The River South Esk catchment supports a wide range of habitats from source to sea, which are home to some of Scotland’s most iconic species.

There are several protected sites within the catchment of international, European, national and local significance: Montrose Basin Ramsar site, River South Esk Special Area of Conservation (SAC); Cairngorms Massif Special Protection Area (SPA); Montrose Basin SPA and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI);  Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve (NNR); Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and many Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS). Further information on designated sites can be found here. 

Biodiversity action and project delivery within the catchment is largely steered by the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan, a multi-ecosystem themed action plan incorporating more than 400 actions. The River South Esk Catchment Partnership is named as a delivery partner in 25% of actions.   

There are a number of invasive non-native species that negatively impact our native species and habitats. These include invasive plants such as Giant Hogweed and Himalayan balsam which out-compete native plants, before dying back in autumn, leaving river banks vulnerable to erosion. American mink threaten Water voles and ground nesting birds, while North American signal crayfish increase river bank erosion and threaten salmonid populations by predating young fish and fish eggs.

The Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust have produced a Biosecurity Plan (2021-2025), the vision of which is:
“To maintain the sustainable framework to prevent, detect, control and eradicate invasive non-native species within the Esk Fisheries District through appropriate management, data collection, liaison and education”.