Trees and Wildlife in the Scottish Uplands.

Abstract

Forestry and its effects on our countryside are very
\nmuch in the news. The concern of Scottish ecologists
\nwas expressed through the organization of at least 3
\nconferences during November and early December
\n1985. Our meeting is just one of them. It is nonetheless
\ntimely, and it brings together a wider range of
\npeople than the other 2 meetings. The first, organized
\nby the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, discussed the
\ninteractions of commercial forestry with birds. The
\nsecond, under the auspices of the Countryside Commission
\nfor Scotland, was concerned mainly with
\nbroadleaved trees. We are concerned with wider
\naspects, including both birds and broadleaved trees,
\nalthough primarily with conifer plantations in the
\nScottish uplands. However, it is impossible to consider
\nthe impact of any aspect of afforestation in isolation;
\nforestry in the Scottish uplands is not a separate
\nindustry from forestry in the lowlands, and the industry
\nis international.
\nThe concern of foresters to integrate their management
\npolicy with the requirements of the rest of the
\nrural community is obvious. The new policy of the
\nForestry Commission with regard to broadleaved trees
\nhas arisen at least partly as a result of public concern.
\nThe economic demand for more home-produced
\ntimber may be satisfied only by planting up open
\nhillsides and spoiling views which many people have
\ncome to regard as part of their heritage. It may be
\nnecessary, though this is still unproven, to afforest part
\nof the habitat of upland birds which are rare in Britain.
\nDecisions on some of these points may be political,
\nbut the widespread public concern remains.
\nThis concern is about integrating the need for timber
\nwith maintaining the richness of the Scottish upland
\ncountryside, of which the forests are very much a part.
\nNature conservationists and animal and plant ecologists
\nalready haye a great deal of practical knowledge
\non the management of semi-natural habitats, but their
\nknowledge of the fauna of commercial forests is, in
\nsome cases, not as great as they would wish. The
\npurpose of this meeting is to bring together foresters,
\nconservationists and other ecologists to discuss the
\nstatus and future growth of Scottish forests, to identify
\nways in which forests can be managed to optimize
\ntheir conservation of wildlife and amenity and recreation
\nvalues, and to learn from experience elsewhere.
\nIf gaps in our knowledge are exposed, discussion of
\nthem will help this Institute of the Natural Environment
\nResearch Council in planning a programme of research
\non the requirements for managing woodland for
\nwildlife and amenity in British uplands, and lay the
\nfoundations for future co-operation with foresters and
\nother ecologists