AS many as 20,000 trees are to be planted at the UK’s first National Nature Reserve (NNR) next year as regeneration efforts continue.
Scottish Natural Heritage is to expand its work at Beinn Eighe, the Wester Ross reserve which was made the UK’s first NNR in 1951.
The site features the remnants of ancient Caledonian pine forest, which has been boosted by the placement of 800,000 trees since NNR status was awarded.
Most of these have been Scots pine as well as additional broadleaf species such as birch, aspen, holly, rowan and oak.
Now many more will be added by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), which is working to “encourage natural regeneration” at both Beinn Eighe and Creag Meagaidh NNR.
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The aim is to allow the woodlands to expand by natural ecological processes in the presence of wild deer.
Taken together, native woodlands in SNH’s nature reserves capture more than 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.
This is the equivalent of removing around 10,000 vehicles from the roads per annum.
It is hoped the new tranche of planting will further aid the fight against climate change.
The NNR on the isle of Rum marked one million trees planted back in 1997 and SNH says the full benefit of this “now beginning to be realised”, with natural seed sources building up around the land.
Commenting on the work, Stuart MacQuarrie, SNH head of nature reserves, said: “Beinn Eighe is renowned for its beautiful ancient pinewoods and we have long managed the reserve to expand and enhance this special woodland.
“Planting a further 20,000 native trees will help increase the nature reserve’s biodiversity, restore habitats to healthy ecosystems and provide greater resilience against the effects of climate change.
He continued: “Nature-based solutions such as woodland expansion are a crucial part of the solution to the global climate emergency, and this is another important step towards ensuring a nature-rich future for Scotland.”
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