Action Plan Front Page

Biodiversity Index

Nature & Environment Index Page

        Reduce waste

• Buy products that will last as long as possible, with as little packaging as possible.
• Re-use your shopping bags and take a strong bag with you when you go shopping.
• Re-use and recycle things as much as possible.
• Buy recycled and locally sourced products when you can.
• Make sure any wood products you buy have the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) logo.
  
  Reduce pollution
   
• Dispose of hazardous substances wisely.
• Use less chemicals at home and in the garden.
• Use biodegradable cleaning products and washing powder.
• Don’t flush non-biodegradable items down the toilet.
• Report all fly-tipping and pollution incidents to Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
• Make use of the public amenity skips and waste oil banks at Seater Landfill Site.
  
  Use less energy
• Reduce heat loss by insulating your house well.
• Use low-energy light bulbs and turn the TV off when you’re not watching it.
• Buy energy efficient appliances when you renew old ones.
• Try to use your car as little as possible.
  
  Garden for wildlife
   
• Compost all your garden and vegetable waste.
• Buy alternatives to peat based products.
• Plant native species that will provide food and shelter for wildlife all year round.
• Leave a ‘wild bit’ - long grass, nettles and other weeds can be good for butterflies.
• Grow your own vegetables, and buy locally sourced produce.
• Put up nest boxes and bat boxes, and build log or stone piles for insects.
• If you have space, dig a pond.
  
  Get involved
   
• Take part in local environmental projects.
• Find out about your local biodiversity.
• Join the Caithness Countryside Volunteers.
• Join the Caithness Field or Bird Club, and take part in surveys or projects.
• Send all wildlife records to the Highland Biological Recording Group.
• Alert those involved or the relevant body of any activities that are damaging biodiversity.

• Keep biodiversity high on the political agenda by writing to your local Councillor or MP.
  
  Plan Delivery
  
  This plan has been prepared under the auspices of the Highland Biodiversity Project, which is a two-year project led by The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Caithness & Sutherland Enterprise and RSPB Scotland.  Funding is currently being sought for a second phase of the Highland Biodiversity Project, extending beyond January 2004 to focus on the delivery of local biodiversity action plans in Highland. In the meantime, it is envisaged that the partners listed in Annex 1 of this report will work towards the delivery of many of the outputs suggested in the ‘Opportunities for action’ sections.