Strathspey Wetland & Wader Initiative
Wetland habitats in the Cairngorms National Park have dramatically reduced due to drainage and river-bank engineering as a result of past land management practices.
Wetlands bring many benefits to people and society and provide a high quality wildlife habitat. They are a means to hold back or slow water during storms and snow melt to help reduce the impact of flooding on downstream communities. Wetlands also help buffer against pollution and purify water so it is important we do all we can to protect and increase these habitats.
The Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Initiative (SWWI) was set up to work with farmers and other landowners to safeguard wetland habitats and the future of the nationally important wader population in Badenoch and Strathspey - the largest of its kind in mainland Britain.
Surveys have shown that the wader population has suffered serious declines in recent times, the reasons for which are not fully known. It has been shown that if wading birds have plenty of good habitat available to them, they are less vulnerable to threats. Increasing and enhancing vital wetland habitats is a key part of the project and SWWI is working with farmers to secure funding to help them do this, particularly through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
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