Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Government's environmental advisory body in Scotland, is keen to enhance natural regeneration of woodlands, and in particular ancient semi-natural woodlands which are especially important in conservation terms. Consequently, in collaboration with SNH, the dissertation has focused upon this type of habitat, and it seeks to test the effectiveness of a management tool where natural regeneration is the objective. The tool in this case is exclosures which are fences erected to keep grazing animals out.
Five ancient
semi-natural woodlands were sampled in Stirling District, Central Region,
Scotland. Each site utilises exclosures to enhance natural regeneration.
The results of the survey show that whilst exclosures are aiding regeneration,
there are several inherent problems. The most fundamental change is ground
vegetation following the cessation of grazing. It is concluded that to
increase natural regeneration, exclosures are a useful tool in the short-term,
when managed carefully. But for the long-term survival of this valuable
habitat, a Government policy of sustainability and integration is required
to protect and indeed expand our woodlands. What this implies is the reduction
of razing densities to a sustainable level so that natural regeneration
and grazing can co-exist without the need for this expensive and intrusive
management tool.