on-Spey. Attendees included representatives from the Park Authority, NatureScot (Scotland's Nature Agency), Scottish Forestry, and Forestry and Land Scotland. The meeting covered the establishment of a Scientific Advisory Group, updating stakeholders on the plan's progress, and recruiting a Project Manager for the Capercaillie Emergency Plan. Discussions also addressed budget and fundraising opportunities, as well as potential risks and issues affecting the plan's implementation.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.

Programme Board meeting notes - Capercaillie Emergency Plan 100125

HTML version

Download PDF

This document contains the minutes from the Capercaillie Emergency Plan Programme Board meeting on Friday 10 January, held at the Park Authority office in Grantown-on-Spey. The meeting covered the aims and responsibilities of the Programme Board, which include enabling and assessing the delivery of the Capercaillie Emergency Plan, managing risks, working with the Scientific Advisory Group to review the plan's impact, and aligning funding and policy. It also discussed the governance and management of the plan, including the role of the Scientific Advisory Group in developing a research and monitoring plan. The document lists the stakeholder groups involved in the six areas of work within the Emergency Plan and outlines reporting procedures, risks, and issues. Finally, the document lists actions to be taken, including setting the next meeting date and drafting a role description for the Capercaillie Emergency Plan Project Manager.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.