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LOCH SUNART WOODLANDS |
(site map at base of page) |
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Total site surface area (ha)
: 3161 Status
: Candidate Special Area of Conservation Other protection status :
The site incorporates a number of Sites of Special Scientific
Interest: Ben Hiant & Ardnamurchan Coast, Salen to Woodend, Ariundle,
Laudale Wood, Glencripesdale, Rahoy Woodlands, Poll Luachrain &
Druimbuidhe Scientific description of site
: The woodlands
surrounding Loch Sunart form one of the most intact assemblages of
ancient, native broadleaved woodland in Britain.
The main tree species are oak (Quercus
petraea - and some Q. robur),
ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and
birch (Betula pubescens), with
hazel (Corylus avellana) and
rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) in
the understorey. Differences in altitude, aspect and geology are
reflected in the dominance of different species both in the tree canopy
and ground flora. The latter is grassy, or heath on more acid sites,
with bryophyte carpets on boulder scree and open glades with bracken.
On the more base-rich sites the ground flora includes species
such as dog’s mercury (Mercurialis
perennis), enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea
intermedia) and sanicle (Sanicula
europaea). Nineteen species of fern have been recorded including the
atlantic fern species Dryopteris
aemula and Hymenophyllum
wilsonii. There is a
range of increasing oceanicity within the complex from east to west and,
in places, there are uninterrupted transitions from shore, through
saltmarsh and Iris beds, to woodland. The
woodland lichen and bryophyte communities are internationally important
and include many rare species. All
four Lobaria species of lichen
are present. The sites
support a good diversity of invertebrates, including the chequered
skipper butterfly (Carterocephalus
palaemon) and several rare craneflies and hoverflies.
The woodlands are used extensively by resident otters (Lutra lutra) - an Annex II species for which the site is separately
designated - as well as by pine martens and wildcats. Typical breeding bird fauna includes the wood warbler (Phylloscopus
sibilatrix) and redstart (Phoenicurus
phoenicurus). A key site at a regional, national and EU level for Atlantic Oakwood habitat. Threats: Threat 1:
Lack of management planning and background information Some areas of the pSCI
do not as yet have appropriate management plans which cover the
conservation interest of the site.
It is vital that works undertaken within the project are
understood in the context of long term conservation management and set
within a formal management plan. Lack
of data on conservation features and new constraints to management need
to be considered and addressed. As
habitat management progresses towards favourable condition, management
needs to become more refined and consider more levels of information. Impact on habitat Rhododendron Rhododendron
ponticum is an exotic ornamental evergreen shrub which has become
established in Loch Sunart Woodlands. The plant spreads by seed and
subsequently by vegetative layering and will coppice from cut stumps.
Once established it can spread rapidly forming a dense canopy in
the understorey shading out native shrubs, groundflora and tree
regeneration. Substantial
work has already been undertaken in this regard but some areas still
require to be treated. Impact on habitat Overgrazing by red deer
Cervus elaphus, remains a
threat in some areas of Loch Sunart Woodlands. High deer numbers reduce
understorey development, prevent regeneration and reduce the diversity
of native tree populations. It
can also have a detrimental effect on the groundflora communities and
damage existing trees through bark stripping and damage. Native deer
species are however a natural component of woodlands and at low levels
(4-6 deer/100ha), deer browsing can play a part in habitat
diversification and maintenance. Location There remains a legacy
of previous forest policies which encouraged conifer plantations within
native woodland sites throughout the UK.
This ‘enrichment’ planting created dense plantations which
displace native trees, shade out native flora, alter soil conditions and
restrict woodland expansion. Conifer underplanting or planting on native
woodland sites contributes to the loss and fragmentation of woodland
habitat. Pockets of remnant
native trees and groundflora often exist which could contribute to the
regeneration of woodland habitat but such remnants may degrade the
longer the conifers remain. Impact Threat 16:
Lack of widespread technical understanding and support Positive management for
woodland habitat conservation is relatively recent in the UK and has
concentrated in a few areas of the country and certain habitats. In
general, there remains a lack of formal technical understanding of
management practices and their impact on favourable condition in
differing contexts. Rhododendron
clearance remains a major threat and warrants trials of novel
eradication techniques. The
Atlantic oakwoods habitat is also threatened by a general lack of
structural diversity following centuries of grazing.
It is widely recognised that the nature conservation interest of
the oakwood habitat today is the product of over 3 centuries of
management for timber, charcoal, tanbark and grazing.
There is significant local community interest in the potential
for the re-establishment of traditional management practices, primarily
to meet the conservation objectives for the site, but also to produce a
utilisable by-product for local use. This would demonstrate the local benefits of the Natura 2000
network and increase the involvement and sense of ownership and
commitment of those who own land within the designated site. The impact
of different silvicultural techniques on favourable condition therefore
need to be assessed. Location Impact on habitat Threat 17:
Lack of public awareness Loch Sunart is one of
the most important areas of Atlantic oakwood habitat in Europe.
A great deal of work has been undertaken in its restoration and
this work is continuing. This
habitat restoration under the Caledonian Partnership LIFE-Nature Project
‘The Restoration of Atlantic Oakwoods’
(B4-3200/97/234) has attracted great local community support and
wider public interest but there is little in the way of effective
interpretation of the habitat, its management history & archaeology
and its restoration activities. A
strategic education and interpretation plan has been prepared as part of
the above LIFE-Nature project and requires implementation by an
interpretation officer and integration with other interpretative
facilities being developed adjacent to the site on publicly owner land.
Through this post there is also an important opportunity to
involve local community private sector landowners in the implementation
of the overall interpretative strategy.
Location
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