project Scotland

Natural Resource Management for Biodiversity. Understanding Scotland's protected habitats and their inhabitants.

Why this project?

This is the beginning of an independent study I am working on for winter term 2023. I am working towards understanding natural resource management practices in the UK and how that pans out in the world around us. During my time at COA I have taken a Western public lands course, a Natural Resource Management class and an International Wildlife Policy class which I have found to be foundational to my understanding of this country and its intricacies, at the very least in policy. This has allowed me to explore the possibility of doing an independent study, combining these factors for the United Kingdom. 

This story map contains several layers combining land designations, species distribution and bio-diverse habitat ranges. The purpose is to create a compendium of information that brings together multiple data points to analyse land use and how it can serve biodiversity in Scotland. I have focused on a select few species for this class, but I will be expanding this project and the species discussed into the future.

Where is Scotland?

Where is Scotland?

Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom which is on the continent of Europe. It is a Celtic nation, which has its own language - Scottish Gaelic. It has a devolved government, with limited self-governing power to control education, social services, roads and transportation. There are five million people in Scotland and its population makes up 8.3% of the population of the United Kingdom. It is one of the most sparsely populated parts of the UK and The main industries have historically been manufacturing and primary-based extractive industries, but today is dominated by the service industry. 

Protected Areas

Nationally Designated Areas

Nationally Protected Areas in Scotland

The UK has been inhabited by humans continuously for at least twelve-thousand years, which means that most designations, definitions for terminology and expectations for land protection are in huge contrast to the United States. For example, in the United Kingdom, National Parks have a responsibility to ‘conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage’ of that area. They are not owned in their entirety by the government, rather private citizens own property within national parks, and charities such as the national trust, the wildlife trust or the RSPB will also own segments, and often certain human cultural practices (such as crofting) are conserved, considered a part of what makes that landscape special enough for protection. There are headquarters and specialists who work for the government in the long term protection of land and also to protect certain cultural sites, such as hiking trails in the Cairngorms National Park. Another noticeable difference from the USA is that British National Parks have a duty to foster ‘economic and social well being of local communities within national parks’

The orange shading highlights Country Parks, the dark green shading highlights National Nature Reserves, and the light green shading highlights National Parks.

National Nature Reserves are designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 as areas of land or water containing habitats or species of national importance. They can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but it is required that they are managed in a way that conserves the habitats and species they are designated for, and can be accessible for the public to enjoy and engage with their natural environment.

Country Parks are usually found near urban areas and there are more than forty examples in Scotland alone. They were mostly set up in the 1970s through the Countryside Act of 1986, to provide a natural, rural setting for visitors who don't want to go into the wider countryside, but do want an informal public open space, different to those of formal city parks.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are protected areas designated for for conservation. They are the basic building block of site based nature conservation, and most other conservation designations for natural or geologic purposes in the United Kingdom are based upon them. They are split into two designations, those noted for their biological interest, and those noted for their geological or physiographic interest.

Estates, Trusts, and Reserves owned by Charities and Conservation Organisations

Charitably Protected Areas in Scotland, owned by the NTS, the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB

A key component of British land management are the multiple Charitable Organisations that function in a way that protects certain cultural and biodiverse aspects of our natural spaces. Each has different mission statements, for example the National Trust is committed to promoting and preserving those places of natural beauty and historic interest for which it has the privilege to be responsible for the benefit of the nation, for everyone for ever’. Much of public land in the United Kingdom is in trust, about two percent is owned by the national trust and the wildlife trust.

The dark blue highlights National Trust for Scotland Estates, the light blue notes the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves, and the green highlights RSPB reserves.

The National Trust for Scotland is a conservation organisation dedicated to protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland for present and future generations.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a registered charity dedicated to conserving the wildlife and natural heritage of Scotland.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charitable organisation that works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment.

Endangered Species

For this story map, specific data points were selected to display wildlife distribution of endangered species to understand how they might overlap with current and proposed protected areas. This allows public bodies to understand how species are using their landscape and how we can best conserve their populations.

Caledonian Pine Forest at Loch Arkaig

A Native Caledonian Pine Forest, Loch Arkaig

Caledonian Pine Distribution

Caledonian Pine Distribution

Caledonian Pines are Native to Scotland, but due to changing land use from the highland clearances and industrialisation, their range has reduced drastically in the last two-hundred years remaining in a few remnant forests in the highlands. Because of intensive deer and livestock grazing, woodlands haven't regenerated across much of their former range but today there is an active effort within several conservation organisations such as the Mar Lodge Estate in the National Trust to replant the Caledonian Pine and set aside land with minimal grazing for natural regeneration.

Red Deer on a grassy Hillock

Caledonian woodlands are ideal habitat for many native species in Scotland. Juniper, Rowan, Birch, Yew and Aspen are often found as are Pine Marten, Red Squirrels, Capercaillie and Crested Tits. Some rare plants also favour these woods, examples include Wintergreens, Twinblade and the Lesser Twayblade. Many species are facing extinction, or plummeting numbers because there is so much less habitat available to them. By protecting these woodlands, we ensure habitat is being set aside for our endangered species, which should help increase populations.

Mammal Species Distribution

Otter, Pine Marten, and Red Squirrel Distribution in Scotland

The British Isles has many of the native mammal species found across Europe, though many were hunted to extinction in the last five-hundred years. Those that survived are often of smaller size and or difficult to find, such as those in the Mustelid family. In the twenty-first century, there has been a huge movement across the United Kingdom to reintroduce some species that were driven to extinction, such as the Eurasian Lynx, or up to the brink, like the Eurasian Otter. Many of these reintroduction programs were begun in Scotland because of the optimal habitat available for threatened species.

