PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
As the native woodland of Scotland, Caledonian Pine Forests were once a common sight across the Scottish landscape. A distinctive feature of these mature forests is the 'granny pines' with their thick knarled trunks and large canopies, some of which are over 400 years old. Unlike the commercial pine plantations we see nowadays, these ancient forests support a very rich diversity of animals and plants which makes them a priority habitat under the EU Directive. However, the forests have, over the centuries, sustained a massive reduction through a combination of socio-economic and natural causes and, today continue to suffer from overgrazing, burning and mismanagement. High populations of red deer, in particular, are a serious obstacle to their natural regeneration. With no more than 1% of their original range left and much of this is in a degraded, senescent and isolated state of low regenerative capacity, a concerted effort of both government and non-governmental organisations is vital if the remaining stands are to be brought back to a level that makes them viable in the long term.
OBJECTIVES
The first step in this process is to have an accurate picture of where the remaining sites are and what their conservation status is. At present, there is a dearth of survey information which is a significant constraint on the preparation of comprehensive management plans for sites and prevents any large scale coordinated actions from being taken. The purpose of this project is therefore fourfold. (1) It will undertake a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the Caledonian resource, (2) evaluate the impact of the red deer population on its continued degradation and (3) carry out emergency restoration activities on areas within the Glen Affric Forest reserve. (4) Experimental methods of artificial propagation will also be tried out. Within (3), actions will involve the development, testing and promotion of restoration techniques for particularly fragile sites which can then be applied elsewhere. The emergency restoration programme in Glen Affric shall involve: (a) updating the management plan for the whole Glen Affric Caledonian Forest Reserve; (b) carrying out a deer census and determining, in collaboration with interested parties, the cull targets with the aim of reducing significantly the hind numbers; (c) non-recurring biotope management actions including fencing, clearance of exotics and/or planting of native species with priority areas in the Glen Affric Reserve to be determined by the Management Committee.
RESULTS
(1) The total inventory covered approximately 450 10km² squares identifying Caledonian forest areas and their respective conservation status. Due to the large area covered, it did not go into in great ecological detail. Instead, it was set up so that information complied by other organisations could being fed into the system. It was anticipated that the survey work would be used by the Forestry authority to review any applications for semi-natural woodland grants to ensure that the best areas are targeted. This was an important positive move as the Caledonian Forest's future lies in its ability to provide a commercial gain through sensitive management rather than through untouchable reserves. (2) The assessment of the red deer populations and browsing pressure at 18 study sites revealed that the optimum number for regeneration was low, in the order of 3 deer per 100 ha. Further work about the distribution densities and population fluctuations were co-ordinated with other groups involved in this issue. (3) Regarding habitat restoration on Glen Affric, the details of the work required for each of four sites have was identified and discussed at the Steering Groups meetings and a series of pilot restoration trials was undertaken. The management plan for the whole nature reserve was also revised. (4) Concerning the part of the project dealing with artificial propagation techniques, five relict pinewoods were identified and experimental trials were undertaken. This element of the project proved to be more expensive and difficult than envisaged at the outset of the project. A project leaflet describing the LIFE project and the importance of conserving Caledonian forests was widely distributed and well received.(1) The total inventory covered approximately 450 10km² squares identifying Caledonian forest areas and their respective conservation status. Due to the large area covered, it did not go into in great ecological detail. Instead, it was set up so that information complied by other organisations could being fed into the system. It was anticipated that the survey work would be used by the Forestry authority to review any applications for semi-natural woodland grants to ensure that the best areas are targeted. This was an important positive move as the Caledonian Forest's future lies in its ability to provide a commercial gain through sensitive management rather than through untouchable reserves. (2) The assessment of the red deer populations and browsing pressure at 18 study sites revealed that the optimum number for regeneration was low, in the order of 3 deer per 100 ha. Further work about the distribution densities and population fluctuations were co-ordinated with other groups involved in this issue. (3) Regarding habitat restoration on Glen Affric, the details of the work required for each of four sites have was identified and discussed at the Steering Groups meetings and a series of pilot restoration trials was undertaken. The management plan for the whole nature reserve was also revised. (4) Concerning the part of the project dealing with artificial propagation techniques, five relict pinewoods were identified and experimental trials were undertaken. This element of the project proved to be more expensive and difficult than envisaged at the outset of the project. A project leaflet describing the LIFE project and the importance of conserving Caledonian forests was widely distributed and well received.