Independent conservation company Wildcat Haven have for some time been running a campaign to have tree felling in the Clashindarroch forest stopped. They have a huge online petition going and are apparently running a crowdjustice campaign to raise money for legal funding towards that objective.
This month's Private Eye ran an article which includes a section on the Clashindarroch forest campaign, and it seems the issue is far less clear cut than Wildcat Haven claim. You can read the article on Twitter HERE
The Wildcat Haven contention is essentially that the Clashindarroch forest is very possibly the last stronghold of the Scottish wildcat, and that tree felling is destroying their habitat. Which sounds perfectly reasonable, until you hear that there is an opposing view. That opposing view is held by Scottish Wildcat Action, the official Scottish wildcat conservation organisation. In their view, felling creates open areas which wildcats prefer for hunting, and that controlled felling actually improves the habitat for wildcats. It is their view that stopping felling would create continuous canopy forest which would actually destroy wildcat habitat.
You can read an article on the subject written by Emma Rawling of Scottish Wildcat Action HERE which further explains their views. There is also an article by Forestry and Land Scotland which airs similar views HERE
So who is right? We are not experts in the field of wildcat habitat, but when you think about it, Clashindarroch forest was planted decades ago, and has for many years underdone selective felling. If felling destroys wildcat habitat, how come it is now a wildcat stronghold?
If the scientists at Scottish Wildcat Action are correct but Wildcat Haven still get their way and succeed in stopping felling, it will create a continuous forest canopy, which may destroy the habitat of what is possibly the very last remaining vestige of natural Scottish wildcats anywhere. We can't think that is a good plan if wildcat conservation is your aim.
This month's Private Eye ran an article which includes a section on the Clashindarroch forest campaign, and it seems the issue is far less clear cut than Wildcat Haven claim. You can read the article on Twitter HERE
The Wildcat Haven contention is essentially that the Clashindarroch forest is very possibly the last stronghold of the Scottish wildcat, and that tree felling is destroying their habitat. Which sounds perfectly reasonable, until you hear that there is an opposing view. That opposing view is held by Scottish Wildcat Action, the official Scottish wildcat conservation organisation. In their view, felling creates open areas which wildcats prefer for hunting, and that controlled felling actually improves the habitat for wildcats. It is their view that stopping felling would create continuous canopy forest which would actually destroy wildcat habitat.
You can read an article on the subject written by Emma Rawling of Scottish Wildcat Action HERE which further explains their views. There is also an article by Forestry and Land Scotland which airs similar views HERE
So who is right? We are not experts in the field of wildcat habitat, but when you think about it, Clashindarroch forest was planted decades ago, and has for many years underdone selective felling. If felling destroys wildcat habitat, how come it is now a wildcat stronghold?
If the scientists at Scottish Wildcat Action are correct but Wildcat Haven still get their way and succeed in stopping felling, it will create a continuous forest canopy, which may destroy the habitat of what is possibly the very last remaining vestige of natural Scottish wildcats anywhere. We can't think that is a good plan if wildcat conservation is your aim.
Check out Wildcat Haven online, and also the attempts by the same people to get finance to introduce the lynx to Kielder in northern England, and similarly to ride piggy back on the established academic work of Eagle Reintroduction Wales. It's a money-making enterprise: cashing in on animal lovers' sentiments.
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