SWL joins project to protect rivers from climate impacts
A pioneering project involving Scottish Woodlands Ltd is helping to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on our waterways.
The partnership with Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) involves strategic tree planting and associated work across the catchment of the River Urr in south-west Scotland.
The project is part of GFT’s work to enhance the climate resilience of rivers throughout the region.
Luke Scott, Habitats and Climate Resilience Officer for the GFT, said: “Freshwater habitats are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with the many unique species that they support, like salmonids, requiring cool, clean water."
"The restoration of broadleaf woodlands along our rivers plays a crucial role in addressing these issues, shading the water and reducing water temperatures by several degrees. The implementation of nature-based solutions such as this also brings a range of other benefits from enhancing biodiversity to restoring more natural flow regimes.”
The upper Urr catchment was identified by GFT as a priority area for habitat restoration work.
The project is funded by Blackcraig Community Windfarm Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland.
Byron Braithwaite, Branch Manager at Dumfries for Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: “This has been an exciting project to work on. The wider planting scheme offers a diverse range of species to produce timber, capture carbon and increase the biodiversity within the local area by adding significant areas of native tree species along the woodland edge and riparian zones."
"It’s a great example of where forestry is delivering for the economy and the environment simultaneously.”
