Spotlight falls on native pinewoods
The rich web of life supported by Britain's native pinewoods will be the focus of a major conference in the Highlands next month.
Leading UK and international experts are to gather in Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness for the three day event, the first of its kind in a decade.
Ecology and Management of Large Native Pinewoods: Past, Present and Future will bring together foresters, researchers and community representatives from across the country to share knowledge and ideas. The main topics under discussion will be pinewood management, ecology and biodiversity, and the environment.
The first two days will feature presentations by over 20 experts in their field, including lectures by renowned speakers such as Chris Smout of St Andrews University, Brian Coppins of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and Richard Tipping of the University of Stirling. These will explore the issues surrounding management of species, habitats and landscapes and determine future research and management priorities. In addition a Norwegian delegation, headed by Bernt-Håvard Øyen, will explore the similarities and differences between pinewoods in Scotland and those in western Norway.
On the third day delegates will travel to Glen Affric National Nature Reserve to see pioneering pinewood management in action.
"While the restoration, expansion and improvement of pinewoods has come on in leaps and bounds over the last ten years, there's now a real need to integrate ecological research at all levels," said conference coordinator Dr Jonathan Humphrey of Forest Research. "This event aims to input effectively into management practice and identify the most pressing knowledge gaps to be addressed in future."
The conference is being organised by Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, with the British Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group. Places are filling up fast but there are still a few left - anyone wishing to attend should contact Evelyn Hall on 0131 445 2176.
(evelyn.hall@forestry.gsi.gov.uk)
