FGS Climatic Site Suitability - Native Upland Birch (W4)

Woodland Creation forms part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014 - 2020. The SRDP delivers Pillar 2 of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Utilising some £1,326m of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funding, plus Scottish Government match funding, it funds economic, environmental and social measures for the benefit of rural Scotland. The SRDP is co-funded by the European Commission and the Scottish Government and reflects the 6 EU Rural Development Priorities. The programme also reflects the Scottish Government National Policy Framework (NPF).

The aim of the Forestry Grant Scheme woodland creation category is to support the creation of new woodlands that will provide a range of economic, environmental and social benefits which include:
- delivery of the Scottish Government target to extend woodland cover by an additional 100,000 hectares over the period of 2012-2022
- climate change mitigation by tackling greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration
- restoration of lost habitats through developing forest habitat networks
- underpinning a sustainable forest industry by providing a reliable timber supply
- protecting the soil and water environment
- providing community benefits through public access
- enhancing urban areas and improving landscapes
- supporting rural development through local businesses and farm diversification

A fundamental consideration when creating new woodland is whether or not the tree species is appropriate to the site. You should carry out an appropriate site based assessment of soil and vegetation to match species choice with the particular site. Forestry Research 'Ecological Site Classification' (ESC) decision support system helps guide forest managers and planners to select ecologically suited species to sites. ESC considers: windiness; temperature; moisture; continentality; soil moisture and soil nutrients. This helps to determine suitability of the chosen species to the site and identifies it as: poor; marginal; suitable or very suitable.

In order to be considered for SRDP grant support the overall suitability for your chosen species must be either 'very suitable' or 'suitable'.

As an initial first step in determining suitability, the polygons in this dataset represent the climatic suitability of the chosen tree species to the site. Climatic suitability, based on ESC uses the following climatic site factors:
- Accumulated temperature
- Moisture deficit
- Exposure (Detailed Aspect Method Scoring [DAMS])
- Continentality

NOTE: This datasets does NOT take into account any soils information.

Any application that is identified on the map as being either 'unsuitable' or 'marginal' may still be considered - but only if you clearly demonstrate that the site is 'suitable' for the chosen species of tree (for example where there is localised shelter in an otherwise exposed location).

The woodland creation category has nine options and the associated aims are:

- 'Conifer'
To create conifer woodlands on land that is suitable for timber production and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads). This option is principally aimed at planting Sitka spruce.

- 'Diverse Conifer'
To create conifer woodlands on land that is suitable for timber production and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads). This option is aimed at planting conifer species other than Sitka spruce.

- 'Broadleaves'
To create broadleaved woodlands on land that is suitable for sawn and prime timber and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads).

- 'Native Scots Pine'
To create or expand native pinewood priority habitat (NVC) W18

- 'Native Upland Birch'
The creation of native upland birch woodland of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) W4: Downy Birch with Purple Moor Grass on shallow peaty soils.

- 'Native Broadleaves'
To create native broadleaved priority woodland habitats of the following National Vegetation Classification (NVC) types:
W6 Alder with Stinging Nettle
W7 Alder-Ash with Yellow Pimpernel
W8 Ash, Field maple with Stinging Nettle
W9 Ash, Rowan with Dogs Mercury
W10 Oak (penduculate) with Bluebell Hyacinth
W11 Oak (sessile), Downy Birch with Bluebell/wild Hyacinth
W16 Oak, Birch
W17 Oak (sessile), Downy Birch with Bilberry/Blaeberry

- 'Native Low Density Broadleaves'
To create specific native woodland or scrub habitats; including areas of ecotones for black grouse, treeline woodlands, juniper and other forms of scrub woodland and wood pasture systems. Normally associated with other woodland habitats in a transitional situation (eg. transition onto open hill: Black Grouse; Montane Scrub).

- 'Small or Farm Woodland'
To create small scale mixed broadleaved and conifer woodlands on farms and other rural land.

- 'Native Broadleaves in Northern & Western Isles'
To create native woodlands that contributes to the Orkney, Shetland or Western Isles woodland strategies.

