a) The overall strategy
The government’s strategy for red squirrel conservation is described by the Red Squirrel Action Plan 2006-11. The work to select strongholds follows directly from recommendations made in that plan.
Government, non-governmental organisations, private landowners and voluntary sector initiatives are working together to conserve red squirrels in Scotland. Three parallel and complementary approaches are being pursued:
- i.) Improving woods for red squirrels
- ii.) Minimising the threat from grey squirrels
- iii.) Research/monitoring.
Each of these approaches will be targeted to the areas where they can make the most difference.
i) Improving woods for red squirrels
What? Measures to improve the habitat for red squirrels while not increasing its attractiveness to grey squirrels.
How? The Scotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) will provide grant support, and the measures will also be implemented on the National Forest Estate. Guidance on managing woodlands for red squirrels will be produced in due course.
Where? Promoted in strongholds. Elsewhere, prioritised taking account of advice and information on the potential of woods for red squirrels. More effort will be focussed on large forest areas containing 2000 hectares or more of conifer woodland, as red squirrel populations there are likely to be more robust, and more able to withstand any colonisation from grey squirrels, than those in smaller forests. The list of Priority Woods previously identified by Poulsom et al in 2005 gives a good idea of the kind of woods where effort should be focussed.
ii) Minimising the threat from grey squirrels
What? Targeted grey squirrel control to support the long-term retention of red squirrels in Scotland.
How? The SRDP will provide grant support and control will be carried out on the national forest estate and by publicly-funded grey squirrel control officers.
Where? Locations will be described in Scottish Natural Heritage's forthcoming Grey Squirrel Control Strategy (see also maps 3a and 3b in Section 2.Why do we need to conserve red squirrels?). These are locations where control will: prevent further spread of the squirrelpox virus; contain natural dispersal; and protect strongholds.
iii) Research and monitoring
This aspect of the work is not covered by this document, but includes:
- Research into alternative methods of controlling grey squirrels (immunocontraception)
- Research into a vaccine against squirrelpox
- Monitoring of red and grey squirrel populations and distribution
- Monitoring of the effectiveness of grey squirrel control.
b) The function of strongholds within the strategy
Strongholds have two separate but complementary functions as part of the wider strategy:
- They will be priority sites for habitat improvement to support red squirrels, as part of a wider drive to improve habitats for red squirrels across Scotland.
- They will be the priority sites to be protected against grey squirrel incursion if wider control efforts do not prevent grey squirrels from extending their distribution.
Over the long term, strongholds will therefore act as hotspots for red squirrels and, under the scenario of grey squirrel spread, will also act as refuges for red squirrels.
- Continue to 4. Will strongholds work?
