Conservation of natural forest and wilderness in Scotland

Scotland is universally known as one of Europe’s last remaining wilderness areas.

Unfortunately, like most of the natural unspoiled wilderness areas left in the world, Scotland’s wilderness areas are under threat.

The planting of commercial forests mainly composed of Scandinavian pine rather than the native Scots pine, further threatens this ecology.
In nature, the mixture of trees, undergrowth and brush as well as open land forms an eco-system that enables a diverse range of animals and birds to live.

The mono-culture approach of the commercial logging companies destroys these eco-systems with their diverse flora and fauna as well as the natural beauty of the environment.

Cutting great swathes of land as the trees become commercially viable further hurts the eco-system. Mixed forests with trees of different ages and different species encourage a much wider range of insects, animals and birds – all evolved for their own ecological niche.

Natural pathways, fallen trees, brush and undergrowth are removed in favour of efficient pathways for machine access between trees of the same type planted in ordered rows.

Even these pathways are often blocked with machinery or piles of logs awaiting further processing in the factory forest.

Like an organism, nature has the ability to regulate itself, and return any damaged parts to a healthy condition. Unfortunately, this self-healing process of nature is being prevented in most places by the scale and intensity of human exploitation.

Ecological restoration seeks to allow the natural regeneration of ecosystems to take place again, and, where appropriate, to assist and accelerate it.

Ecological Restoration in Scotland

Scotland is a prime candidate for ecological restoration work, as it is one of the countries which has suffered most from environmental degradation in the past. The Highlands in particular have been described as a 'wet desert' as a result of the centuries of exploitation which have reduced them to their present impoverished and barren condition.

Since being established in 1983, South Angus Survival has acquired tracts of land in the Scottish Highlands and it is their intention to acquire more land in these areas which are in danger of being changed into blocks of identical Scandinavian pine-forest

As a necessary part of our ongoing conservation, restoration and regeneration program, South Angus Survival are currently replanting these areas with many native species of deciduous trees; including, Rowan, Alder, Willow, Hornbeam etc,

This will help to create a natural mixed woodland where local flora and fauna can survive and live in safety in a diverse eco-system encouraging a .native animals and birds before they become endangered species or worse still, join the growing list of extinct species that we and our children will never see again.

In the past, Scottish forests were home to many species of wildlife no longer seen or endangered – the European beaver, wild boar, lynx, moose, brown bear and the wolf.

As a “Laird of Glencairn” or “Lady of Glencairn” you will help these natural areas to survive. It’s a small beginning - but it’s a beginning. This could be the last chance to preserve one of the most strikingly beautiful landscapes in Great Britain (perhaps even in the world) for future generations.