Carnivore Country?

Images by Mark Hamblin
Words & Images by Hugh Webster

Slovenia now boasts some of the highest densities of brown bears in the world, while wolf numbers are recovering and lynx have been successfully reintroduced. But this success has been hard won, reflecting a deliberate and sustained focus on maintaining a healthy balance between nature conservation and the needs of human communities.

Aiming High

Images by Mark Hamblin and Peter Cairns
Words & Images by Hugh Webster

By carefully reducing deer numbers, deer stalkers are tackling Scotland’s overgrazing problem, allowing montane woodlands to recover and vital peatlands to heal. Shooting deer is part of the job, but this small group of unsung conservation heroes aren’t just hunters – they’re naturalists and historians with unrivalled local knowledge. For ecologist and Corrour Estate’s Conservation Manager, Sarah Watts, tackling the biodiversity crisis without their help is simply unimaginable.

Wildfires spark muirburn debate

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin, James Shooter and Hugh Webster

Recent wildfires have reignited debate about muirburn and wildfire risk in Scotland’s warming climate. But the contested merits of muirburn mask deeper divides over whether and how we want our landscapes to change, and what functions we need Scotland’s natural environment to serve. 

Part of our ‘The Big Picture in Focus’ series, providing a deep dive into the stories that impact Scotland’s road to nature recovery.