JAHAMA team take part in Herbivore Impact Assessment Training

The JAHAMA stalking team recently had a Herbivore Impact Assessment training day with Professor Rory Putman. HIAs aim to give an overall view of how the land is coping with grazing pressure from various herbivores.

Habitats are split into Wet Heath, Blanket Bog, Dry Heath, and Woodland. This year the teams on the three different estates will be looking at both wet heath and woodland habitats. To carry out an assessment involves picking a number of sites within the desired habitat, and noting down whether the grazing impact on the vegetation within the habitat is of a High, Medium, or Low level. In the woodland habitats, levels of browsing on trees is recorded. Species such as Birch, Alder, and hard conifers are classed as “unpalatable,” whereas species such as Oak, Hazel, Holly, and Aspen are “palatable.”

Results are recorded and uploaded online to a spreadsheet, where they can then be compared against previous year’s recordings.

Kirstin, the teams Trainee Stalker, shared some images from the day. To keep up to date with the JAHAMA team make sure to follow @jahamahighlandestates on social media.