Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

Table 8.3
Status of woodland priority species in 2005 and in 2008
Source: Biodiversity Action Reporting System
Woodland species 2005 2008
Assessed in either year count % count %
Not a true species
Trend unknown 5 16 4 13
Lost (pre BAP publication)
Lost (since BAP publication) 1 3
Declining (continuing/accelerating) 3 10 5 16
Declining (slowing) 4 13 2 6
Fluctuating - probably declining 1 3
No clear trend 8 26 4 13
Fluctuating - probably stable 1 3 3 10
Stable 8 26 9 29
Fluctuating - probably increasing
Increasing 2 6 2 6
8.4 Wildlife indicators
Scotland’s Biodiversity and Forestry Strategies set out objectives for the protection and
enhancement of priority habitats associated with woodland, and for the conservation of
priority species such as red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris. Attributes of woodland structure
and composition such as the number of canopy layers or types of trees and shrubs are
known to relate closely to species and habitat diversity (S7 – Woodland Diversity
Indicator).
Between 1994 and 2008, 50 of 65 terrestrial breeding bird species in Scotland
increased in abundance, by 31% overall. Woodland birds increased by 64% (S3 –
Abundance of Terrestrial Breeding Birds Indicator).
8.5 Action for biodiversity
The five objectives of Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy (habitats and species; people;
ecosystems and landscapes; integration and coordination; and knowledge) are
implemented through a series of specific actions. Progress with actions delivered
through the Woodland Ecosystems Group by late 2010 is summarised in Table 8.4
(details are provided in Annex 3e). All five specified actions were on target.
56