The conservation of Scottish Machair: a new approach addressing multiplethreats simultaneously, in partnership with crofters

摘要

Scottish machair is a unique cultural, agricultural andconservation resource that is dependent on activemanagement by crofters and farmers operating lowintensity livestock systems. Socioeconomic changesthreaten its future, and so that of the associatedecological community including species of highconservation priority. The Scottish Rural DevelopmentProgramme (SRDP) includes measures for machair butextensive consultations identified significant gaps andshortfalls in this mechanism for securing machairconservation. Direct input of new finance is needed to:assist and facilitate positive crofting management;promote best practice; and develop future agri-environment programmes that secure beneficialmachair agricultural management in the longer term.