The Cairngorms Connect partnership is pushing the boundaries of landscape restoration, working at much larger scales, with much greater emphasis on natural processes, than is typical in the UK. Although we tap into a substantial scientific evidence base in some areas, in other areas the novelty of our work throws up challenges and uncertainties.
We use science and monitoring to reduce these uncertainties, informing and supporting our restoration work. Overall, it helps us address two big questions:
“How best should we restore?”
Informing how we work and making sure our land management practices are achieving the habitat restoration we’re aiming for, as well as evaluating species recover, our delivery of ecosystem services, and socio-economic benefits.
“What do we gain when we restore?”
Monitoring the response of key species to habitat restoration management work, and to other natural, social, and economic changes within the landscape.
By capturing data and monitoring the effects of our work, we can establish a strong foundation for our decisions about landscape-scale restoration both across the partnership area and further afield.
