Wildlife and Land Use in Highland Scotland

Abstract

Depopulation of the Scottish Highlands in the seventeenth century was followed by intense exploitation and often misuse of the land, with serious overgrazing, burning and wildlife destruction. Today the main land uses are hill sheep farming, crofting, sport, and, more recently, commercial timber growing, nature conservation, hydroelectric schemes and tourism. The author, who is on the staff of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources in Edinburgh University, examines the effect of these activities on four main wildlife species – golden eagle, red deer, red grouse and red fox – and describes some of the mistaken management practices which damage the wildlife, often without producing the desired results.