Ballater experts hear that Capercaillie likely to die out in the Cairngorms within ten years

Capercaillie are in severe decline and, if current trends continue, are likely to have become extinct in the Cairngorms within the next ten years according to one of world’s leading experts on the species.  Dr Robert Moss, who has spent many years researching Capercaillie in Scotland, gave this warning at a well-attended seminar on Recreational Management of the Cairngorms held in Ballater on the 25^th May.   The seminar, organised by the North East Mountain Trust in support of International Year of Mountains, heard from many Cairngorms experts on the problems affecting the area and on potential remedies.

Capercaillie are seen as very sensitive barometer of environmental problems and their current poor numbers and increasing decline appears to be related to a number of issues that threaten wildlife and tourism.  Dr Moss pointed out that current practices such as forestry fencing and setting large numbers of fox snares in woodlands was causing heavy mortality amongst Capercaillie at the same time as the birds were already trying to cope with the effects of a changing climate.  There were, however, a number of ways in which the Capercaillie could be helped and these were largely in the hands of forestry and estate managers who needed to act immediately.  Dr Moss pointed out that forestry fencing was required only because red deer numbers were immensely high and over-grazing prevented natural woodland growth and regeneration. Fences killed many birds which simply fly straight into them.  While some estates are already drastically reducing deer populations this was still a big problem in some areas of the Cairngorms. Forestry managers also need to plan for more open woodland, which allows more ground cover and food plants like blaeberry to grow.  Dr Moss said that even slightly more open forests would assist Capercaillie greatly.

The seminar, part of a whole weekend of events, also heard from a number of other Cairngorms experts from a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints including estate managers, wildlife and conservation specialists, local authority planners, mountaineering group representatives and politicians.  The forthcoming National Park featured heavily in the discussions and a number of agreed conclusions were reached.  These included the view that any future National Park authority had to have both locally elected representatives and those with special expertise in managing the resources of the Cairngorms so that the best options could be identified.  The National Park would also need wider powers over land management, such as forestry, if it ever hoped to provide better protection and development for the area.  There was also a strong view that it was not good enough to simply apply current planning controls to the Cairngorms and that much more targeted controls over management practices would be needed.  The MSP, Mike Rumbles, also called for those with strong interests and views to make themselves heard through their elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament.

The event organiser, Roger Owen, commented that the whole event had been a great success with the combination of talks, walks and entertainment throughout the weekend, culminating in a walk with Cairngorms expert, Adam Watson, who provided a fascinating insight into the wildlife, culture and environmental issues of the Cairngorms.  Dr Owen added that the help and hospitality they had received for this event by enthusiastic local people in Ballater had been key to its success.

Dr Roger Owen
North East Mountain Trust

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