| RED SQUIRRELS |
Forestry Commission Scotland has received strong support for the concept of establishing a series of red squirrel strongholds. It will lead the work to plan and manage 18 stronghold sites aimed at safeguarding Scotland’s surviving red squirrel population. A stakeholder group will take the plans forward to develop guidance for land managers which will help in the management of stronghold areas in balance with other objectives, including increasing wider wildlife benefits from woodlands. Complementing work to control the spread of grey squirrels and the squirrelpox virus they carry, strongholds will be developed by Forestry Commission Scotland in association with landowners and managers, Scottish Natural Heritage and other parts of the Scottish Government. With each site being at least 2,000 hectares in size, around 100,000 hectacres of the best forest sites will be managed as refuges for red squirrels, focusing on ensuring food supplies for reds (from cone-bearing conifers) and restricting food sources preferred by greys (large-seeded broadleaves). Forestry Commission Scotland will work with landowners and local communities, aiming to finalise stronghold maps and develop suitable management plans in all the proposed locations — Ordiequish/Whiteash/Ben Aigan, Eredine, Culbin Forest, Inverliever, Black Isle, Kilmichael, Glentochty, South Rannoch, Glen Glass, Fleet Basin, Morangie Forest, Daviot Loch Moy, Inshriach and Glenfeshie, Leanachan, Balmoral to Inver, Eskdalemuir, Glenbranter, Abernethy, and Nethy Bridge. |
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