Update being provided on bid to save one of the UK's rarest species
An update on a big money project to try and save one of the UK's most threatened species will be provided to Cairngorms National Park Authority board members tomorrow.
CNPA chief executive Grant Moir has told members in his report to go before the virtual meeting that the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project is on track.
He reveals that consultations are on-going with the Carrbridge community over path plans to help to protect caper which is the world's largest grouse.
Mr Moir states: "The latest project highlight report shows that progress across all of the project’s approved purposes is on track.
"The visitor survey currently running in Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and Abernethy aims to establish the motivations of different types of visitors and identify ways they can help play a part in capercaillie conservation."
The findings will be shared publicly and used to inform the action planning process.
The first stage of research in Deeside is now complete.
Thirty interviews have been conducted with key stakeholders including landowners and land managers, businesses related to tourism and recreation, and representatives from community and interest groups.
The survey for businesses is now closed. A total of 131 businesses completed the survey – 110 had not engaged with the project before and 27 agreed to follow-up interviews.
Mr Moir continues: "All related landowners, neighbours and the Carrbridge and Vicinity Community Council are being asked to comment on draft design concepts to improve paths and outdoor spaces around Carrbridge drawn up following the community consultation in May.
"Amended and agreed proposals will then form a further round of community consultation.
"The trial signage around Carrbridge encouraging responsible dog walking in capercaillie areas has been taken down at the end of the sensitive time for capercaillie.
"An end of season report will be produced about the signs and made available on the project website. More information in the latest
Carrbridge Capercaillie newsletter.
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"The trial signage encouraging responsible mountain bike riding in capercaillie areas on High Burnside and Badaguish is also being removed and an end of season report produced.
Douglas Carchrie has joined the project team as the Mountain Bike Mapping Intern responsible for mapping mountain bike trails and signage alongside capercaillie data to enable the MTB community to make more informed decisions about trail development, signage and promotion.
"There is a project Facebook page to enable the project to be more active online and extend its reach."
There have been concerns from some residents in Carrbridge that the capercallie project has been imposed on the village and they fear that popular paths could become out of bounds during the breeding season for caper.
Carrbridge residents asked to have their say on path improvements
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