The Caledonian Pinewoods in the Highlands of Scotland are unique in the UK; home to some of the UK’s rarest wildlife, they are also economically important for commercial timber enterprises. However, in recent years, Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) has become increasingly widespread, affecting at least eighty-two species of pine worldwide, including the UK’s native Scots […]
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The Kilsture Forest Community Group were keen to develop their role as co-custodians of the forest through a Citizen Science project, film screenings, surveys (including mycorrhizal networks), storytelling and an artists residency. In 2018 the forest was being sold by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) so the community rallied to reverse the planned disposal. KFCG opted […]
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Dr. François-Xavier Joly is project leader of this University of Stirling project which is quantifying how native woodland regeneration (NWR) affects the quantity of carbon stored in plant biomass, above and belowground and in the soil. “While NWR likely increases carbon sequestration in the vegetation through tree growth, it may not necessarily lead to a […]
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The University of York, along with the James Hutton Institute and Forest Research, aimed to develop the first microsatellite markers to enable a population genetic study of the Shining Guest Ant, a British Action Plan woodland specialist species. Outcomes This aim was achieved, with the development and analysis of eight microsatellite markers which showed sufficient […]
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The project set out to map all Scottish woodland and tree toponyms across the Gàidhealtachd, which, co-ordinated with other evidence, helps to map the historical presence of woodland. Some of these areas are still wooded but, of particular interest, are the current areas of open ground, with no records of previous land-use beyond linguistic clues […]
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The Shetland Amenity Trust gathered genetic data on Shetland’s native willow to develop conservation actions required for relict trees. The aim of this project was to generate genetic diversity information about the different willow species currently present across Shetland, to provide a better understanding of individual species diversity and the population health at different sites. […]
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We funded Carbon Rewild to test the suitability of bioacoustics to carry out simple and accessible biodiversity monitoring surveys that can be deployed in multiple locations within a site by experts and non-experts alike. Automated recording units captured the acoustic signatures of wildlife, including vocalisations and other sound-producing behaviours across 12 Scottish woodland sites. Outcomes […]
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We awarded a grant to Plantlife who convened a multi-stakeholder civic mediation project: Finding the Common Ground on Sustainable Upland Deer Management. Upland deer management in Scotland has been undergoing significant transformations due to policy changes and environmental, economic, and social shifts. Effective management of these changes required cross-sector collaboration at various levels. Although there […]
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Community Woodlands Association were keen to showcase the social and economic benefits derived from community woodlands through four case studies of diverse communities actively managing their woodlands. The objective was to deliver case studies of 4 community woodlands, showcasing the diversity of benefits communities receive from active management of their local woodlands, allowing the 4 […]
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University of St Andrews Professor Rob Wilson‘s research proposal asks “With climate scenarios suggesting that the Scottish climate will become both warmer and wetter, how might this affect the current stock of oak woodlands and their distribution?” This project by the University of St. Andrews will combine data from the physical and chemical analysis of […]
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