National Islands Plan: annual report 2023

Environment Wellbeing and Biosecurity

Strategic objective 8 – Improve and promote environmental wellbeing and deal with environmental security

Commitment 8.1 Protect island biodiversity.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• The National Islands Plan Report 2022 sets out a series of projects that are currently supporting this commitment and will continue to support island biodiversity going forward.

In 2023, the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) provided support to land managers as follows:

Table 1: AECS 2022 Application Round

• applications submitted
  • Islands - 288
  • All Scotland - 1028
• applications approved
  • Islands - 245
  • All Scotland - 701
• contracts accepted
  • Islands - 233
  • All Scotland - 681
• area under annual recurrent options
  • Islands - 70k ha
  • All Scotland - 218k ha
• total funds committed for lifetime of contracts
  • Islands - £9.3m
  • All Scotland - £43m
• ri-environment measures
  • Islands - £8.8m
• organics
  • Islands - £0.5m

Table 2: Live AECS Contracts in 2023

• contracts in place
  • Islands - 700
  • All Scotland - 2245
• area under annual recurrent options
  • Islands - 181k ha
  • All Scotland - 816k ha
• payment due in claim year 2023 (the final actual amount paid could end up slightly lower if some works did not go ahead)
  • Islands - £6.1m
    • agri-environment measures - £5.2m
    • organics - £0.5m
    • slurry stores - £0.4m
  • All Scotland - £31m

Species on the Edge

Species on the Edge is a partnership led by NatureScot that works with seven other conservation organisations to secure a future for thirty-seven of our most threatened coastal and island species. As well as carrying out direct conservation action, the programme is working with local communities to provide varied opportunities for them to get involved in protecting their unique wildlife. It is also developing new ways for partners to work together beyond the lifetime of the project.

Species on the Edge works across seven project areas to deliver nine multi-taxa delivery plans. Priority species are all highly reliant on coast and island habitats and cover a diverse range of taxa. They include Arctic, common and little terns, brown long-eared, common pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats, great yellow bumblebee, small blue and marsh fritillary, four species of burnet moth, Scottish primrose and Irish lady’s tresses.

The programme has a team of Project Officers and People Engagement Officers based in the project areas. Delivery started in early 2023 and will continue until March 2027. Species on the Edge is active in four island areas – Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and Argyll and the Inner Hebrides – as well as the North Coast, the East Coast and the Solway. Species on the Edge is receiving £4.2 million funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards an overall budget of over £6.5 million. Other funders include the Scottish Government, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the Dulverton Trust.

Goose schemes

Scottish islands play an important role in supporting concentrations of wintering migratory geese due to their location on the international flyway. In locations where migratory geese cause significant agricultural damage, management schemes are in place. These include Islay, Coll, Tiree, Uist and South Walls.

Resident greylag geese can also cause agricultural damage, particularly in crofting areas. Management initiatives have been supported by the Scottish Government and NatureScot to reduce populations of resident greylag on Tiree, Coll, Uist, Lewis, Harris and Orkney.

The current budget for goose management actions focused on islands is over £1 million. NatureScot have also provided financial support for projects dealing with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak, which had a significant impact on goose populations on Islay.

Sea Eagle Management Scheme

Sea Eagle Scheme Agreements are in place through the Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) to support land managers who are experiencing difficulties with white-tailed eagles predating livestock. Whilst there is a national policy for white-tailed eagles, concentrations are significant on islands – particularly Mull, Skye and the Outer Hebrides. In 2023, 120 Farms, Crofts or Sheep Stock Clubs in island locations received support through the SEMS (74 holdings in Skye and Raasay, 19 in Mull, 11 in Lewis and Harris, 8 in the Uists and Benbecula and 2 each in the islands of Eigg, Islay, Barra and Lismore).

Chough – Islay and Colonsay

NatureScot continued to fund supplementary feeding of fledgling chough at specific roost sites on Islay and Colonsay. This was the first year that birds on Colonsay took to the feeding, something that birds on Islay have been doing for many years. Studies demonstrate that food availability in the first few months following fledging is the most significant factor in first year survival. During 2022 and 2023, NatureScot recorded first- and second-year chough surviving the winter and we are hopeful these birds will become part of the breeding population soon. The majority of farms supporting nesting and roost sites are under management supported by AECS or NatureScot management agreements. Change in farm occupancies and ownership have raised uncertainties regarding future management of some sites for chough. NatureScot are providing advice to these customers on management requirements and available funding streams.

Nature Restoration Fund

The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) competitive schemes have awarded over £16 million since they were established in 2021-22, including support for eight island- based projects during 2023 with a total investment of £602,000. The projects supported were:

• Biosecurity for Scotland’s seabird islands, RSPB Scotland (2023-26)
• Development, trial and delivery of a mop up phase methodology required to eradicate stoats from Orkney, RSPB Scotland
• “The Glen” – habitat restoration at Glen Cloy, Arran
• Restoration of Wader Habitat in the North Isles of Orkney, RSPB Scotland
• Green Network Project, Dougarie Estate, Arran
• Turning the Tide – Building Natural Capital and Restoring Nature across the landscape of Luing and Scarba, Cadzow Brothers
• Protecting Gigha’s Woodlands, Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust
• Purchase of a survey vessel and other equipment for use in the South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Lamlash Bay No Take Zone (NTZ), COAST.

