Conservation
It should be clear by now that a number of lichen habitats in Scotland are of international importance, being richer and more extensively developed than anywhere else in Europe.
Happily, past threats from air pollution, inappropriate forestry, and sheer ignorance are receding fast. Unfortunately a new threat, global warming, is beyond the capability of national conservation bodies to counter and may already be responsible for the recent extinction of four high-alpine lichens, Bellemerea alpina, Brodoa intestiniformis, Snow Caloplaca (Caloplaca nivalis), Alpine Moss Pertusaria (Pertusaria bryontha) and the decline of several others.
Nitrogen pollution arising from industry, agriculture and transport is increasingly causing concern. Vigilance is still required at a site level with regard to potentially damaging operations and changes.
Examples of this are:
- • hydroelectric schemes,
- • ski development,
- • road projects,
- • the spread of rhododendron,
- • lack of continuity of veteran trees, and
- • the decline of wayside trees.
The promotion of lichen conservation in Scotland is shared by a number of organisations which keep in close contact despite lichenologists being thin on the ground. Most major threats get identified and their effects mitigated.
The British Lichen Society recruits amateur and professional lichenologists, helps train them through courses, and holds field meetings to explore little-known areas. It has an active Conservation Committee, and provides generally stimulating conditions for those wishing to pursue the study of lichens.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh provides advice through its resident lichenologist, at present Dr Brian Coppins. Preserved specimens of most of Scotland’s lichens can be seen in the herbarium there. These provide a source of reference for both historical and modern records, and can help in identification work.