DATASET ATTRIBUTES:
- Suitability - ie. 'Very Suitable', 'Suitable', 'Marginal', 'Unsuitable' or 'Inland Water'

苏格兰乡村发展计划（SRDP）2014-2020中的林地创建项目是欧盟共同农业政策（CAP）第二支柱的一部分。该计划通过利用约13.26亿欧元的欧洲农业基金（EAFRD）资金，加上苏格兰政府的配套资金，为苏格兰乡村的经济、环境和社区福利提供资金支持。SRDP由欧盟委员会和苏格兰政府共同资助，反映了欧盟六个乡村发展优先事项，并体现了苏格兰政府国家政策框架（NPF）。该计划旨在支持创建新的林地，以提供包括以下在内的多种经济、环境和社区效益：
- 实现苏格兰政府到2022年将林地覆盖率增加10万公顷的目标
- 通过碳汇来应对气候变化，减少温室气体排放
- 通过发展森林生境网络来恢复已丧失的生境
- 通过提供可靠的木材供应来支撑可持续的林业产业
- 保护土壤和水环境
- 通过公众通道提供社区福利
- 提升城市区域并改善景观
- 通过地方商业和农场多元化来支持乡村发展

在创建新林地时，一个基本考虑因素是树木种类是否适合该地点。应对土壤和植被进行适当的现场评估，以将物种选择与特定地点相匹配。林业研究‘生态生境分类’（ESC）决策支持系统帮助森林经理和规划者选择对生境生态适宜的树种。ESC考虑了风力、温度、湿度、大陆性、土壤湿度和土壤养分等因素，以确定所选树种对地点的适宜性，并将其划分为：不适宜、边缘适宜、适宜或非常适宜。为了有资格获得SRDP资助，所选物种的整体适宜性必须是‘非常适宜’或‘适宜’。

本数据集中的多边形代表所选树种对地点的气候适宜性。基于ESC的气候适宜性考虑以下气候生境因素：
- 累积温度
- 湿度亏缺
- 暴露（详细方位评分法 [DAMS]）
- 大陆性

注意：本数据集不考虑任何土壤信息。

在地图上被标记为‘不适宜’或‘边缘适宜’的任何申请仍可考虑，但前提是必须明确证明该地点对所选树种是‘适宜’的（例如，在原本暴露的地点存在局部遮蔽）。

林地创建类别有九种选择，相关的目标是：
- ‘针叶林’
在适宜木材生产和木材运输（包括通往适宜公共道路的连接）的土地上创建针叶林，此选项主要针对种植西雅图云杉。

- ‘多元针叶林’
在适宜木材生产和木材运输（包括通往适宜公共道路的连接）的土地上创建针叶林，此选项旨在种植除西雅图云杉以外的针叶树种。

- ‘阔叶林’
在适宜锯材和优质木材生产和木材运输（包括通往适宜公共道路的连接）的土地上创建阔叶林。

- ‘本土苏格兰松’
创建或扩大本土松林优先生境（NVC）W18。

- ‘本土高山桦’
创建国家植被分类（NVC）W4：浅沼泽土壤上的毛桦和紫茅草的本土高山桦林地。

- ‘本土阔叶林’
创建以下国家植被分类（NVC）类型的本土阔叶林优先生境：
W6 桦树与荨麻
W7 桦树-山毛榉与金盏草
W8 山毛榉、田野 Maple 与荨麻
W9 山毛榉、山楂与水银树
W10 橡树（悬铃木）与蓝铃花
W11 橡树（ sessile）、毛桦与蓝铃花/野风铃草
W16 橡树、桦树
W17 橡树（ sessile）、毛桦与越橘/悬钩子

- ‘本土低密度阔叶林’
创建特定的本土林地或灌木生境，包括黑松鸡生态过渡区、林线林地、杜鹃和其它灌木林地以及林草原生态系统。通常与其它林地生境在过渡状态下相关联（例如，向开阔山地的过渡：黑松鸡；山地灌木丛）。

- ‘小型或农场林地’
在农场和其他乡村土地上创建小型混合针叶和阔叶林地。

- ‘北部和西部岛屿的本土阔叶林’
创建对奥克尼、设得兰或西部岛屿林地战略做出贡献的本土林地。

数据集属性：
- 适宜性，即‘非常适宜’、‘适宜’、‘边缘适宜’、‘不适宜’或‘内陆水域’