Framework Agreement for Site Condition Monitoring 2015-18.

Descriptions

In Scotland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom, sites are designated for their nature conservation features (habitats, species or geology) of special interest. For the purposes of this Framework, the site types covered are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), and Ramsar sites, all of which are designated on the basis of notified features of interest (known as natural features). As part of national and UK reporting, SNH undertakes a rolling 6 year programme of Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) to monitor the condition of these features.The purpose of SCM is to determine the condition of the designated natural feature within the site; whether the habitat, species or geological feature on a site is likely to maintain itself in the medium to longer term under the current site management regime and wider influences. The monitoring guidelines upon which SCM is delivered is the JNCC Common Standards Monitoring Guidance (download from www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2199). This provides a common approach to the monitoring of natural features on designated sites across the whole of the United Kingdom.Although there are separate chapters within the Guidance for different habitat and species types, the approach to monitoring each is broadly similar. For each natural feature, a set of ‘attributes', or indicators of a healthy habitat, species population, or intact earth science feature, is provided. Against these attributes, site-specific targets are set, against which the condition of the feature can be judged and fieldwork undertaken to measure the natural feature on the ground. The work which will be let under this Framework will be concerned with the collection of SCM data against the site-specific targets for particular categories of natural feature to allow an assessment to be made of its condition.Habitats:Lowland fens, marsh, raised bog and swampRivers and streamsStanding open waterUpland habitats, including blanket bogWoodlandsSpecies:Breeding birdsInvertebratesNon-vascular plantsVascular plantsEarth Science:Caves.