Our Action Plan
We have a threefold strategy for the return of the forest.
The first part of our strategy
is to facilitate the natural regeneration of the trees, by fencing the
deer
out of areas on the periphery of the existing remnants, so that seedlings
can grow naturally to maturity again, without being over-grazed. This
is the simplest and best method of regenerating the forest, as it involves
the minimum of intervention and allows nature to do most of the work.
This is one of the basic principles
of ecological restoration. However, this only works for locations
where there is an existing seed source nearby, which is not the case in
the treeless expanses which make up most of the Highlands today.
The second part of our strategy comes into effect in these situations,
and it involves planting native trees in barren areas where the forest has
disappeared completely. To do this, we
collect seed from the nearest surviving trees, to maintain the local genetic
variation in the forest.
The resulting seedlings are then planted in a random, non-linear pattern inside fenced exclosures,
replicating the natural distribution of the trees. We are working with all
of the native trees from the forest, and are paying particular attention
to the pioneer species, such as birch,
rowan
and aspen,
as they have an important role to play in the succession of the forest as
it gets re-established.
The third part of our strategy
involves the removal of non-native
trees, which in some areas have been planted as a commercial crop
amongst the old trees of the Caledonian Forest remnants, thereby preventing
their regeneration.
Combining these three strategies, our intention is to re-establish areas, or 'islands', of
healthy young forest scattered throughout the barren, deforested glens. As these new trees reach
seed-bearing age they will form the nuclei for an expanded natural regeneration in the surrounding
area. While the trees in these `islands' are growing, it will be important to reduce the numbers
of deer, so that the forest restoration process can become self-sustaining, without the need for
further fences.
View the Trees For Life target area for forest restoration.
View our accomplishments and results to date.