Chamber and committees

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) has featured in the trade press and on the Forestry Commission’s website for several years, and a Forest Research Note was published in 2008. DNB has also featured in annual Forest Health Days run by Forest Research in order to raise awareness of emerging threats to tree health. In January 2008 a pan-GB Working Group (now a Programme Board) was formed to oversee research directions and operational responses to this disease, with Confor representing the private forestry sector.

Further measures to raise awareness during recent months have included:

A two-page article by Forest Research and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) in the February edition of the Forestry Journal (a trade magazine for the forestry and arboricultural sectors in GB);

A joint Confor/FCS national briefing on DNB for the private sector (held in Perth on 25 April);

A joint presentation on DNB by Forest Research and FCS at the annual meeting of Native Pinewood Managers on 3 May;

Four DNB training events in DNB identification for private forestry sector survey staff – held in Fife, Galloway, North Highland and Moray/Aberdeenshire, and

The production of a field guide to DNB and other pine foliar pathogens. This was issued at training events and is available, along with other information about DNB, on the Forestry Commission website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-6zckae.

Four further training sessions for private forestry sector staff will be offered this year.

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is already having an adverse economic impact as a result of degradation in timber value, and this will increase with continued spread of the disease. In addition there are wider consequences (also affecting non-market outputs) that include reduced carbon sequestration, and the loss of amenity, recreation, and biodiversity value. Loss of biodiversity value would be especially concerning if the disease were to spread in native Caledonian pinewoods. The speed of change in the behaviour of this disease, coupled with uncertainties about the efficacy of some of the potential management options makes it very difficult to quantify economic impacts. However, these impacts are likely to be greatest in areas such as the north and north east of Scotland, where pine currently represents almost half of the woodland area. Along with the industry, Forestry Commission Scotland is establishing a Scottish Timber Markets Impact Group, whose remit will include assessing the implications of tree health issues for the production and marketing of timber from Scottish forests.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The £18 million Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund will support the development and deployment of the first commercial scale wave and tidal array projects in Scottish waters.

Issues with (a) potential and (b) mitigation of impacts of marine renewables devices on biodiversity are well understood by Marine Scotland, who ensure that the development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy sectors is achieved in a sustainable manner in the seas around Scotland. In addressing the various issues and challenges of developing offshore renewables in relation to impacts on biodiversity, Marine Scotland has initiated a number of projects and commissioned research to provide solutions and support to partner organisations and industry on potential interactions with natura species; including seabirds, marine mammals and migratory fish. This will include; addressing flight characteristics and habitats, collision risk modelling, baseline data, population modelling and effects of displacement.

A number of work streams are being progressed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage to identify locations at sea of importance to species covered by the requirement to classify Special Protection Areas under the EU Wild Birds Directive.

The Scottish Government expects to receive recommendations for wintering waterfowl, red throated divers, terns, and shags during 2013, with the aim of completing classification of these proposals by end of 2015.

For other seabirds and migratory species areas of search are being identified using the European Seabirds at Sea database. The JNCC will undertake further research to corroborate these findings with supporting evidence from other sources. The identification of Special Protection Area proposals from this work stream should be completed by 2015 with classification as soon as possible thereafter.

The A90 cycle path from Edinburgh to the start of the Forth Road Bridge is classified as a local road and not a trunk road and, as such, Transport Scotland provides no direct funding for this route. All local roads in Scotland are the responsibility of the local authority, in this case, the City of Edinburgh Council.

Last year the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland worked in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), awarding it a total of £121,000 for upgrading and design works on the A90 cycle path. This financial year, CEC will receive £565,000 funding for cycling, walking and safer streets projects directly from Transport Scotland. Local authorities are encouraged to work with Sustrans whose grant award of £7,160,000 this year can be used to match local authority funding for large cycling projects, such as the A90 cycle path.

The Bridge Operating Company Contract for the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) and the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) will include the connecting roads from M90 Junction 3 Halbeath in the north through to Junction 1A on the M9 at Kirkliston in the south. Transport Scotland will continue to be responsible for the management of these roads although the day-to-day maintenance will be carried out by the appointed bridge operating company.

The FRC scheme has been carefully designed to incorporate new sections of footpaths, cycleways and safe crossing points to maintain and enhance existing routes.

Scotland’s marine Atlas identified a number of pressures on marine habitats and species, including changes in the physical and chemical qualities of the water, disturbance of the seabed, underwater noise, recreational disturbance, and coastal development. A number of initiatives are underway which will help to address these issues.

The National Marine Plan will include objectives and policies to contribute to managing and minimising the impact of pressures identified in the Atlas, including steering damaging uses away from sensitive areas. It will also include ecosystem objectives and policies to support general ecosystem health and functioning and to further conservation measures. Environmental protection will be incorporated into decision making.

Targets and indicators are currently under development to achieve Good Environmental Status by 2020 under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and a programme of measures to achieve these targets must be in place by 2016. Marine planning provides one of several mechanisms to implement the measures once in place.

The Marine Nature Conservation Strategy for Scotland outlines objectives and measures to meet strategic aims for conservation. It focuses on a three pillar approach - species measures, site protection measures, and other initiatives that make a contribution to nature conservation, and which can be incorporated in decision making. Marine planning is one example.

Any Marine Protected Area (MPA) proposal brought forward will complement the species protection already afforded to all species of cetaceans by virtue of being European Protected Species under the EU Habitats Directive.

Three species of cetaceans are listed as MPA search features - Risso's dolphin, white-beaked dolphin and minke whale. To ensure that important life stages of these species are considered for protection, MPA search locations are currently being assessed against the Scottish MPA Selection Guidelines.

Marine Protected Areas will be managed to achieve the conservation objectives. The need for specific management over and above existing sectoral measures and licensing will be determined on a site-by-site basis. It will be based on the protected features, their condition, the conservation objectives, and the level of sensitivity to pressures caused by marine activities. Discussions with stakeholders who have practical environmental knowledge of the location will help shape the most appropriate management measures.

Competent Authorities will also have to consider the potential impacts on MPA features when exercising any of their functions as required by sections 82 and 83 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.