The potential reintroduction of beavers to Scotland after almost 500 years is a historic opportunity that could bring major environmental and economic benefits to Scotland – including by generating millions of pounds through eco-tourism, conservation charity Trees for Life said today. The charity is so confident of the benefits of beavers, both to the eco-system and economy, that it has been establishing areas of aspen, a favourite of the beaver, in preparation for spread of the mammal to areas of the Highlands. This week or next, Scottish Natural Heritage is due to report to the Scottish Government on the Scottish…

The organisers of this year’s Cairngorms Nature Festival are inviting people to get up close and personal with nature during two days of events next weekend at venues across the Cairngorms National Park. This year there are four main hubs of activity, Ballater, Aviemore, Tomintoul and Blair Atholl. There will be many activities and events to participate in for all ages, from hands-on experiences such as bird ringing to 4×4 safaris. TV’s Nick Baker will be one of the special guests and members of the public can join him on a Bio-Blitz in Boat of Garten in the morning of…

More than 150 beavers living in the River Tay and Earn catchments have been found to be well adapted to living in Scotland; are Eurasian beavers once native to Britain; and are free of diseases of concern to humans, domestic animals and other wildlife, according to three reports published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on behalf of the Tayside Beaver Study Group. Impacts on various land use interests are also documented together with the results of trials of various techniques for managing the effect of beavers, and a series of conclusions on the likely implications if beavers remain in Scotland.…

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has expressed its disappointment and concern at the negligible response it received to a request for political party leaders to set out their positions on protecting Scotland’s wild land in advance of the general election. This contrasts strikingly with the enthusiastic response to its public petition on the same subject which has already exceeded 10,000 signatures. Campaigning to highlight the importance of Scotland’s mountains and remaining wild land for tourism, recreation and economic sustainability, the MCofS wrote to the leaders of all political parties at Holyrood and Westminster on 20 March 2015. The organisation…

A graphic novel based upon the life of pioneering conservationist John Muir, free copies of which were sent to every secondary school in Scotland last year, has created a statistically significant shift in pupil’s attitudes towards and connection to the natural world, according to a recent study. Muir, a Scottish born inventor, naturalist and writer, spent his life exploring wild places and was the founding father of national parks in America. The novel, entitled John Muir, Earth – Planet, Universe, combined environmental studies with literacy in an innovative way that hasn’t previously been implemented in Scotland, and was intended to…

A major peatland restoration project by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, which will help reduce the effects of climate change, create healthy habitats for wildlife as well as being used for recreation and providing employment – will be completed this month. The project is part of The National Park’s biodiversity action plan, ‘Wild Park 2020’. The £120,000 of repair work, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage’s Peatland Action, at Beinn Dubh above Glen Luss and Auchtertyre, near Strathfillan, has involved supplies being flown in by helicopter and conservation workers enduring two-hour hikes in high winds and snow to reach…