Investigating wader breeding productivity in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership Area using collaborative methods

Breeding wader populations have declined significantly in recent decades in the UK. During this time, areas of moorland managed for grouse shooting and adjacent areas of rough pasture have been identified as persisting strongholds. A contributory cause to wader population declines is afforestation, and in the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) there is likely to be significant woodland expansion (with associated conservation gains for woodland biodiversity) in areas currently holding breeding waders. Land management planning in the CNP requires a balance between these and other competing objectives.