The potential for native woodland in Scotland:
the native woodland model Management

Natural Heritage Management

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Assumptions and general principles underlying the Native Woodland Model
• The value of modelling potential woodland cover
• Methodology
• How accurate is the NWM?
• How potential woodland types correspond to HAP types
• Use of the Native Woodland Model – case studies
• References
• Appendix 1 The base datasets
• Appendix 2 The National Vegetation Classification
• Appendix 3 Allocation of woodland types to different site conditions
• Appendix 4 Correspondence between NWM and HAP types

Assumptions and general principles underlying the Native Woodland Model

There are a number of important assumptions which underlie the model and the products from it:

• The model predicts the potential for woodland and scrub types under current soil and vegetation conditions, i.e. with no or minimal ground intervention, including fertilisation, ground preparation and drainage.
• The model has been developed with the explicit aim of predicting optimum patterns of woodland site capability over large areas, easily and without the need for ground survey.
• The model and outputs are an expression of current knowledge and revisions may be necessary as new knowledge becomes available.
• The land is classified independently of any administrative structure, land designation, land ownership pattern or past or present grant mechanisms.
• Although current land use is reflected, to some extent, by existing vegetation cover, it is not a factor within the model. There are obviously a number of other factors, such as economics, sheep and deer control, moorland management, landscape and/or conservation issues, water protection, and protection of archaeological interests, which have to be considered before native woodlands can be established on any site.
• The model does not make recommendations for the best use of land nor is it the output a vision for future land use.
• The model provides a strategic planning tool, designed to be used at scales from 1:50,000 up to national level.

Pine regeneration