Frozen Plantation
The lower slopes of many Scottish lochs are often dominated by plantations—predominately fast-growing Sitka spruce, grown to support the timber industry, bolster local economies, and reduce reliance on imported wood. Yet beneath their tightly packed canopy, little else thrives. Unlike native woodlands, which host diverse ecosystems, monoculture plantations suppress biodiversity, shading out undergrowth and altering the soil. These forests were planted to meet economic demand, but looking ahead, we face the challenge of balancing timber production with the urgent need for ecological restoration.
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