Highland Birchwoods - more about us
We work in partnership to develop and deliver multi-sectoral projects funded through EU, national and regional mechanisms. The expertise and experience of our project partners and other stakeholders allows us to develop broad based innovative strategies for the emergent issues of the 21st century:
- climate change
- biodiversity
- renewable energy
- community development
- access management
If our work interests you as an individual or organisation please contact us.
BIODIVERSITY & HABITAT MANAGEMENT
In conjunction with other partners, Highland Birchwoods has developed and managed four EU LIFE projects:
- Caledonian Pinewoods
- Atlantic Oakwoods
- Core Sites for a Forest Habitat Network
- Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie
These projects have:
- a combined value of almost £10 million
- involved over a hundred landowners, NGOs and community group
- brought more than 50,000 ha of land under best practice management
This experience is now informing strategic approaches to development of forest habitat networks as a basis for climate change mitigation, rural development and community involvement.
SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
We are committed to local added value timber utilisation and timber product development. With the support of the EU NorthSea and Northern Periphery Programmes we have actively promoted woodfuel, working with Scottish and European partners to stimulate cost effective, small scale woodchip and wood pellet supply chains.
Through the HIPP financed Forestry and Rural Development Scheme we funded private and community sector rural development forestry projects which delivered:
- £1.6 million of funding to 17 community groups
- over 60 kilometres of footpaths
- community buildings at Abriachan, Borgie, Milton and Strathnairn
REGIONAL AND LANDSCAPE SCALE LAND USE PLANNING
Highland Birchwoods has carried out the Scottish Semi Natural Woodland Inventory, a survey of Scottish domestic woodfuel supply, and local woodfuel inventories. We are now using our GIS expertise to develop effective approaches to natural resource management planning and consultation.
THE CULTURAL DIMENSION
Public awareness of the economic and social importance of the environment is fundamental to sustainability and we were closely involved in delivering the Forestry and Environment Programme as part of Highland Year of Culture 2007.
