New 5 Year Partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland - British Dragonfly Society

Dragonflies – including threatened and endangered species – are set to benefit from a new partnership between the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS). The five-year agreement will see the two organisations build on a previously successful collaboration which delivered habitat creation, enhancement and monitoring.

Aligned with the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan to 2030, the agreement will see the BDS and FLS work to support ecosystem restoration and regeneration on FLS managed land to aid in the recovery of dragonflies.

Jen Davidson, Scotland Conservation Officer of the British Dragonfly Society said: “FLS manage large areas of forest and land that do and can further provide ideal habitat for dragonflies. Joint working over the next five-year period aims to restore and create new ponds to increase the breeding population of dragonflies. The commitment of continuing to work together aims to raise awareness, share good practice, and identify opportunities for dragonfly habitat management whilst carrying out the business of forestry operations on the ground with a positive biodiversity twist. A key focus will be on increasing the breeding population of the Northern Damselfly which is also suffering habitat loss. This small but striking species is listed as Endangered on the UK Red List and has a recorded population restricted to the north-east Highlands.”