Study maps how trees have established since deer culls

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

University of Cambridge researchers used airborne LiDAR and AI analysis to map extensive natural regeneration of native woodlands across a 569 square-kilometer area in Cairngorms National Park, driven by increased deer culling. This detailed mapping technique enhances large-scale monitoring of forest recovery, supporting Scotland’s climate goals and offering a scalable tool for global restoration efforts.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have used aerial laser scanning technology to produce detailed maps revealing large-scale natural regeneration of native woodlands across the Cairngorms Connect partnership in the Scottish Highlands. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, highlights how an increase in deer culling has contributed to the spread of millions of young trees over a 569 square-kilometer area within Cairngorms National Park.

The team employed airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) by flying a light aircraft approximately 600 meters above the ground. This technology emits rapid laser pulses towards the landscape, capturing detailed three-dimensional data based on how long the beams take to reflect back from surfaces including trees. Advanced AI-supported analysis of this data identified over six million individual trees, recording precise heights and distributions.

Results indicate that more than 40%, approximately 2.65 million, of the surveyed trees are under five meters tall, signaling active regeneration primarily near the edges of existing forests where seed dispersal is more likely. Notably, some new growth was found more than 500 meters from established woodland boundaries. The data also revealed variation in regeneration by habitat type, with fewer trees establishing in wetter, boggy areas compared to drier heathlands.

The Cairngorms Connect partnership, managing a 60,000-hectare region, has been implementing coordinated deer population control to allow young trees to establish naturally after centuries of woodland loss. Scotland’s native coniferous forests have been significantly diminished over time due to agricultural clearance and hunting practices, with only around 4% of original forest cover remaining. This restoration effort aligns with national goals to expand native woodlands by 3,000 to 5,000 hectares annually as part of Scotland’s climate and carbon capture strategies.

Researchers emphasized the significance of combining airborne LiDAR data with on-the-ground field surveys conducted by Cairngorms Connect and RSPB Scotland to validate the accuracy of mapping the woodland expansion. The approach represents a substantial advancement over traditional ground surveys, which require extensive human effort and time. The AI-supported methods used also have potential applications beyond Scotland, offering a scalable means to monitor forest recovery globally.

Dr. Aland Chan, co-lead of the project from Cambridge’s Centre for Landscape Regeneration, described the mapping technique as a breakthrough for monitoring restoration efforts at landscape scales. Dr. Pip Gullett of Cairngorms Connect added that the technology provides a useful tool for tracking the impact of environmental factors such as increased fire events linked to climate change.

The data collected also contributes to the Tessera project, a University of Cambridge initiative integrating AI with satellite imagery from the European Space Agency. Tessera enables non-specialists to monitor changes in forest cover over time, enhancing the accessibility of large-scale environmental data for conservation and land management purposes.

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