Site description:
The Caithness & Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA) contains a large proportion of the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands which form the largest and most intact area of blanket bog in Britain. Blanket bog is rare in world terms and Britain has a significant proportion of the total world resource. These peatlands, and the surrounding moorland and open water, are of international importance for conservation because they support a diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds.

The boundary of the SPA generally follows those of 39 peatland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Caithness and Sutherland: A’Mhoine, Bad na Gallaig, Badanloch Bogs, Ben Griams (Ben Griam Beag excluded), Ben Hutig (coastline excluded), Ben Loyal, Blar nam Faoileag, Cnoc an Alaskie, Coir’ an Eoin, Coire na Beinne Mires, Druim na Coibe, Druim nam Bad, Dunbeath Peatlands, East Halladale, Forsinard Bogs, Grudie Peatlands, Knockfin Heights, Loch Caluim Flows, Loch Meadie Peatlands, Lochan Buidhe Mires, Lon a’ Chuil, Mallart, Moss of Killimster, Oliclett, Rumsdale Peatlands, Shielton Peatlands, Skelpick Peatlands, Skinsdale Peatlands, Sletill Peatlands, Strath an Loin, Strath Duchally, Strathmore Peatlands, Strathy Bogs, Stroupster Peatlands, Syre Peatlands, Truderscaig, West Borgie, West Halladale, West Strathnaver.

Qualifying interest:
The SPA qualifies under Article 4.1 by supporting nationally important populations of eight Annex I species identified by the EC as being of special priority for conservation: red-throated diver (89 pairs, 10% of GB breeding population), black-throated diver (26 pairs, 15% of GB), hen harrier (14 pairs, 2% of GB), golden eagle (5 pairs, 1% of GB), merlin (54 pairs, 4% of GB), golden plover (1064 pairs, 5% of GB), wood sandpiper (1-5 pairs, 10-40% of GB), and short-eared owl (30 pairs, 2% of GB).

The SPA also qualifies under Article 4.2 by supporting an internationally important population of dunlin (1,860 pairs, 20% of GB and 18% of temperate schinzii race).

Non-qualifying interest:
The internationally important assemblage of peatland breeding birds also includes an internationally important breeding population of North Scottish greylag geese and nationally important breeding populations of wigeon, teal, common scoter, curlew, greenshank and arctic skua; and sporadic breeding attempts by scaup.

Area: 145,517 ha
Central grid reference: NC 9043
Central Latitude & Longitude: 58°20’N, 4° W
OS 1:50,000 sheets - 7,9,10,11,12,15,16,17

RAMSAR CITATION (Montreux criteria, 1990)

THE CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND PEATLANDS,
HIGHLAND (UK9001151)

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Especially as Waterfowl Habitat

The Caithness & Sutherland Peatlands potential Ramsar site contains a large proportion of the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands which form the largest and most intact blanket bog in Scotland. Blanket bog is rare in world terms and Britain has a significant proportion of the total world resource. These peatlands, and the surrounding moorland and open water, are of international importance for conservation because they support a diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds.

The boundary of the potential Ramsar site generally follows those of 39 peatland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Caithness and Sutherland: A’Mhoine, Bad na Gallaig, Badanloch Bogs, Ben Griams (Ben Griam Beag and Ben Griam Mor excluded), Ben Hutig (seacliffs excluded), Ben Loyal (montane area excluded), Blar nam Faoileag, Cnoc an Alaskie, Coir’ an Eoin, Coire na Beinne Mires, Druim na Coibe, Druim nam Bad, Dunbeath Peatlands, East Halladale, Forsinard Bogs, Grudie Peatlands, Knockfin Heights, Loch Caluim Flows, Loch Meadie Peatlands, Lochan Buidhe Mires, Lon a’ Chuil, Mallart, Moss of Killimster, Oliclett, Rumsdale Peatlands, Shielton Peatlands, Skelpick Peatlands, Skinsdale Peatlands, Sletill Peatlands, Strath an Loin, Strath Duchally, Strathmore Peatlands, Strathy Bogs, Stroupster Peatlands, Syre Peatlands, Truderscaig, West Borgie, West Halladale, West Strathnaver

The potential Ramsar site qualifies under Criterion 1b by supporting one of the largest and most intact known areas of blanket bog in the world. It encompasses an exceptionally wide range of vegetation and surface pattern types, some of which are unknown elsewhere. The range of mire types varies from those of the Caithness plain in the east, with their continental affinities, through to those of the much more oceanic west and includes both upland and lowland areas. Extensive areas of active blanket bog, where bog moss Sphagnum and other bog species ensure continuing peat accumulation, occur in intimate association with a range of open water, wet heath, grassland and fen communities. This provides the diversity of habitats necessary to support a wide range of wetland and moorland species.

The potential Ramsar site qualifies under Criterion 2a by supporting a number of rare species of wetland plants and animals. Three nationally rare moss species, Dicranum bergeri (D. undulatum), Sphagnum lindbergii and S. majus, and 4 nationally scarce moss species and sub-species can be found here. The site also supports five nationally scarce higher aquatic plants including the tiny bog orchid Hammarbya paludosa. The insect fauna includes the nationally rare water beetle Oreodytes alpinus and several nationally scarce species including the azure hawker dragonfly Aeshna caerulea. The larger burns and rivers provide habitat for the rare and endangered freshwater pearl mussel and spawning grounds for the Atlantic salmon. There is a diverse population of breeding waterfowl including nationally important populations of red-throated diver, black-throated diver, wigeon, teal, scaup, common scoter, golden plover, wood sandpiper and greenshank. Mammals of importance include the otter.

The Caithness & Sutherland Peatlands proposed Ramsar site qualifies under Criterion 3c by supporting internationally important breeding populations of North Scottish greylag goose (30 pairs, 5% of total world population) and dunlin (1860 pairs, 18% of temperate schinzii population).