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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Restoring the Caledonian Forest

The Caledonian Forest is the western-most outlier of the boreal forest in Europe, and formerly covered about 1.5 million hectares in the Highlands of Scotland. By the 1980s it had been reduced to a little over 1% of its maximum extent, and consisted of scattered remnants geographically isolated from each other and comprised solely of old trees. Gone with the trees were most of the forest’s wildlife, leaving the land barren and bleak. There was a real risk the forest would have disappeared entirely, before ecological restoration work began in the final decades of the 20thcentury.

This presentation begins with an introduction to the Caledonian Forest and its key species, together with a brief summary of the causes of its decline and subsequent inability to regenerate naturally.

It details the simple practical steps that have enabled a new generation of young trees to grow again – the first to do so in 200 years. It illustrates how the recovery of the native vegetation facilitates the return of insects, birds, mammals, plants and fungi, in a positive trophic cascade that is part of Nature’s reweaving of the web of life.

The presentation identifies the 4 key elements of rewilding, and details 13 principles that can be used to guide ecological restoration projects – these can be applied not just to the Caledonian Forest, but for any ecosystem that has been damaged. It also covers the importance of people to restoration efforts and highlights the transformative experiences that many participants have when they help to heal degraded and depleted landscapes.

If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

TEDx TEDx – Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Recent posts

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News

  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshop scheduled for 28 August – 4th September 2021
  • Interviews for the Accidental Gods podcast series
  • Beavers are still facing an uncertain future in Scotland
  • The Nature Talks: Reconnecting People and Planet Now More Than Ever
  • Trees and Bees Conference 19 March 2021

I’m speaking at…

  • Online presentation to the Elders Action Network, 6th June 2021 – 6 June 2021
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 28 August 2021–
    4 September 2021

Over on Twitter…

Alan Watson FeatherstoneFollow

Alan Watson Featherstone
AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
5h

Even if there were no other valid & compelling reasons for Scotland to become independent, this alone would be sufficient cause. Additional nuclear weapons being installed in Scotland without public knowledge or consent is an outrage against democracy.

The Ferret@FerretScot

In 2018 @NukewatchUK estimated three new #nuclear warheads arrived at Coulport on the Clyde. Then nine in 2019, and 13 in 2020.

https://theferret.scot/sleekit-increase-trident-nuclear-warheads/

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
14h

From Siberia to the Amazon & Borneo, forest fires are a major cause of the biodiversity crisis, often for agriculture. "in India most of such fires are deliberately caused by people mainly for agricultural purposes" We need planet-friendly agriculture! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56671148

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
14h

This is an excellent article about @royhdennis in the Guardian today. I've known Roy for many years & he's one of those rare people who just gets on & does inspiring, positive work for nature, not letting bureaucracies & mainstream inertia stop him. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/16/conservation-legend-roy-dennis-were-facing-an-ecological-crisis-but-its-exciting-too

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