Over 50 Key Species Found at Site

Biodiversity surveys carried out on Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, Inverness-shire have so far identified 56 priority species for conservation – including some feared extinct in Scotland, the conservation charity announced as it became a partner in the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity.

Species identified at the 10,000 acre site to the west of Loch Ness include black grouse, water vole, pine marten, lesser butterfly orchid, six species of tooth fungi, the lichen running crab spider and the small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly. All are included in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan as priority species for conservation.

2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations – celebrating the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism.

Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life Executive Director, said: “The discoveries being made at Dundreggan are confirming the estate’s importance as a habitat rich in biodiversity and as a perfect site for forest restoration.

“Projects like this, to restore habitats for rare species, are vital. Even though biodiversity is crucial for our well-being, humans are destroying it at an ever-increasing rate. The International Year of Biodiversity is a major opportunity to take positive action.”

Key biodiversity discoveries made at Dundreggan include:

* A rare mining bee (Andrena marginata), presumed to have been extinct in Scotland since 1949 (a solitary individual was recorded in Strathspey in 2002), was found in 2007.
* A rare horsefly – the golden horsefly (Atylotus fulvus) – was found in 2008. This species had only been seen once in Scotland since 1923.
* A healthy population of the Biodiversity Action Plan-listed spider, Philodromus margaritatus, was discovered in the estate’s ancient birchwood in September 2009.
* The presence of water voles (Arvicola terrestris) was confirmed in September 2009.

Dundreggan also has some of the best stands of juniper (another priority species for conservation) in the Highlands and possibly the most extensive distribution of dwarf birch in the country.

Trees for Life’s £1.65 million purchase of the estate in 2008 saw the site become one of the largest areas of land in the UK bought for forest restoration. Plans include the planting of half a million trees, support for the return of rare woodland wildlife, plants and insects, and also scientific research and education programmes.

Dundreggan is also home to an innovative project in which wild boar are reducing bracken in an area of ancient birchwood, facilitating the regeneration of native trees and flowering plants. The boar, donated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig last November, are in a special woodland enclosure.

Much of the restoration work at Dundreggan is being carried out by volunteers. Trees for Life is encouraging individuals and companies to join its Conservation Volunteer Weeks, selected as one of the Top 10 Conservation Holidays worldwide by BBC Wildlife Magazine last year.