Global Importance

 

 

'Moorland is a dynamic expression of wild nature, although much of it is managed by people; it is the epitome of a cultural landscape.  Globally, heather moorland is virtually confined to Britain and Ireland where great tracts are managed principally through muirburn and grazing for agriculture, field sports and amenity interests.  This has maintained distinctive landscapes rich in wildlife.'

 (Scotland’s Moorland Forum: Principles of Moorland Management )

 

 

The generally accepted figure is that the UK holds 75% of the world’s resource of open heather moorland, and the majority of that is in Scotland.  With the 20 - 25% loss of Britain’s heather and wildlife over the last 50 years, the renowned conservationist, Professor David Bellamy has said that on a global scale it is a more threatened habitat than rainforest!

 

 

The Red Grouse (lagopus lagopus scoticus) is the only species of bird unique to Great Britain, and it feeds almost exclusively on heather shoots so is limited to moorland areas.  It is therefore a very important and iconic British bird, and much prized as arguably the most exciting shooting quarry found anywhere in the world. .

Sportsmen come from many other countries each year to shoot grouse and it is a significant “export” for the Highlands. In 2000, 28% of grouse shooting in Scotland was done by people from the USA and other places abroad.

 

 

Europe

 

Moorland is an important breeding or feeding habitat for 57 bird species, of which eight occur in internationally important numbers in the UK and 12 are listed in Annex 1 of the EC Birds Directive 1979 

 

The traditional style of moorland management practised on Scottish moorlands has been endorsed in a Declaration (February 2008) by the “Sustainable Development and Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity and Countryside Activities” Intergroups in the European Parliament .

 

Moorland is recognised at European Union level as an important habitat, and it is covered by two UK Habitat Action Plans – Upland Heathlands and Blanket bogs, and to some extent Acid Grasslands.  The key species to be protected are:

 

 

Wildlife and Biodiversity
Priority Species in the UKBAP

 

UPLAND HEATHLAND (UK Biodiversity Group, 1999)

Group	Latin name	English Name
Amphibians	Bufo calamita	Natterjack Toad
Amphibians	Triturus cristatus	Great Crested Newt
Ants	Formica lugubris	Hairy wood ant
Beetles	Hydrochus nitidicollis	a Beetle
Birds	Alauda arvensis	Skylark
Birds	Tetrao tetrix	Black Grouse
Flies	Tipula serrulifera	a Cranefly
Lichens	Bryoria smithii	a Lichen
Lichens	Cladonia botrytes	Stump Lichen
Lichens	Cladonia peziziformis	a Lichen
Liverworts	Adelanthus lindenbergianus	Lindenberg`s Featherwort
Liverworts	Herbertus borealis	Northern Prongwort
Liverworts	Marsupella stableri	Stabler`s rustwort
Moths	Noctua orbona	Lunar Yellow Underwing
Moths	Paradiarsia sobrina	Cousin German
Moths	Phyllodesma ilicifolia	Small Lappet
Moths	Rheumaptera hastata	Argent and sable
Moths	Semiothisa carbonaria	Netted Mountain Moth
Moths	Xestia alpicola alpina	Northern Dart
Moths	Xestia ashworthii	Ashworth`s Rustic
Moths	Xylena exsoleta	Sword-Grass
Vascular plants	Hieracium Sect Alpestria
Vascular plants	Juniperus communis	Juniper

BLANKET BOG (UK Biodiversity Group, 1999)

Group	Latin Name	English Name
Amphibians	Bufo calamita	Natterjack Toad
Amphibians	Triturus cristatus	Great Crested Newt
Mosses	Sphagnum balticum	Baltic Bog-Moss
Moths	Hemaris tityus	Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
Moths	Rheumaptera hastate	Argent and sable
Vascular plants	Lycopodiella inundata	Marsh Clubmoss
Vascular plants	Saxifraga hirculus	Yellow Marsh Saxifrage
Vascular plants	Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Irish Lady`s-tresses

ACID GRASSLAND upland associated species (UK Biodiversity Group, 1999)

Group	Latin Name	English Name
Amphibians	Triturus cristatus	Great Crested Newt
Ants	Formica exsecta	Narrow-headed Ant
Birds	Alauda arvensis	Skylark
Butterflies	Argynnis adippe	High Brown Fritillary
Butterflies	Aricia artaxerxes	Northern Brown Argus
Butterflies	Boloria euphrosyne	Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Butterflies	Maculinea arion	Large Blue Butterfly
Moths	Xylena exsoleta	Sword-Grass
Vascular plants	Hieracium Sect Alpestria

 

Further information please see ' Biodiversity Scotland '

 

 

Great Britain and Ireland 

 

As well as Scotland, there are large areas of moorland in England, Wales and Ireland.

 

Information on managed moorlands in England can be found at the Moorland Association.

 

 

 

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