The River Dee Trust, a charity based in Scotland, is taking significant steps to address climate change through the ambitious initiative of planting one million trees across the Royal Deeside landscape. The project has reached a notable milestone, having successfully planted 500,000 trees, marking the halfway point of their target.
Rising temperatures have severely impacted the River Dee, which is renowned for its salmon population. According to Sandy Bremner, chair of the River Dee Trust, these increasing temperatures pose a critical threat to the salmon, as they are "under threat from rapidly rising temperatures." He explained that "peak temperatures put salmon under thermal stress," emphasising that the situation is precarious, with water temperatures only a few degrees away from becoming lethal for the fish.
The planting initiative is not merely a short-term fix; it is positioned as a long-term strategy that will take decades for the trees to mature fully. Local community support has been strong, particularly in light of the 2015 flooding incident when Ballater experienced extreme flooding due to Storm Frank. The flooding resulted in substantial damage to both the landscape and housing in the area, and many residents continue to grapple with the aftermath.
Bremner highlighted the project’s importance, noting the devastating effects of Storm Frank on homes and businesses. He stated, "We saw terrible things happening to individuals. We have a chance to mitigate against that. What’s good for salmon, for nature is good for people."
A special event took place to celebrate the halfway mark of the project, during which two young conservationist sisters from Aberdeenshire, Izzie and Abbie, had the unique opportunity to plant the 500,000th tree. Izzie expressed her excitement about being part of such an impactful cause, stating, "It’s just amazing that we can be part of this cause these million trees will have a really positive impact on the River Dee so I just can’t wait to see when all these trees are grown." Her sister Abbie shared her insights into the significance of the trees, noting, "I’ve learned that these trees are very important for the river and the animals, because the salmon have found themselves in very warm conditions and this will help them find shade."
Looking ahead, the River Dee Trust aims to complete the million tree planting by the year 2035, with hopes of revitalising the river's ecosystem. However, the urgency of the situation has not gone unnoticed, with Bremner stressing that "we need millions of trees; we need landscape scale restoration." His call for broader action includes not just tree planting, but also peatland restoration and the reopening of flood plains, advocating for a comprehensive approach to environmental restoration given the challenges posed by climate change.
Source: Noah Wire Services