Scottish Natural Heritage Highlights Funding Opportunities For Land Managers

1st April 2007

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is calling on land managers throughout Scotland to ensure that they are not missing out on potential income opportunities from land designated as a nature conservation sites. Under SNH's Natural Care programme land managers can earn extra financial support by signing up to agreements to ensure these important sites will be maintained in the best condition possible.

SNH is one of the lead bodies in promoting funded agreements with land managers
to help achieve the Scottish Executive target of achieving 80% of the special features on Scotland's nationally important nature sites in favourable condition by March 2008. The organisation is now encouraging land managers of sites to apply for support from SNH's Natural Care programme of management schemes.

Currently SNH calculates around 75% of features in Scotland's Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are being maintained in good condition, often thanks to the good management practice of owners being supported financially by SNH under Natural Care. Jeff Watson, SNH director responsible for the site condition monitoring programme, said: "Around 25% of Scotland's designated sites are in need of some further active management to bring them up to the required standard.

"We are very keen to hear from any land managers who have a designated site on their land but have no management scheme in place. Working together we can help set the conservation aims for their site, identify the management needed to achieve these aims, and provide the financial support required to make this affordable for land managers."

Land managers are encouraged to ensure they are not missing on Natural Care opportunities and potential income by contacting an SNH office - or by visiting SNH's website at http://www.snh.org.uk/naturalcare