Water and Wetlands
The freshwater features of North East Scotland sustain a rich variety of habitats and species, many of which are distinctive in international terms. Rivers, such as the Spey, Dee and Don and their associated wildlife provide a wide range of benefits to society, and contribute greatly to the landscape character of the area. North East lochs are important both ecologically and in terms of their landscape and amenity value and local wetlands include various habitats, such as fens, carrs, marshes and reedbeds.
North East Scotland holds 19% of Scotland’s Lowland Raised Bog, although much has been lost, with all sites having been damaged to some degree due to peat cutting, agricultural reclaim or afforestation. Upland heathland is one of the most extensive habitat types in the west and south of the area, whereas lowland heathland survives in small pockets along the coasts of Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, of which there are three in the Aberdeen area. The Water and Wetlands group will have a chance to look at the measures in place for protecting these areas as well as having the opporunity to undertake a project to help with this work.