Global gathering described as 'COP26 for pine martens' being held in Aviemore
International pine marten research says the effort to restore pine martens in the Cairngorms National Park is a 'brilliant example of successful species recovery'.
The spectacular recovery of pine martens in Scotland is on the agenda for a gathering of pine marten experts in Aviemore over the next three days.
Experts from around the world will be attending the International Martes Symposium, and visiting local success stories in the Cairngorms.
The symposium happens every five years in a different country that is home to martens and their relatives including wolverines.
Pine martens are a protected species in Scotland with an estimated population of just 3700.
Organisers have said the small predator helps maintain 'a healthy forest ecosystem'.
But not everyone agrees with gamekeepers and even some members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority worried about their impact on other species and capercaillie in particular.
There have even been calls for pine martens to be removed and even culled in Strathspey to help give the grouse a chance of survival.
A count of pine martens is to take place to establish the population in the strath with the Scottish Government recently recommending that no action should be taken against the species.
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Wildlife conservation managers and researchers from Scotland, the UK, the United States, Canada and Europe will be sharing the latest science and conservation actions taking place to promote pine martens and their cousins.
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is a co-sponsor and host of the event, the theme of which is how to conserve martens in a changing climate.
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Kenny Kortland, wildlife ecologist for FLS, said: “It’s like a COP26 for pine martens.
“Pine martens are making a spectacular recovery in Scotland which makes us particularly interesting for this group of international researchers.
"Some of them are witnessing declines in their parts of the world.
“The forestry sector has helped pine martens greatly by increasing Scotland’s forest cover – conifer plantations make excellent habitats for pine martens.
“In addition to habitat creation, FLS has installed artificial pine marten dens at key locations to encourage breeding and we’ve been monitoring their breeding using thermal imaging.
“We’ve also been supporting research that is investigating how pine martens affect other species.
“By hosting the symposium we can share Scotland’s successes in protecting and promoting pine martens, and learn from our colleagues from Italy, Canada, the USA and elsewhere.
“We’ll all be focused on how a changing climate could impact pine martens, whether they are in the Cairngorms or California.”
Rich Weir, the Canada-based chair of the Martes Working Group, said: “This conference is an exceptional forum for wildlife researchers and conservationists who strive to better understand and conserve the martens of the world to learn from and build on each other’s work.
“A perfect case of this is Scotland’s efforts to re-establish pine martens in the nearby Caledonian woodlands.
“It’s a brilliant example of successful species recovery that others at the conference can learn from and hopefully apply in their home countries”.
The delegates will visit the Cairngorms Connect project, a partnership between FLS and other neighbouring landowners, which is working on a 200-year plan to enhance habitats, species and ecological processes across a vast area within the Cairngorms National Park.
Its predator project is monitoring the return of pine martens to the area, as well as other predator species like raptors and badgers.
The delegates will also meet with a range of land managers in Strathspey, to get their views on the return of pine martens to Scotland’s countryside.
The eighth International Martes Symposium which runs until Friday is organised by the Martes Working Group, which was founded to facilitate communication among scientists with a common interest in martes research, conservation and management.
About pine martens
The pine marten has been a protected species in Scotland since 1988
Though it has recovered a little from a dramatic decline, the species is still rare. Scotland’s population is estimated at 3,700 adult pine martens.
Pine martens weigh between one and two kilogrammes and measure 60 to 70 centimetres from nose to tail. They are about the size of a cat.
They are extremely agile and excellent climbers.
