Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N008960/1
Assessing the economic and conservation impacts of the pine marten, a recovering predator, non-native grey squirrels, and forest land management
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor X Lambin, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Grant held at:
- University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Community Ecology
- Conservation Ecology
- Population Ecology
- Environmental economics
- Environment
- Abstract:
- To date, there has been no successful method developed for the long-term control (nor indeed eradication) of invasive grey squirrel populations. Grey squirrels cause profound damage to forestry by eating bark from trees, and have driven native red squirrels to extinction in much of the UK. The impact on the UK forestry industry and conservation efforts is an estimated 40-50 million pounds pa. As a result of the combination of threats posed by grey squirrels, tree disease and climate change, woodland owners (including CONFOR members, project partner #1) are now questioning the viability of attempting to grow hardwood in Britain. The future of the red squirrel relies on ongoing expenditure by the public purse and the activities of committed NGOs (in particular RSNE, project partner #2). A major concern is that the progress in red squirrel conservation achieved by the trapping and shooting of grey squirrels to date will be lost, if funding to maintain grey squirrel control cannot be sustained. The recent discovery that the recovery of the native pine marten in Ireland has led to a major decline in grey, but not red, squirrels offers both hope of a solution and an exceptional cross-disciplinary training opportunity for a PhD student. A long standing partnership involving the Forestry Commission (CASE partner) and Lambin's team offers a unique opportunity to tackle fundamental ecological issues with profound relevance to the forestry industry, rural economy and conservation. Although the pine marten population in England and Wales are practically extinct (a result of historic deforestation and predator control), the Scottish population have recovered spectacularly in recent years, and the natural recolonisation of England is imminent. The recovery and spread of the pine marten on mainland Britain offers hope of a solution to the problems caused by grey squirrels. However, the recovery of a carnivore population will inevitably present challenges, especially when a species returns after an absence of many years. Land managers have become accustomed over generations to living in a predator-poor environment. Inevitably conflicts will arise where the recovery of the predator population threatens to cause loss to other stakeholders, or requires land-managers to undergo change in practices to mitigate against predation. The proposed project offers a unique opportunity to address the crucial ecological and socio-economic questions that are raised by the recovery of a predator, to a landscape which is managed by those with diverse, but often common interests, including timber-growing, game-shooting and conservation. The student will work as part of a broad partnership and will thus be exposed to a range of research environments and cultures. The specific objectives of the project are: 1. To quantify variation in the use of fragmented landscapes from high to low density pine marten populations using a gradient in marten density reflecting time since recolonisation. 2. To characterise empirically and through modelling the outcome of pine marten grey squirrel predator prey interactions according to landscape characteristics. 3. To identify the management and economic implications of pine marten recovery for forestry and private woodland owners. 4. To identify and address the key concerns and potential areas of conflict surrounding the recovery of a predator population. 5. To determine whether co-production of knowledge can reduce conflict and improve the prospects of a recovering carnivore.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N008960/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £87,579
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £16,957 | £11,000 | £59,625 |
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