Helping Protect
Fife's Wildlife Sites
What are Wildlife Sites?
Wildlife Sites are specific areas of land, of any size, that
have significant local conservation importance. They are non-statutory
and so, unlike Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), have no
direct legal protection.
The Wildlife Sites system is used widely by many local
authorities and is promoted by all of the 47 Wildlife Trusts throughout
Britain as a means of protecting local biodiversity.
What is happening in Scotland?
Initially the Scottish Wildlife Trust set up a specially
funded Scottish Wildlife Action Programme (SWAP) to advance the
Wildlife Sites system throughout the country. Up till now SWAP has been
able to offer expert management advice to owners of Wildlife Sites,
through a team of Wildlife Advisors.
But during the course of this last year the Scottish Wildlife
Action Programme has been merged into the day to day work of the
Scottish Wildlife Trust. In the SWT's East Region the work of
continuing to identify wildlife sites, followed up by surveys and
helping with management advice will be overseen by the Region's Area
Conservation Managers.
The Manager responsible for this work in Fife is Alastair
Whyte.
He can be contacted at the Cumbernauld Centre Units 5/7,Napier Way,
Wardpark North, Cumbernauld, G68 0EH, tel 01236 617115,
In summary, the Wildlife Sites programme works in four ways:
Active survey: To survey new Wildlife Sites through the
employment of contract surveyors, creating a vast network of recognised
Wildlife Sites.
Countryside management: Practical management and monitoring
work on Wildlife Sites will be encouraged, by the SWT working with
their owners.
Working Partnerships: With statutory and non-statutory bodies
to ensure recognition of the value of Wildlife Sites, and to maximise
information exchange, particularly to assist in biodiversity planning
and implementation.
Involving Local People: Through the development and training
of the voluntary Wildlife Site Teams from among Scottish Wildlife Trust
members, to create a sustainable future for the monitoring and
protection of Wildlife Sites.
Why are volunteers needed?
The Wildlife Site Teams covering Scotland are vital to run the
Wildlife Sites system at the local level.
Our aim is to give the Teams the training and confidence they
need to complement their enthusiasm to do the work needed. The Teams
provide invaluable help by calling on their local knowledge to judge
whether all surveyed sites in their area make the Wildlife Site grade.
Additionally, the Teams help by looking after all information
on local sites, making it readily available for local use. By liaising
with Fife Council's Planning Department and Environmental
Recording Network (FERN) with this information, the Teams play an
important role in protecting sites against adverse development.
To see where Wildlife Sites have already been identified in
Fife have a look at the MAP
published by FERN.
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