WOODLAND regeneration has increased by 25% over six years at a Scottish nature reserve, new figures show.
Commissioned by government natural heritage body NatureScot, the survey analysed tree regeneration in 1025 hectares at the Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve in Inshriach, near Aviemore.
Intended to look at progress since a 2017 study covering the same area, NatureScot looked to see if new woodlands grow adjacent to current forested areas.
Scots pine increased from 281 to 313 stems per hectare, juniper increased from 56 to 102 stems per hectare and birch from two to 10 stems per hectare.
The species of new seedlings and saplings are strongly influenced by the existing adult trees and therefore the available seed source for natural regeneration.
Habitat Impact Assessments, which measure the impact of deer and other herbivores on habitats, were also carried out in the study, with grazing found to be having either no or low impact on most plots.
Most of the benefits to woodland in the survey area have come from efforts to control the deer population in the vicinity of the nature reserve, undertaken by land management partnership Cairngorms Connect.
Ian Sargent, NatureScot’s reserve manager for Invereshie and Inshriach NNR, said: “With our partners in Forestry and Land Scotland and the wider Cairngorms Connect Partnership, we’ve been managing deer impacts on the NNR for more than 50 years, with an emphasis on encouraging natural regeneration.
“With this survey, it is really heartening to see the progress that has been made in the last six years alone. The ancient native pinewoods are continuing to expand, with regeneration sometimes recorded more than 1km from the nearest mature established woodland. Juniper and birch are also doing well on the reserve.
“Our aim is to allow the woodland to function naturally and to re-colonise high altitude areas, so it’s great to see regeneration is already occurring well above 600m and in some cases even on the very exposed summits of some of the peaks.”
NatureScot chief executive Francesca Osowska said: “The results we are seeing at Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve and in the wider Cairngorms Connect area are a great example of what can be achieved working in partnership to achieve woodland recovery and expansion on a landscape-scale.
“Globally and in Scotland, nature is in decline and we face a climate emergency. Deer are an iconic part of our biodiversity but in high numbers they can have a negative impact on woodland and other habitats. The sustainable management of Scotland’s deer, such as is happening at Invereshie and Inshriach and elsewhere, is vital if we are to meet ambitious and necessary targets to restore nature and reach net zero.”
New surveys were also carried out this year on the Invereshie part of the NNR and at Beinn Eighe NNR, which will establish a baseline for comparisons to be made at these sites in future.
