Pinewoods face being wiped out

Scotland’s Caledonian pinewoods are on a “knife edge” and face the threat of being the last generation in a line stretching back to the last ice age, an environmental charity has warned.

Scotland’s national tree, the Scots pine, was found to be in serious decline at a quarter of plots analysed in a four-year study by Trees for Life, the rewilding charity.

The study cites high deer numbers, the spread of non-native conifers, the lack of long-term management, and emerging impacts of climate breakdown as among major threats.

The charity says urgent action is needed, including long-term funding, so landowners can restore pinewoods and look after them in the future.

Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life’s chief executive, said: “A landscapescale approach backed by the Scottish Government is needed to save, expand and connect these precious woodlands before it is too late.”