Since it was established in 2021-22, NRF has also provided £17 million direct funding as a contribution towards biodiversity projects directed by Local Authorities and National Parks. In 2023-24, this included:

• £123,000 for projects in Na h-Eileanan Siar
• £53,000 for projects in Orkney
• £81,000 for projects in Shetland.

In 2023-24, support was supplemented by an additional sum equivalent to the NRF allocation in order to contribute to work to deliver local nature networks across Scotland.

Commitment 8.2 Address biosecurity in a holistic and integrated manner as a means not only to contribute to environmental wellbeing, but also to contribute to sustainable economic development on Scottish islands.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• We will continue to undertake island specific projects where required to put in place measures to address biosecurity in an integrated manner, including on the most important islands for breeding seabirds.

Biodiversity for Life

The Biosecurity for LIFE project, funded by the EU LIFE fund and NatureScot, came to an end in July 2023. Highlights include advice about biosecurity on boats, biosecurity animations in three languages and a schools resource pack designed by primary-aged pupils from Scottish island and coastal schools.

Biosecurity for Scotland is building on the legacy of the LIFE project with funding from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund in place until March 2026. Two Island Biosecurity Officers are working with island managers, communities and other stakeholders responsible for biosecurity checks and measures across 38 unique islands or islands groups that are internationally important for breeding seabirds. They can continue to call on the services of Jinx the detection dog, trained to detect the presence of rats in cargo destined for islands.

Rum Natural Nature Reserve

Following concerns about potential Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, NatureScot has been working with experts to develop a seabird population model and a new rat tracking method to monitor rat activity in important seabird colonies. HPAI impacts could lead to mass die-offs of birds that could result in increased rat populations. Alongside monitoring of the birds, this will allow to pick up any HPAI impacts and react to any changes in rat activity.

Rhododendron ponticum removal at a remote site at Papadil started in early 2023, part of a wider plan to control Rhododendron across the island. Most areas on the island have now had initial treatments.

Orkney Native Wildlife Project

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project began in 2018 with over £6 million of funding from the EU Life Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as match funding from NatureScot and RSPB Scotland. The project aims to safeguard Orkney’s unique and internationally significant native wildlife by addressing the threat it faces from stoats. The project has successfully removed over 5,500 stoats and monitoring is showing early indications of species recovery.

Hebridean Mink Project

The Hebridean Mink Project started in 2001 with the aim of protecting ground nesting birds from predation by eradicating American mink. The project has successfully reduced the population of mink, allowing the indigenous ground nesting bird species to maintain their populations and, in some cases, recover.

Uist Native Wildlife Project

Starting in 2001, this project has succeeded in removed all known hedgehog populations from North Uist and has maintained this status for the past five years. The project has gone through a process of feasibility studies to establish that eradication from the Uists is possible and is nearing the completion of an operational planning phase for a trial to remove all hedgehogs from Benbecula with the potential to then continue into South Uist once this is shown to be achievable.

Commitment 8.3 To establish an islands forum, through Zero Waste Scotland, as part of the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme, to ensure that key considerations for islands (and rural communities more generally) are reflected. This Forum will support, not only, input into our legislative plans for the scheme but also ensure that key considerations for islands communities are integrated into the implementation planning process.

Commitment fulfilled – This commitment was fulfilled in 2020. Please see the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2020 for further details.

Commitment 8.4 Work with island communities to explore how they can contribute to the circular economy through small-scale pilots for example supporting local food production.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) continues to work actively in this field including by chairing Highland Adapts, Highlands regional adaptation partnership. It is also working on the role circular economy has in adaptation, including trade off synergies.
• ZWS is working in collaboration with HIE to deliver a regionally focused Fuel Change Challenge. A focused development programme getting young people engaged with climate action.
• ZWS is also supporting partners in a Highland cup re-use scheme and it is delivering workshops and follow-up support on circular economy with Highland Council and Shetland Islands Council.

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in June 2023 and included details of an Islands Communities Impact Assessment. We published an initial consultation on the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map in May 2022 together with an Island Communities Screening Assessment, publishing the consultation analysis in 2023.

An updated draft Route Map to 2030 and island communities screen assessment was published on 18 January 2024. The draft Route Map notes our commitment to end the practice of sending biodegradable waste to landfill from 2025, and we continue to work with local authorities, through Zero Waste Scotland, to support them to put new solutions to managing their waste in place.