The red circle displays red squirrel distribution, the orange dots display pine marten distribution and the purple shading displays otter distribution.

Many species, once abundant in the British Isles were restricted to the Scottish highlands because there was minimal disturbance, plenty of habitat, and food. Whilst much of our island is increasingly urbanised because of an expanding population, better transport links and a diversity of career options, the highlands have traditionally attracted much lower numbers of permanent residents.

European Pine Marten (Martes martes)

Mammals are often characteristic to the popular imagination of the British public when considering our wildlife. Hedgehogs, Badgers and Foxes often spring to mind, but few realise the risk our wildlife faces to survive into the next century.  One in seven native species face extinction and more than 40% are in decline . The main threat species face is the industrialisation of agriculture which has changed how land is used in the United Kingdom, clearing habitat and reducing safe spaces to raise young and feed.

The European Pine Marten is in the mustelid family and for many years only commonly found in northwestern Scotland. However in recent decades their population has been spreading to southern Scotland and northern England and there is a small but secure population in Wales. Whilst there are species that prey on Pine Martens, the biggest threat they face is human conflict; habitat fragmentation, persecution (from trapping or poisoning) because of predating livestock, their highly prized fur and building dens in human buildings are a few of the main threats they face.

Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)

The Eurasian Otter was on the brink of extinction in the 1950s but because of concentrated efforts the population has rebound in the last few decades and is listed as near threatened in the UK, even becoming a pest species in some landscapes like the Shetlands, where they are gradually causing a big issue predating colonial nesting seabirds. The otter can be found in unpolluted fresh bodies of water, and even on the coast in saltwater, but requires regular access to fresh water to clean its coat.

Red Squirrel (Sciuris vulgaris)

The Red Squirrel has been in drastic decline across Great Britain due to the introduction of the Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. Fortunately, the population is stabilising in Scotland, considered a last stronghold for the species. This is because of conservation efforts, public awareness and the increase in Pine Martin, that selectively prey on grey squirrels. It is an arboreal, herbivorous rodent that prefers boreal coniferous woodland such Caledonian Pine, which tends to be solitary, though it can be observed sharing dreys (nests) in winter or more interactions between individuals during the breeding season in late winter or early summer.

Bird Species Distribution

Avian Bird Species

Scotland has some of the most extraordinary opportunities for bird sightings in the British Isles, the Hebrides and the Shetlands providing ample opportunities for seabirds, and the Cairngorms and its Caledonian Woodland providing rare habitat for Western Capercaillie and the Highlands providing breeding grounds for the Eurasian dotterel.

The light blue dots display Northern Gannet tracking data during the breeding season, the dark blue display Northern Gannet tracking data outside of the breeding season and the dark blue shading highlights Western Capercaillie Distribution.

However, 30% of UK bird species are threatened with extinction and  Avian Influenza has decimated bird populations  across the globe in the past year, for species such as the Great Skua,  current estimates suggest between 60-80% have died  because of the disease spread, which will have impacts on their populations (estimated at about 16,000) for years to come.

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) cock singing for a hen during breeding season

The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is the largest grouse species in the world and can be found across northern Europe but has reached critically low levels in Scotland. Their numbers have  fallen to little above five-hundred  this year, having drastically decreased in the last thirty years, because of climate induced unfavourable weather in early summer, which impacts their breeding season. Their population is limited almost exclusively to Caledonian Woodlands, where they feed on blaeberries, pine seeds and shoots.

Gannet (Morus bassanus) parent resting with its young chick in the Noss colony

Northern Gannets are a colonial nesting seabird and are members of the Sulidae family. It is native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and many of their largest colonies are found off the coast of Scotland. More than two thirds of the world population nest around the coasts of the British Isles. They nest in large colonies, on cliffs overlooking the Ocean or on smaller rocky islands. Their main food sources are Atlantic Mackerel and Herring fish, which they dive into the ocean to catch. Whilst foraging for food, they dive at high speed into the ocean, during the day.

Thank you for reading!

I'd like to thank Gordon Longsworth and Ilham Santoso for their help in the GIS lab, Erica Maltz and John Anderson for their guidance in Natural Resource Management and Ecology, and my mother for inspiring my love of the natural world.

Where is Scotland?

Nationally Protected Areas in Scotland

The orange shading highlights Country Parks, the dark green shading highlights National Nature Reserves, and the light green shading highlights National Parks.

Charitably Protected Areas in Scotland, owned by the NTS, the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB

The dark blue highlights National Trust for Scotland Estates, the light blue notes the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves, and the green highlights RSPB reserves.

A Native Caledonian Pine Forest, Loch Arkaig

Caledonian Pine Distribution

Red Deer on a grassy Hillock

Otter, Pine Marten, and Red Squirrel Distribution in Scotland

The red circle displays red squirrel distribution, the orange dots display pine marten distribution and the purple shading displays otter distribution.

European Pine Marten (Martes martes)

Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)

Red Squirrel (Sciuris vulgaris)

Avian Bird Species

The light blue dots display Northern Gannet tracking data during the breeding season, the dark blue display Northern Gannet tracking data outside of the breeding season and the dark blue shading highlights Western Capercaillie Distribution.

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) cock singing for a hen during breeding season

Gannet (Morus bassanus) parent resting with its young chick in the Noss colony