Jasmijn Sybenga

Project title: Seeing the Wood for the Trees; a palaeoecological approach into the research of past natural woodland in the Scottish Highlands

Over the last few years, the Scottish Forestry Commission (SFC) started to reinstate peatlands in the Scottish Highlands, e.g. the Flow country, that have been home to non-native conifer plantations. As part of the reinstatement of the peatlands, the SFC wants to develop policies on the reinstatement of the ‘natural woodland’ in these areas. Present PhD project uses palynological data to understand the past ‘natural woodland’ in different peat dominated areas in the Scottish Highlands and examines the feasibility of reinstating this ‘natural’ woodland; as such becoming a tool for future conservation strategies.

Jasmijn's research is funded by a Forestry Commission Scotland Funded Studentship and the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Contact: Jasmijn.Sybenga@uhi.ac.uk