Native Woodland Restoration

David Jardine Forest District Manager Forestry Commission Scotland

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Outline

•  Cairngorms Asset •  Drivers for Change •  Barriers to progress •  Techniques used •  Impacts of action •  Future challenges

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Native woodland asset in the Cairngorms

The Cairngorms Assets (Cairngorms Partnership) -  Genuinely native -  Near native -  Partially native -  Non-native Broadleaf woodland Coniferous woodland Mixed coniferous/broadleaf woodland

Woodlands in the Cairngorms (ha)

  Ancient Total

Semi-Natural 15,150 36,250

Mixed woodland 2,000 4,650

Plantation 14,450 34,200

     

All woodland 31,600 75,100

National Forest Estate c15,000

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Environmental Assets

39% of Nationally important species found in the Cairngorms are found in woodland [Rock 20%, Montane habitats 15%] [woodland is c15% land area]

Iconic species – Juniper, Red Squirrel, Capercaillie, Blackgrouse, Pearl-bordered Fritillary (5 of 6 FCS BAP Action Species)

Other key BAP species ASNW woodlands – SAC designations

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Why restore?

Past management? Agro-forestry Timber production priority Sport Drainage Recreation, conservation and community

dimensions

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Drivers of change

Policy - Rio Biodiversity Convention - Conservation products (species & designations) - Ecosystem services (water & carbon)

Markets

Timber Food products

(venison & mushrooms) Landscape & tourism Recreation

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Barriers to progress

•  Diversity of objectives •  Infrastructure •  Funding mechanisms

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Constraints

Seasonality of working (snow, breeding seasons, safety of visitors, sport)

Designations / Protected Species

(consultation, fencing options, seasonality) Seed sources and browsing pressures

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Restoration – techniques used

Forest Plans Activity linked to iconic species and protected

habitats •  Non-native tree removal •  Restoration of drainage •  Encouragement of regeneration •  Fences / browsing

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

Restoration – techniques used

•  Non-native removal •  Mature trees / regeneration

•  Drain blocking

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Restoration - impacts of action

•  Deer management •  Regeneration •  Field layer recovery

•  Fence removal / marking

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Restoration - impacts of action

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IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

•  Capercaillie – multi-factorial causes of decline

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Changing environments…….

Treelines Forest Pests (as a consequence of Climate

change) Changes in fire risks?

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011

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Future challenges?

“A forest that pays is a forest that

stays” Markets for timber – all species Infrastructure to manage

woodlands (roading costs and authorisation)

Competing priorities (conservation /deer / landscape / forest management)

IYF – Forestry in the Highlands Conference 9 September 2011