Atlantic oak woodland functional biodiversity and restoration of PAWS

Scottish Atlantic oak woods or temperate rainforest are rare and threatened habitats that support a vast array of biodiversity, particularly lichens and bryophytes. Much of this unique habitat was converted to conifer plantations (known as Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites – PAWS) last century for commercial timber production. Many PAWS are undergoing restoration in attempts to reinstate the former structure and functional diversity of the oakwoods.

Nature Based Solutions Costs of Action and Inaction Final - Report

Human-induced climate change is driving increasingly severe weather in the UK, threatening the long-term viability of Scotland’s land-based industries. To remain resilient and competitive, these sectors must urgently adopt climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, including Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which are central to emerging policy and funding frameworks.

Ecosystems and Landuse Policy Group (ELPEG) Bulletin – May 2025

Welcome to this, our seventh ELPEG bulletin of the 2022-2027 RESAS Strategic Research Programme. The aim of this bulletin is to provide policy makers with updates on the research on biodiversity that is happening within the strategic research programme. The bulletin covers work from Topic D4 (Biodiversity) and the biodiversity elements within the air pollution Topic (D1).

Bridging the Gaps: Source-to-Sea Research for Scotland’s Environmental Future

We explored how source-to-sea (S2S) thinking can strengthen research collaborations and innovation across Scotland. The S2S approach focuses on the interconnections between land, freshwater, and marine systems—helping inform cross-sector decision-making, address environmental trade-offs, and promote joined-up action on environmental and societal challenges.

Mapping of UK seafood supply reveals mismatch between production and consumption, and large nutrient losses through exports.

Transforming our diets to build a more sustainable food system is paramount to achieving net zero. Here, we provide a high-resolution perspective on United Kingdom (UK) seafood supplies and nutrient flows at species level. We mapped seafood production (capture and aquaculture), trade (imports and exports), purchases (within and out-of-home), and seafood consumption, between 2009 and 2020.

Dr Katrin Prager

Katrin Prager is Reader (Associate Professor) in the Department of Geography and Environment. Originally from Germany, she was trained in landscape planning and management, and then focussed on sustainable land management and governance.

Katrin Prager

University of Aberdeen
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX

Keeping the three-legged stool in balance: the physical, chemical and biological health of our soil

On April 14th, 1935, the largest dust storm in American history occurred. A black cloud carrying 300,000 tons of topsoil from the Great Plains deposited dust as far away as New York. This day was the culmination of a perfect storm of events, ravaging millions of hectares of farmland.