SCOTLAND’S ancient Caledonian pine forest is set for a major boost in visitor numbers and greater conservation after it was included in a prestigious list of European projects.
Conservation charity Trees for Life has been invited to become a member of the European Rewilding Network which places the restoration of the forest, especially in Glen Affric and Glenmoriston, firmly on the global map.
The move will pave the way for the forest to become a major destination for “rewilding” visitors and boost the annual £276 million w i l d l i f e t o u r i s m industry.
A key focus of the network is to show how rewilding, which is the restoration of damaged natural ecosystems, can b enef i t e c onom ic development.
Trees for Life believes the benefits of rewilding include further establishing Scotland as a wildlife tourism hotspot and a world leader in the international drive to tackle forest and biodiversity loss.
Chief executive Steve Micklewright, said: “To have our work saving the Caledonian Forest recognised in this way is a major milestone, and highlights its European significance.”
Trees for Life qualified for membership of the European Rewilding Network through its large-scale restoration of the Caledonian Forest.
Characterised by Scots pine trees, as well as trees such as aspen, willow and birch, the forest is a unique habitat that supports internationally significant species such as the capercaillie.
Only one per cent of the forest’s original areas remains, but the charity Glen Affric has been a key rewilding area.
POLICE and ambulance crews will arrive together to deal with incidents in the Highland capital over one of the busiest weekends of the festive period for revellers.
Officers and paramedics have arrived separately to calls from members of the public such as people falling over due to drinking too much in Inverness. But, in a new joint initative on key nights over the Christmas and New Year period, when the city is crowded with people out celebrating the occasion, an ambulance patrol car will be on duty in the area staffed by a specialist paramedic and a police officer.
It aims to provide a fast and efficient joint response to incidents on key nights over the festive period.
The car and its crew will be on duty from 7pm until 4am on selected nights and will patrol within an approximate 30-mile radius around Inverness and began last night, and will run on Friday, December 22, and at Hogmanay.
THE deputy leader of far-right group Britain First has been released on bail after appearing in court in Belfast charged over comments about Islam made in a social media posting.
Jayda Fransen, 31, has been charged with threatening behaviour over remarks made earlier this week beside a peace wall dividing Catholics from Protestants in the city.
The message, which was critical of Islam, said it was shot in the unionist Shankill area of west Belfast.
Ms Fransen was bailed after a short hearing before a district judge in Belfast Magistrates Court, although police objected to her release.
Ms Fransen, from Anerley in south-east London, was arrested at the same court on Thursday on an unrelated charge. She has been bailed and prevented from going within 1640ft of any demonstration or procession in Northern Ireland.
“We’ll see if bail terms work,” the judge told the court.
Emergency crews launch joint initiative Britain First deputy is released on bail has already restored large areas in Glen Affric and Glenmoriston through planting more than 1.3 million trees and encouraging natural regeneration.
The charity’s ambitious new Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project will take forest restoration to the next level by helping to restore 50 areas of remnant pinewoods.
These are mainly made up of ancient “Granny” Scots pines which are dying, and there are no young trees to succeed them.
Rewilding Europe coordinates The Europ e a n R e w i l d i n g Network.
Managing director Frans Schepers said: “Having Trees for Life join our network of major rewilding initiatives is a positive step forwards in making Europe a wilder place.
“The charity’s work shows how we can all help save and restore globally important places like the Caledonian Forest.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here