A CONSERVATION charity is doubling its current rate of restoration work in Scotland's Caledonian Forest because of fears time is running out to reverse the effects of climate change.

Trees for Life, which planted its one-millionth tree in Scotland in May after more than 20 years of work, has announced an ambitious new goal of another million more trees by planting and natural regeneration within five years instead of its current rate of within 10 years.

The charity describes the Caledonian Forest as Scotland's equivalent of the rainforest and its new Million More Trees campaign is a response to environmental problems including deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss.

The charity has been increasing its rate of planting and regeneration over the last two decades to its present high level of activity, but even that will have to increase by 100% if its new goal is to be achieved.

Since 1989, the charity has created almost 10,000 acres of new Caledonian Forest, and has worked at 45 different locations.

In 2008, it bought the 10,000-acre Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, near Loch Ness, one of the largest areas of land in the UK ever purchased for forest restoration.

Its vision is not to create a commercial forestry operation, but to restore a wild forest as a home for wildlife and to fulfil the ecological functions necessary for the wellbeing of the land itself.

However, this also has a commercial value according to Alan Watson Featherstone, executive director of Trees for Life.

He said: "With wildlife tourism already generating an estimated £276 million a year for the Scottish economy, it's clear that restoring the Caledonian Forest and its unique wildlife to an inspiring, spec-tacular wilderness region of 1000 square miles could have significant economic as well as environmental benefits for the country."

Trees for Life's plans for the next year include significant planting of native trees on the charity's Dundreggan estate, a natural regeneration project in a Caledonian Forest remnant further north in Glen Strathfarrar, and work to protect regenerating aspens as well as the planting of new aspen seedlings at Scatwell, to the north-west of Inverness.