Modelling Native Woodland Potential in the Scottish Uplands

Towers, Willie; Hester, Alison J.; Malcolm, A.; Stone, Duncan; Gray, H.

doi:10.1080/713684674

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 1 publication

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“…Recent modelling of potential woodland cover in upland Scotland (e.g. Towers et al 2000) tends to concentrate on growing conditions alone. However, many authors have identified the factors affecting the successful regeneration of birch and pinewoods in upland Scotland (e.g.…”

Section: Factors Affecting Regeneration Of Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A postulated natural origin for the open landscape of upland Scotland

Fenton¹

2008

Plant Ecology & Diversity

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Section: Factors Affecting Regeneration Of Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A postulated natural origin for the open landscape of upland Scotland

Fenton¹

2008

Plant Ecology & Diversity

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Current approaches to native woodland restoration in Scotland

Newton

Stirling²,

Crowell

2001

Botanical Journal of Scotland

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Woodland expansion and upland management strategy dilemmas for biodiversity and carbon storage in the Cairngorms national park

Valette,

Newey,

Schreckenberg

et al. 2024

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Nature-based solutions are increasingly advocated to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss, while improving ecosystem resilience and providing additional ecosystem services. In Scotland, woodland expansion and restoration of degraded peatlands are expected to play a major role in meeting net-zero emissions by 2045 and have prompted debates about the impact of increased woodland cover and prescribed fire on the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by upland landscapes. In alignment with national policy, the Cairngorms National Park, the UK’s largest national park, has committed to an ambitious programme of woodland expansion and peatland restoration in a landscape dominated by heather moorlands that is predominantly managed through prescribed burning for game management. Using the Native Woodland Model and the InVest modelling platform, we assessed the effects of five land cover and land use change scenarios, with different levels of prescribed fire regulation and woodland expansion, to evaluate their benefits and costs on biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Results show that changing the extent and management of habitats will result in different carbon sequestration pathways, as well as biodiversity winners and losers. The scenario presenting greater benefits for the conservation of biodiversity also has lower above-ground carbon sequestration potential and a larger negative impact on red grouse habitats, thus being less profitable to sporting estates. Hence, trade-offs will be necessary to achieve optimal carbon sequestration and biodiversity gains, with a potential role played by the continuation of prescribed fires and traditional moorland management practices as well as complementary grants and support measures based on biodiversity benefits rather than carbon sequestration. The results from this study could support discussions regarding future management of the uplands, trade-offs between loss of carbon in soils, carbon sequestration in woodlands and conservation of biodiversity, as well as stakeholders likely to be affected.

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Modelling Native Woodland Potential in the Scottish Uplands

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

A postulated natural origin for the open landscape of upland Scotland

A postulated natural origin for the open landscape of upland Scotland

Current approaches to native woodland restoration in Scotland

Woodland expansion and upland management strategy dilemmas for biodiversity and carbon storage in the Cairngorms national park

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