Isle of Rum

NatureScot is supporting the Isle of Rum with a number of small-scale projects, which include investigating options for small-scale local venison provision to the local shop as well as discussions with local interested parties who may wish to develop venison business opportunities of their own. NatureScot already sells low-food-miles carcasses to local residents for personal consumption.

A local business leases the stag stalking on Rum, which contributes to the small-isles economy through increased visitors’ numbers whilst helping deliver nature objectives by managing the wild deer to a sustainable level.

Islands Programme – COPE and Growing Space Nesting projects

Through the 2023-24 round of the Islands Programme, we awarded a grant of up to £653,613 to Shetland Islands Council to expand the reach and impact of COPE’s Shetland Home, a re-use centre that sells furniture, electrical goods, and homeware among other items. Electrical goods that cannot be sold are processed and stripped down to components for recycling. The project will support the circular economy, Scotland’s Net Zero ambitions and positively impact on individuals with learning disabilities.

Through the same fund, Shetland Islands Council has been awarded £75,202 for the Growing Space Nesting project, which aims to transition a section of vacant land into a community growing space and park for skills building, food growing and volunteering. It will address the identified local demand for a community growing space and increase regular access to affordable, fresh produce, featuring options for shared, publicly accessible outdoor and undercover growing to allow the production of fruit and vegetables.

Commitment 8.5 Continue and refresh the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which has benefitted island communities through provision of infrastructure to mitigate the impact of increased tourism benefitting islands’ communities and environment.

Commitment fulfilled – This commitment was fulfilled in 2020. Please see the National Island Plan 2021 Annual Report for further details.

Commitment 8.6 Develop work with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy’s NonNative Species Action Group to increase public information around minimising particularly high-risk invasive species movements on island.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• We will consult with the Non-Native Species Action Group and NatureScot on: o which species should be included; and o how raising public awareness may be best achieved.

Work is getting under way to develop an Invasive Non-Native Species Action to better target and prioritise resources to prevent the establishment of new species and to control/eradicate invasive non-native species where they are established. The Action Plan will cover all of Scotland, but will look to learn from the experiences of the non-native species and biosecurity projects mentioned earlier in this report to bring together a coherent and achievable Action Plan for both the mainland and islands.

Scottish Government and NatureScot are working with the Non-Native Species Action Group to bring together the expertise required to develop the Action Plan.

Commitment 8.7 Work with island partners to design solutions that address climate change through nature based solutions with multiple benefits including, for example the protection and restoration of peatlands and salt marshes.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• Scottish Government will continue to support collaboration with island partners to ensure nature based solutions are used to tackle to continued threat of climate change.

Peatland Action

During 2023, Peatland ACTION offered funding to deliver four peatland restoration projects in Shetland totalling just over 250 hectares with an anticipated value of more than £500,000. Peatland ACTION continue to progress a number of other restoration projects across the Scottish islands.

There are currently 1.6 FTE Project Officers on Shetland, and two FTE Project Officers located in the Western Isles, who are working to deliver peatland restoration projects.. In addition, two 2 FTE Project Officers work in Argyll, with islands part of their remit.

In 2023, training events were delivered on Shetland, Lewis and Skye to provide contractors, agents and new designers with the necessary skills to design and deliver new peatland restoration projects. Just over 100 people participated in these training opportunities.

Peatland ACTION were involved in a further twelve events on Scottish islands to engage with key stakeholder groups. This included attendance at local agricultural shows, a stall at CLS Annual Conference (on Skye) as well as speaking to crofters and land managers at Farm Advisory Service (FAS) events in Lewis and Skye.

On-site interpretation was installed at a peatland restoration site on Shetland and at two sites on Skye, promoting the benefits of peatland restoration to the wider public.

Islands Centre for Net Zero

Funded through the Islands Growth Deal (see commitment 1.1), the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ) is co-ordinating decarbonisation efforts across Outer Hebrides, Shetland and Orkney. Tackling emissions related to land use is one of the key focus areas of ICNZ.

Highland Adapts

Highland Adapts brings communities, businesses, land managers and public sector together to facilitate transformational action towards a prosperous, climate ready Highland region – including its island communities. The partnership’s guiding principles include climate and social justice, collaboration, sustainability, and community empowerment.

In its first three years, Highland Adapts has facilitated information sharing within and between sectors, supported community climate action, and developed the first Highland Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment. Through this Assessment, Highland Adapts is pioneering a new approach to place-based climate resilience, driven by lived experiences from across the region. Through the Highland Weather and Climate Story Map, individuals have shared their first-hand accounts of climate impacts and changes in their communities. Six of these stories relate to climate issues on Skye. These involved flooding and high winds and the impact they have had on ferry and road transport.

Argyll Islands

Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is working towards developing a Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Engagement Action Plan for Argyll and Bute in partnership with the wider community. The long-term outcome will be an Argyll and Bute region which is not only net-zero, but a significant sequester of carbon for Scotland, and well-adapted to climate change and its impacts. The CPP has secured resources and recruited a Climate Change Project Manager allowing work on the plan to start.