Scotland’s Cairngorms are seeing a substantial return of native woodland, according to a new survey led by the University of Cambridge.
Using LiDAR equipment mounted on a light aircraft, the team mapped 569 square kilometres of the Cairngorms National Park. AI-supported analysis identified more than six million trees and recorded their heights, giving researchers a detailed picture of woodland regeneration.
Of the trees surveyed, 2.65 million were small and newly growing. That means more than 40% of the mapped trees were at an early stage of development, suggesting existing forests are expanding despite the pressures faced by the landscape, including wildfires.
A long-term view of woodland recovery
The work supports the progress of Cairngorms Connect, a partnership of land managers working towards a 200-year plan to improve the area’s habitats, wildlife and natural processes.
The mapping also showed that young trees were more common in dry areas than in wet, boggy ground. Researchers say the method can help track where new woodland is establishing, assess restoration targets and understand the effects of fires, whose severity is increasing with climate change.
The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park, covering 4,528 square kilometres. This technology gives land managers a clearer way to monitor woodland recovery across its wide and varied landscape.
Why it matters for Britain
The findings provide a practical tool for Scotland’s landowners as they work to re-establish native woodlands. Better monitoring can help guide restoration decisions and track progress across large areas of the country.
