The Glen Torridon Partnership Project
Running from Kinlochewe to the shores of the sea, Glen Torridon is one of the most evocative landscapes in the world. Contained within the Loch Maree Complex Special Area of Conservation and including part of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, this area of over 28,000 hectares contains a mosaic of rich habitats, including rainforest.
As with many other areas of Scotland, this globally important habitat is facing significant threats including the spread of invasive non-native species such as Rhododendron ponticum and a lack of connectivity between remaining fragments of woodland. This includes three of the few remaining areas of the ancient Caledonian pine forest which once spread across Scotland.
Woodland Trust Scotland, which bought Ben Shieldaig in 2019, has a vision to improve the health and connectivity of the rainforest and other habitats from its own estate and across Glen Torridon to make the natural environment more robust, resilient, diverse, and contribute to tackling the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, and to enable people to enjoy the benefits of this place of natural wonder.
Project Aims
Through cross-boundary collaboration and using innovative, nature-based solutions, the Glen Torridon project aims to:
Bring invasive, non-native species, particularly Rhododendron ponticum, under control
Significantly increase native woodland coverage, particularly along riparian zones, and improve connectivity between existing rainforest
Manage and monitor wildlife to ensure populations are thriving and at sustainable levels in the landscape
Ensure internationally rare habitats, such as Oceanic Heath, are in healthy condition
Restore peatland areas and ensure soil communities are managed sustainably so that carbon sequestration is optimized
Engage with surrounding communities and ensure local stakeholders are able to both benefit from, and contribute to, the project’s success
Ensure the landscape will be more resilient against climate change including raising awareness of growing threats such as the spread of wildfires
Project partners
We are working with a unique mix of landowners, from private estates to NatureScot and National Trust Scotland, to explore how our vision could be delivered. These landowners have all been undertaking significant conservation work, including substantial areas of native woodland creation and non-native control, on their own estates for decades, but by working collaboratively across ownership boundaries, this project would allow a more co-ordinated approach to conservation and connectivity.
A number of small communities - Kinlochewe, Torridon and Shieldaig – are nestled within Glen Torridon and their engagement and involvement will be key to the project’s success.
Funding Requirements
Some initial survey work has begun and discussions continue to explore how the project aims and vision can best be delivered, but in order to further develop and deliver the project we have a funding gap of £3 million over a five year period. We are keen to start as soon as possible.
For more information contact:
Malcolm Turner, Estate, Ben Shieldaig
Woodland Trust Scotland
MalcolmTurner@woodlandtrust.org.uk
