Caledonian Forest
From Freepedia
The Caledonian Forest originally covered much of the Highlands of Scotland. It takes its name from the Romans who called Scotland 'Caledonia' meaning 'wooded heights'. The native pinewoods which formed this westernmost outpost of the boreal forest in Europe are estimated to have covered 15,000 square kilometres as a vast wilderness of Scots pine, birch, rowan, aspen, juniper and other trees. On the west coast, oak and birch predominated in a temperate rainforest ecosystem rich in ferns, mosses and lichens.
Today less than 1% of the original forest survive and the native pinewoods have been reduced to 35 isolated remnants.
Trees for Life has been involved in practical work to regenerate and restore the Caledonian Forest since 1989. Its long term aim is to return an area of 1,500 square kilometres to a condition of natural forest.
