Editing South Uist (section)

==Wildlife and conservation==
{{See also|Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides}}
[[File:South Uist machair (timniblett).jpg|thumb|Flowering [[Machair (geography)|machair]] on South Uist]]
The west coast of South Uist is home to the most extensive cultivated [[Machair (geography)|machair]] system in Scotland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0012713|title=South Uist Machair SAC|publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> which is protected as protected a both a [[Special Area of Conservation]] and a [[Special Protection Area]] under the [[Natura 2000]] programme.<ref name=SPA>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8578|title=South Uist Machair and Lochs SPA|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=SAC>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8380|title=South Uist Machair SAC|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Over 200 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the reserve, some of which are nationally scarce. South Uist is considered the best place in the UK for the aquatic plant Slender Naiad ''([[Najas flexilis]])'',<ref>[http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1833 JNCC Slender Naiad report] Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> which is a [[European Protected Species]]. Nationally important populations of breeding waders are also present, including [[common redshank|redshank]], [[dunlin]], [[northern lapwing|lapwing]] and [[ringed plover]]. The island is also home to [[greylag goose|greylag geese]] on the lochs, and in summer [[corn crake|corncrake]]s on the machair. [[European otter|Otter]]s and [[hen harrier]]s are also seen.<ref name="SPA"/><ref name="SAC"/>

Loch Druidibeg in the north of the island was formerly (until 2012) a [[national nature reserve (Scotland)|national nature reserve]] owned and managed by [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] (SNH).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B907229.pdf|access-date=20 June 2014|title=Scottish National Heritage| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014131520/http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B907229.pdf| archive-date=2012-10-14}}</ref> The area, which is now protected as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]], covers 1,675&nbsp;hectares of [[Machair (geography)|machair]], [[bog]], freshwater [[loch]]s, [[estuary]], heather moorland and hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/977|title=Loch Druidibeg SSSI|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/large_print/Loch%20Druidibeg.pdf SNH Loch Druidibeg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205902/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/large_print/Loch%20Druidibeg.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> Ownership of the SSSI was transferred from SNH to the local community-owned company Stòras Uibhist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/1478164/loch-druidibeg-handed-over-by-scottish-natural-heritage-to-community-group/|title=Loch Druidibeg handed over by Scottish Natural Heritage to community group|publisher=Press and Journal|date=19 May 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>

An area of the south west coast of the island is designated as the ''South Uist Machair National Scenic Area'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/9150|title=South Uist Machair NSA|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> one of [[national scenic area (Scotland)|40 such areas]] in Scotland which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and ensure its protection from inappropriate development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas/|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> The designated area covers 13,314&nbsp;[[hectares|ha]] in total, of which 6,289&nbsp;ha is on land, with a further 7,025&nbsp;ha being marine (i.e. below [[Mean low water spring|low tide level]]).<ref name=nsa-area>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|title=National Scenic Areas - Maps|publisher=SNH|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140337/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|archive-date=2018-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There has been considerable controversy over [[European hedgehog|hedgehogs]] on South Uist. The animals are not native to the islands, having been introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. It is claimed that they pose a threat to the eggs of ground-nesting wading birds on the island. In 2003 the Uist Wader Project — headed by Scottish Natural Heritage — began a cull of hedgehogs in the area. Following a campaign and concerns over animal welfare, this cull was called off in 2007; instead, hedgehogs are being captured and moved to mainland Scotland.<ref>[http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827031217/http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm |date=August 27, 2006 }} Retrieved 1 January 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Ross, John| date=21 February 2007| title=Hedgehogs saved from the syringe as controversial Uist cull called off| location=Edinburgh| newspaper=[[The Scotsman]]| url=http://news.scotsman.com/hedgehogs/Hedgehogs-saved-from-the-syringe.3348351.jp| access-date=2009-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Campaign wins reprieve for Uist hedgehogs| author=Paul Kelbie| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/campaign-wins-reprieve-for-uist-hedgehogs-437050.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503032826/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/campaign-wins-reprieve-for-uist-hedgehogs-437050.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=May 3, 2008| newspaper=[[The Independent]]| date=2007-02-20}}</ref>

Along with the island's situation on the North Atlantic Ocean, its machair is considered to be one of the most vulnerable coasts in Scotland due to relative [[sea level rise]] and the potential effects of [[climate change]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hebrides-news.com/uist-climate-change-risk-4819.html|title = Uist at risk from climate change}}</ref> Specifically, research<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dynamiccoast.com/files/reports/NCCA%20-%20Cells%208%20and%209%20-%20The%20Western%20Isles.pdf |title=Dynamic Coast - National Coastal Change Assessment: Cells 8 and 9 - The Western Isles |author=CREW |date=2017 |publisher=Dynamic Coast}}</ref> has shown that the most vulnerable areas include Ìochdar, Stoneybridge, Cille Pheadair, and Orasay.