Posts Tagged ‘NatureScot’
Beavers could return to Cairngorms in efforts to boost numbers
Beavers could return to the Cairngorms as part of efforts to boost their population. The animals died out in Scotland around 400 years ago but were reintroduced in 2009. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is now set to speak to the public about a number of possible release sites. As part of the plans…
Read MoreNasa scientists collecting ancient rocks from Isle of Rum to help with Mars research
Nasa scientists are collecting ancient rocks from the Isle of Rum as they look similar to the ones on Mars. Experts are assembling a set of rocks from around the world that are comparable to samples from the Red Planet that are scheduled to be brought to Earth in 2033. Due to its unique geology,…
Read MoreNumber of critically-endangered capercaillie increases
Numbers of critically-endangered capercaillie have increased for the first time in eight years. The birds are on the verge of extinction in Scotland with numbers having decreased by more than 50% in the last five years. The latest national survey (2021/2022) estimated there are only 542 capercaillie left in Scotland. But the latest lek count…
Read MoreCampaign launched to raise money for much needed path repairs
Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) have launched their It’s Up to Us campaign, an ambitious three-year partnership campaign to raise £300,000 for much needed path repairs on one of Scotland’s most iconic mountains. The groups have earmarked the hill path from Dundonnell on the fabled Munro, An Teallach in Wester…
Read MoreSkye’s Fairy Pools get makeover as tourist numbers soar
A much needed makeover of Skye’s Fairy Pools has been completed – as tourist numbers continue to increase on the island. In the past few years, the number of visitors has grown significantly, taking a heavy toll on the natural environment and causing concern for visitors’ safety. Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), kickstarted the…
Read MoreNearly £1m in funding for extra rangers at nature hot spots this summer
Scotland’s nature hot spots will benefit from extra rangers this summer after receiving nearly £1million in funding. The NatureScot Better Places funding will go directly to 24 countryside, coast and island projects enabling an additional 62 staff to be employed. The extra ‘boots on the ground’ help manage visitor pressure in hotspots like Shetland, Glencoe,…
Read MoreNoss Nature Reserve reopened following avian flu outbreak
Noss National Nature Reserve has reopened to the public following the island’s closure last year due to avian flu. The Noss ferry has resumed service this season and NatureScot staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the island, which is home to thousands of seabirds each summer. Last summer both Noss and the…
Read More‘National effort’ needed to save Scottish wildcat
A MAMMALS expert has warned that a “national effort” is needed in order to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction. Roo Campbell, the mammal adviser to government agency NatureScot, used the publication of a report to highlight the threat to the wildcat, which is critically endangered. The report draws together the findings from the Scottish…
Read MoreScots want ‘wilder’ national parks
A MAJORITY of Scots want our national parks to be “wilder”, according to a survey by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. An opinion poll conducted by market research agency Survation found that 74% of Scots agreed with a call to make national parks wilder, while 6% were opposed to the idea. In February, NatureScot – the…
Read MoreScotland gives bees a helping hand
PROJECTS throughout Scotland are helping bees and other pollinators, according to a new report. The “Pollinator Strategy 2022 Progress Report” by NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage, highlighted the work of organisations to create wildflower meadows, connect habitats, and gather evidence on how climate change is affecting pollinators. Projects highlighted…
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