There is approximately 4,000 hectares of forest within the reserve, and just under half of this is native caledonian pine forest. Abernethy Forest is one of the largest remaining remnant of caledonian pine forest in Scotland.[5] The forest is home to a variety of birds and mammals, including Scottish crossbill, red squirrel, wildcat, red deer, black grouse, crested tit and osprey.[3]:9–11 There is also a capercaillielek.[6]
The Abernethy National Nature Reserve (NNR) extends to 12,755hectares, and encompasses the majority of Abernethy Forest along with much of the adjoining landscape.[2] The Dell Woods section of Abernethy NNR is managed by NatureScot, whilst the rest is under the management of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).[3]:1
Originally the reserve covered only the core forested section of the currently designated area, and was named Abernethy Forest NNR. The Dell Woods section was added 1988, forming a 375hectare extension to the existing NNR. In 2007, the NNR was greatly extended, becoming the new Abernethy National Nature Reserve,[3]:1 which extends from Abernethy Forest itself up into high Cairngorms, taking in Loch A'an and the mountains of Bynack More, Beinn Mheadhoin and the southern side of Cairn Gorm.[7] The Abernethy NNR is classified as a Category IIprotected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1]
Regeneration in the northern forest.Regeneration of the forest in the southern part of the reserve.
The RSPB's primary conservation aim is to expand the area covered by the forest.[4] On 24 August 2011 the RSPB received consent from the Forestry Commission to expand native woodland through natural regeneration and planting, since when they have begun the planting of 60,000 aspen, birch, juniper and willow trees within an area of approximately 590 hectares.[citation needed] They are also working to improve bog, moorland, scrub, rivers and mountain habitats, both within the area of the reserve and in partnership with neighbouring estates.[4]
Historic forestry management practices have favoured the clearance of dead wood from the forest, and the RSPB are now seeking to increase the amount of lying dead wood, and dead trees and roots.[4] To this end, on 19 October 2006, the RSPB began using explosives to blast off the crowns of nine Caledonian pine trees, between 100 and 200 years old.[8] Referring to this use of explosives, Desmond Dugan, RSPB Site Manager at the Forest Lodge, said:[9]
"Explosives may seem extreme but the effect will be no less catastrophic than a wind snapped, lightning struck or avalanched tree"
James Reynolds, RSPB Head of Media and Communications, said:[10]
"We've been simply felling trees and trying to create dead wood habitats in that way before, but we don't think it allowed the process to get going quickly enough"
Other conservation designations
The Abernethy National Nature Reserve overlaps with several other designated areas, including:[11]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Abernethy_Forest, and is written by contributors.
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