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Sunday, 18 February 2018

Thoughts on the Conservation and Restoration of Nature in Scotland

Gleann nam Fiadh, February 3, 2018

Walking up Gleann nam Fiadh in Glen Affric at the start of
the igloo trip earlier this month (see this post) I was shocked by the state of
the bulldozed track, constructed for a hydro scheme higher up the glen. The
slopes for quite a distance either side of the track have been scoured of
vegetation, including many young trees, leaving a muddy mess. The encouraging
feeling of walking through a new woodland I remember from my last visit has
gone. Back in July 2016 Mountaineering Scotland were assured ‘contractors on
site are meeting planning obligations relating to protection of the
environment, and that the works will be reinstated in accordance with the
conditions of planning permission once complete’. Well, the obligations must be
pretty minimal given the damage and I wonder when the reinstatement will take
place. Update. Paul Webster of Walk Highlands says he thinks this is the reinstated track. In which case I'm truly shocked!

Earlier in 2016 Alan Watson Featherstone, the founder of Trees for Life, which has
done much forest restoration work in the area wrote, in his blog “I find
it hard to comprehend that a small-scale hydro scheme is even contemplated for
this watercourse. It’s in the heart of the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve(NNR), which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special
Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Natura 2000 scheme and a National
Scenic Area (NSA). It’s one of the most designated areas of land in Scotland!
Glen Affric is often cited as being the ‘crown jewels’ of the National Nature
Reserve system, and is supposed to be managed for the ‘primacy of nature’. If
it can’t be protected from industrial energy extraction, what hope is there for
any area in Scotland?” A good question and one that needs answering.

Woodland on the slopes of Quinag, owned by the John Muir Trust

Whilst the Gleann nam Fiadh track is depressing there is
much that is positive in the conservation and restoration of nature in the
Scottish hills and elsewhere in Britain. Not enough certainly but looking at
what is being done can counter the feelings of despair when more damage occurs.
It can also encourage a desire to help protect what is left and restore what we
can. Public pressure is what counts here. I doubt many politicians would do
much without it (there are a few who would, perhaps). It’s easy to think that
one person can’t do anything and that signing petitions, sharing and commenting
on posts on social media, and writing to representatives achieves nothing.
However any effect from these actions is cumulative. If enough people take part
then sometimes a momentum can build towards something happening. The
alternative is to give up.

As well as taking part in these activities joining and
supporting conservation organisations can make a difference. It’s not just the
membership fee, though funds are always in short supply, it’s also the numbers.
The more members a body has the more notice is likely to be taken by those in
power.

The returning forest in the Pass of Ryvoan

So what positives are happening? I think the slow spread of
natural forest regeneration is the prime one. Every time I walk through the
Pass of Ryvoan or through Glen Feshie and see the young trees spreading up the
hillside and poking up through the heather I feel uplifted. From Abernethy to
Knoydart, Carrifran to Quinag, trees are returning and with them much richer
flora and fauna. This is being done by various conservation organisations such
as the John Muir Trust, RSPB, Trees for Life, and the Borders Forest Trust, in
some places by Forestry Commission Scotland, and by enlightened private
landowners. One of the last, Lisbet Rausing, wrote an excellent post for the Scottish Wildlife Trust recently
on the work being done on the Corrour Estate.

The reintroduction of wildlife is equally important. That
beavers are returning to the rivers is wonderful. The success of the
reintroduction of white-tailed eagles and red kites is also greatly heartening.
Hopefully other species will follow. I doubt we’ll see wolves in my lifetime,
though I think they will be back eventually. Lynx are much more likely. The
spread of previously persecuted species like red squirrels and pine martens is
also very welcome. Places are not wild without wildlife.

Red Squirrel

Wildlife diversity and habitat restoration of course go
together. Each enhances and helps the other. The big obstacle to forest and
hill flora recovery in the hills is over grazing, mainly by domestic sheep in
the Southern Uplands, mainly by red deer in the Highlands, which are at
unnaturally high numbers as there are no natural predators. This means control
has to be done by us – either by fencing or culling. Fencing results in blocks
of restored land and breaks the continuity of wild land essential for wildlife.
It may be temporarily necessary in some places but I think reducing grazing pressure
is the answer in the long term. I don’t like the idea of shooting deer but it’s
the only way currently to reduce numbers to less damaging numbers.

A large herd of red deer in the Fannichs

I also view the growth of campaigning by organisations and
individuals on conservation issues as a positive. Again, it’s the numbers. More
people, more pressure. To that end below I’ve listed those whose words and work
I think worth reading and sharing. They are all on social media and post on
Twitter, Facebook and more.

Wind turbines on the Southern Upland Way

And the negatives? Wind farms and hydro schemes in the wrong
place (anywhere wild land is damaged), bulldozed roads in the hills,
overgrazing, raptor persecution, grouse moor industrialisation, golf courses
and new towns on wild land. There’s much to campaign against.

Website &
Organisation Links

John Muir Trust. Campaigning
for wild land and named for the great conservationist regarded as the ‘father
of the national parks’ in the USA. The JMT owns land where restoration is
taking place in the Highlands and on Skye, and is now managing the Glenridding
Estate in the Lake District. I'm currently a Trustee of the JMT.