Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment will outline the Scottish Government’s priorities for the future management of biodiversity in the uplands at a meeting in Perth today (Tuesday 24th November).

Organised by Aberdeen’s Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the event will focus on understanding the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems and in particular, the effects on practical land management.

As the changing climate is impacting on vegetation, soil and water in natural and semi-natural habitats in the uplands, the consequences for biodiversity are jumping to the top of the research agenda. With 2010 designated as International Year of Biodiversity (IYB), risks from the loss of biodiversity are increasing in profile and the event has attracted a wide range of delegates from environmental institutions across the UK including Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England, RSPB and the Forestry Commission.

Among those speaking at the conference are Simon Blackett, factor, Invercauld estate, Shaila Rao, National Trust for Scotland Ecologist and Andrew Coupar, peatland specialist with Scottish Natural Heritage.

Dr Rachel Helliwell, a senior researcher at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute who organised the workshop said, “This event not only provides an opportunity for us to share our research with a wide range of stakeholders but for land managers actually working in upland areas to share with us their experiences of changes in biodiversity on the ground.”

“We are hoping to achieve a focussed discussion on land and water resource policy and management for enhancing biodiversity in upland ecosystems in order to ensure that these important habitats are protected for future generations.”

The workshop will also provide an opportunity for discussion on the current major environmental issues in upland areas, the pressures these areas will face in the future and the future management of climate change impacts on biodiversity from a multiple land use perspective.

ENDS