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Mapping the Ecosystem Services of Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs - Workshop

5th September 2017

There are still a couple of places remaining for the ‘Mapping the Ecosystem Services of Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs' participatory workshop at the Pulteney Centre in Wick on Thursday 7th September.

The event is free to attend and lunch will be provided.

Contact to book
Frances Boynton
Moray Firth Partnership, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, INVERNESS, Scotland. IV3 8NW
Tel: 01349 865333 / 01463 725027 Email: info@morayfirth-partnership.org Website www.morayfirth-partnership.org

Mapping the Ecosystem Services of Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs
University of Aberdeen Workshop
Thursday 7th September, 10.00 - 15.15
Pulteney Centre, Huddart Street, Wick, KW1 5BA


Workshop Aim:
To explore, discuss and map the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity and seascape within the Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs Marine Protected Areas / Special Protection Areas and understand how these services support a range of social, economic and ecological activities and benefits.

East Caithness Cliffs Special Protection Area (SPA) is of special nature conservation and scientific importance within Britain and the European Community for supporting very large populations of breeding seabirds. It includes most of the sea-cliff areas between Wick and Helmsdale on the north-east coast of the Scottish mainland.

The East Caithness Cliffs Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA) is designated to protected black guillemots and their near shore feeding grounds. The MPA extends 2 km out to sea and stretches up the east coast from Helmsdale to Wick.

The Noss Head Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA) is designated to protect Scotland's largest known horse mussel bed. The MPA covers around 8 km2 off the coast at Wick. Horse mussel beds are an important habitat providing food and shelter for young fish and crabs and a solid foundation on which soft corals, sea firs and tube worms can anchor.

Workshop Objectives:
a) Explore the distribution of existing and future activities within the designation areas relating to conservation; maritime industry; recreation and tourism in order to understand the multiple uses of the area and the adequacy of existing data to support local planning and management;

b) Identify and map the multiple benefits that communities and industries obtain from activities in the designated areas; how these activities are spatially distributed; and how they link to natural features and support wellbeing.

c) Discuss and deliberate how services and benefits are provided by protected sites, habitats and features within the Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs area.

d) Identify potential indicators and data sources for managing and maximising the services within the Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs MPA / SPA.

Workshop structure:

0945 Arrival and coffee

1000 Introduction to the workshop; Introduction to area

What are ecosystem services and why are they important?

1030 Exercise 1 – Activities Mapping & Discussion

1130 Exercise 2: Identifying and mapping the benefits from the designated areas

1230 Lunch

1315 The matrix approach to ecosystem services – an introduction

1330 Exercise 3: Exploring the services from specific features in Noss Head and East Caithness Cliffs using the ES matrix, identification of indicators and data.

1430 Open discussion
Are Ecosystem services a useful concept for planning and policy in a local context?
What are the challenges for maximising the benefits we get from nature?

1515 Close