‘Wester Ross – rare wilderness in a populous world’

The Yearbook also explores the ever-changing relationship between man and the environment. It has

been suggested that: ‘…the culture of a nation is closely allied to its landscapes and wildlife. Poets,

painters, writers and composers have been inspired by the nature around them …’ If this is true, then

it is probably true of Scotland more than most. Add to this intrinsic worth, the direct economic value

of natural landscapes and biological assets to tourism and other Highland livelihoods, and the case for

nurturing Wester Ross’s biodiversity is persuasive.  Hopefully, we can learn lessons from the past and ensure that the economic development vital to sustain fragile rural communities does not compromise the very natural assets that draw people both as visitors and as residents. Given the will and the investment, there is no reason why sustainable human development cannot go hand in hand with the maintenance of biological diversity. This book provides a valuable insight into what there is to gain – and what there is

to lose.

WREN Wester Ross Environment Network

Dear reader,

Whether you live in Wester Ross or are visiting the area, we hope that you enjoy this book. The natural world is vast and very complex, so it was only possible to feature just a fraction of the many and varied wonders of this area.

‘Go Wild in Wester Ross’ offers an insight into some familiar things that you might see and some more obscure that you may need to look harder to spot.

‘Go wild in Wester Ross’ was produced by the Wester Ross Environment Network [WREN] and is aimed at increasing awareness of the biodiversity of Wester Ross. A range of local people, including pupils from several primary schools, contributed to the content of this book.

WREN is one of seven regional groups in the Highlands made up of local people with a professional or personal interest in the environment. Founded in 2004, we are an independent voluntary organisation.

The word biodiversity was defined at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and comes from the two words, biological [everything that is living] and diversity [variety]. It is a way of describing the variety of all living things and the complex relationship between them, not forgetting that human beings are also a part of biodiversity!

WREN is an organisation that aims to protect, enhance and promote biodiversity in Wester Ross. We seek to deliver the national biodiversity agenda led by local priorities, with support from the Highland Council, various agencies and a range of other organisations.

For further information on WREN and its activities, visit our

website at: www.wr-en.co.uk or contact chair@wr-en.co.uk The proceeds from the sale of this book help pay for community led, local environmental projects.

Thank you for supporting your environment.

Aaron Forsyth

Aaron Forsyth – WREN Chairman

Foreword

This book is published during a significant period in the history of Wester Ross. As the face of the Vice-County was once changed by the abandonment of crofts and in some parts of the area, clearance of the land for sheep, so it now seems poised to change again. New houses, even housing developments, are springing up at a pace that seems to defy the current economic recession, and the deforestation of past centuries is being reversed by large-scale tree planting. The push for renewable, climate-friendly energy sources is also having an impact, with solar panels, small scale hydro schemes and wind generators joining the landscape. In as little as a decade Wester Ross may be a very different place, making today an appropriate point to take stock of our natural assets in order to better plan for their use and protection tomorrow.

The Biodiversity Yearbook charts the richness of life, from the sea coast to the highest mountain tops, from the simplest forms of organism to the most complex. Within this account are found many of the species that contribute to the very special nature of the area, from lichens and fungi to the wildcat, deer and eagles that are iconic symbols of the Scottish Highlands in the minds of people across the globe. The essence of wild Wester Ross is diversity – where else can we fish for sea trout and watch otters in the morning, and seek alpine flowers and ptarmigan in the afternoon? The biodiversity of the area is truly breathtaking.