An important aspect of the project is supporting the implementation of Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs), an emerging approach that recognises areas delivering long-term biodiversity conservation outside the traditional protected area network. Researchers have undertaken a comprehensive review of international approaches to community participation in biodiversity conservation, examining the different models, methods and motivations that underpin successful engagement. This work is informing an expert workshop being developed in collaboration with the High Ambition Coalition of Subnational Governments, helping to identify practical approaches that can support OECM implementation in Scotland and strengthen community involvement in conservation.

The project is also improving understanding of how genetic diversity contributes to the resilience of Scotland's forests. Long-term monitoring of Scots pine provenance trials has shown that nursery growing conditions continue to influence tree growth, survival and seasonal development even a decade after planting. However, the persistence of these effects varies between populations and planting locations, highlighting the combined importance of local adaptation and acclimation in determining woodland resilience. These findings will help inform decisions about seed sourcing and woodland restoration as Scotland's climate continues to change.

Understanding where biodiversity may be naturally buffered against climate change is another major focus of the programme. Researchers have produced high-resolution (5 m) microclimate maps for National Nature Reserves within Scotland's internationally important temperate rainforest zone. These maps are now being combined with UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) to identify potential climate refugia—areas where cooler and more stable local conditions may allow sensitive species to persist despite wider climatic change. This work provides an important evidence base for future conservation planning and the long-term management of protected areas.

The project is also helping to modernise how the condition and resilience of protected woodlands are assessed. Working closely with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Forestry and the Woodland Trust, researchers have chaired an advisory group supporting the Delivering Healthy Ecosystems programme. This collaboration has identified the key pressures affecting woodland condition and developed a new resilience assessment framework that considers future climate-related risks alongside current site condition. The framework has already been trialled on woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and is helping NatureScot develop a more forward-looking approach to monitoring and managing Scotland's protected woodlands.

The research is already influencing conservation policy and practice. Findings from the temperate rainforest work are supporting a collaborative funding proposal with Forest Research to improve rainforest restoration across the UK and are being used by the Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust to identify lower-risk locations for woodland restoration. The project will also contribute evidence to the Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest to strengthen future monitoring and management guidance. The team has also worked closely with NatureScot on the development of revised Site Condition Monitoring approaches and presented findings directly to Scottish Government biodiversity policy teams through dedicated knowledge exchange events.

This project is investigating how Scotland’s protected areas can best support biodiversity and resilience in the face of climate change. In Year 1, all objectives and milestones were achieved.

Key highlights:

• Seascape approach (Objective 1): A new method is being developed to predict the distribution of fish species, taking into account complex seabed habitats. Fieldwork in Loch Eriboll and Wester Ross is using underwater stereo video cameras to study fish diversity and abundance, alongside mapping seabed habitats. A peer-reviewed paper has been submitted, and findings have been shared with stakeholders.

• Genetic diversity (Objective 2): Scots pine, Scotland’s most culturally significant tree, is being studied to understand how genetic variation can support adaptation to climate change. Measurements across 21 native pinewood populations are ongoing, with one paper published and another in preparation. This long-term platform has already leveraged over £630k in additional funding for related research on tree roots, disease resilience, and tree form.

• Climate refugia (Objective 3): Work has begun to identify microclimates within protected areas that could act as climate refuges for vulnerable species. A pilot study in Scotland’s Celtic rainforests deployed sensors across three National Nature Reserves, successfully recording woodland microclimates through summer and winter.

• Measuring success (Objective 4): Using 40 years of vegetation data, the team is comparing biodiversity change inside and outside protected areas. Metrics such as species diversity, grass, shrub, and forb cover are being analysed to assess how effective protected areas have been at conserving biodiversity.