Species Guidance
Protected Species
Some species require specific actions to help maintain or restore their populations. NatureScot’s Standing Guidance for protected species can be found here.
Pollinators
Web resource setting out guidance on action for pollinator conservation, presented by sector. The content is designed for Ireland, but has broad applicability for Scotland.
Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)
INNS are one of the biggest pressures affecting the condition of designated sites, which form key nodes in Nature Networks. Improving habitat connectivity has the potential to facilitate the spread of INNS, and in some situations increasing barriers to INNS spread (i.e. reducing connectivity) can be used as a conservation measure for some threatened species. Therefore, consideration should be given to controlling populations of INNS before or during work to create new habitat connections. Monitoring may also be required to note the spread of INNS before they become established along corridors or in new sites.
Conversely increasing connectivity through enhancing the habitat matrix has been suggested as a means of reducing the risk of invasive species by enhancing the resilience of native communities.
Where possible, sites which are heavily affected by INNS should not be connected to the Nature Network until treatment has occurred, although this may not always be possible due to financial or other constraints. Sites which are otherwise good for biodiversity should not be excluded from a Nature Network solely due to the presence of INNS.
NatureScot advice and guidance on INNS can be useful in identifying and controlling INNS.
The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) is an 8-year partnership project set up to tackle invasive non-native species alongside rivers and watercourses in Northern Scotland.
Further information on INNS in Nature Networks has been published by Natural England (2014).
