The question ‘who owns the land?’ – Ceist an Fhearainn in Gaelic – has taken on a renewed and profound sense of urgency in the context of climate crisis and ecological breakdown.
The ancient species-rich Caledonian Pine Forests, A’ Choille Ghiuthais in Gaelic, stretched from the Atlantic fringe on the West Coast to An Gleann Mor (the Great Glen fault) and the Am Monadh Liath (grey mountains) beyond. Carpeted by heather, blaeberry and glittering wood moss, this forest habitat was once home to an intricate web of life: capercaillie, crossbill, osprey, red squirrel, pine marten, beaver, boar, wildcat. Among the trees were great herds of grazing animals – including deer and wild cattle – preyed upon by the lynx, brown bear and wolf. In the 10,000 years since the last ice-age, this forest has come and gone.
After twenty-five years of careful stewardship – thinning, harvesting, replanting – Abriachan forest has been transformed into a diverse and regenerating woodland. It is home to an increasing variety of species; woodland birds, pine martens, red squirrels, otters, butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies. Income from careful and continued sustainable commercial use of the forest is re-invested in woodland management, in community and public-benefit activities such as outdoor learning and recreation.
Natural resources belong to the generality of people in a given locality, rather than to privileged individual: ‘Fiadh à fireach, geug à coille, bradan à linne – trì mèirle às nach do ghabh a’ Ghàidheal riamh nàire’
(a deer from the rough ground, a branch from a wood and a salmon from a pool)
“Just listen to the birdsong now; as I was saying, when I came here first, you wouldn’t hear a thing.”